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Texas minimum car insurance requirements: 30/60/25 liability, proof of insurance, PIP and UM/UIM

The minimum liability coverage Texas requires (30/60/25), the ways a driver can show proof of financial responsibility, the penalty for driving without it, and the written-rejection rule for PIP and uninsured motorist coverage, with official sources as of October 2026.

6 min readPublished October 22, 2026Last updated October 22, 2026Edited by Joseph Budzinski, CTO, InjuryClaimGuide

The short answer

Texas requires anyone operating a motor vehicle to have financial responsibility for it, most often through liability insurance (Transp. Code §601.051). The minimum liability coverage is $30,000 for injury to one person, $60,000 for injuries to two or more people, and $25,000 for property damage in one collision, known as 30/60/25 (§601.072). Texas auto policies must also include personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage unless an insured named in the policy rejects them in writing (Ins. Code §§1952.101, 1952.152).

This guide explains those requirements in general terms, with the official text linked for each one. It is general informational guidance and is not legal advice; it does not say what coverage anyone should carry or what any policy pays on a claim.

Key facts (as of 2026-10-22)

  • Financial responsibility is required. A person may not operate a motor vehicle in Texas unless financial responsibility is established for it, through a liability policy, a surety bond, a deposit, or self-insurance (Transp. Code §601.051).
  • 30/60/25 minimums. Effective January 1, 2011, the minimum liability amounts are $30,000 per person and $60,000 per collision for bodily injury or death, and $25,000 per collision for property damage (§601.072(a-1)).
  • Proof on request. A driver must show evidence of financial responsibility on request to a peace officer or to a person involved in a collision with the driver (§601.053).
  • Penalty. Driving without financial responsibility is a misdemeanor; for a first offense the fine is $175 to $350 (§601.191).
  • PIP and UM/UIM rejection must be in writing. Both coverages are part of a Texas auto liability policy unless an insured named in the policy rejects them in writing (Ins. Code §§1952.101(c), 1952.152(b)).

What does 30/60/25 mean in Texas?

The three numbers are the minimum limits of a liability policy that satisfies Texas's financial responsibility law (Transp. Code §601.072(a-1)):

  • 30: $30,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in one collision;
  • 60: $60,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in one collision, subject to the $30,000 limit for any one person; and
  • 25: $25,000 for damage to or destruction of the property of others in one collision.

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) describes liability coverage as paying to repair the other driver's car and paying the other driver's and passengers' medical bills and some other expenses when the insured caused the accident, and calls the minimum "30/60/25 coverage" (TDI, Auto insurance guide). A policy can carry higher limits than the minimum. Liability coverage does not repair the insured driver's own car; TDI lists that as collision coverage.

What counts as proof of insurance in Texas?

On request from a peace officer or a person involved in a collision with the driver, a driver must show evidence of financial responsibility. Transp. Code §601.053(a) lists what counts, including:

  • the liability insurance policy, or a photocopy of it;
  • a standard proof of motor vehicle liability insurance form (commonly called the insurance card) prescribed by TDI and issued by the insurer;
  • an image on a wireless communication device, such as a phone, that includes the required information from the insurer;
  • an insurance binder confirming the coverage; or
  • a surety bond certificate, a certificate of deposit, or a certificate of self-insurance issued under the chapter.

The standard proof form must show the insurer's name, the policy number, the policy period, each insured's name and address, the policy limits or a statement that the policy meets the state minimums, and the make and model of each covered vehicle (§601.081).

What happens if a driver has no insurance in Texas?

Operating a vehicle without financial responsibility is an offense (Transp. Code §601.191). For a first offense it is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $175 to $350, and after a prior conviction by a fine of $350 to $1,000. A driver who does not show evidence of financial responsibility is presumed to have none, unless an officer confirms coverage through the state's verification program (§601.053(b)-(c)). It is a defense to the charge to produce to the court a document listed in §601.053 that was valid at the time of the alleged offense (§601.193).

When the other driver in a crash has no insurance or not enough, UM/UIM coverage on the injured person's own policy is the coverage the Insurance Code provides for that situation (Ins. Code §1952.101). See our UM/UIM guide.

Are PIP and uninsured motorist coverage required in Texas?

They are part of every Texas auto liability policy unless rejected in writing:

  • PIP. An insurer may not issue a Texas auto liability policy unless it provides PIP coverage, but the coverage does not apply if any insured named in the policy rejects it in writing (Ins. Code §1952.152). The law does not require an insurer to provide more than $2,500 in PIP per person; a policy can carry a higher limit (§1952.153). See our PIP guide.
  • UM/UIM. The same rule applies to uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, which must be in at least the limits prescribed by Transportation Code chapter 601 (§1952.101).
  • Renewals. Once a named insured has rejected either coverage, the insurer is not required to provide it in a renewal or reinstated policy unless the named insured asks for it in writing (§§1952.101(c), 1952.152(b)).

TDI summarizes the same rules: all Texas auto policies include PIP, insurance companies must offer UM/UIM, and a person who does not want either must tell the company in writing (TDI, Auto insurance guide).

What other coverages are there?

TDI lists eight basic auto coverages: liability, collision, comprehensive, medical payments, PIP, UM/UIM, towing and labor, and rental reimbursement (TDI, Auto insurance guide). Of these, state law requires financial responsibility, usually met with liability coverage, and makes PIP and UM/UIM part of the policy unless rejected in writing. TDI also notes that a lender will require collision and comprehensive coverage on a car that still has a loan. Our guide to property damage and injury claims explains how vehicle damage and injury claims are handled separately.

Where can you find your own coverage?

A Texas liability policy must state the name and address of the named insured, the coverage provided, the premium, the policy period and the limits of liability (Transp. Code §601.073(a)), and the standard proof form shows the insurer, the policy number and the policy period (§601.081). A rejection of PIP or UM/UIM has to be in writing (Ins. Code §§1952.101(c), 1952.152(b)). After a crash, our guide to who pays medical bills after a Texas car accident explains how these coverages fit together.

Related Houston information

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Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum car insurance required in Texas?
Texas Transportation Code §601.072 sets the minimum liability coverage needed to establish financial responsibility at $30,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in one collision, $60,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in one collision, and $25,000 for damage to or destruction of others' property in one collision. The Texas Department of Insurance calls this 30/60/25 coverage.
What does 30/60/25 cover?
It is liability coverage, which pays for injuries and damage the insured driver causes to others. The Texas Department of Insurance describes liability coverage as paying to repair the other driver's car and paying the other driver's and passengers' medical bills and some other expenses when the insured caused the accident. It does not pay to repair the insured driver's own car; that is collision coverage.
Is PIP required in Texas?
Under Insurance Code §1952.152, an insurer may not issue a Texas auto liability policy unless it provides personal injury protection coverage, but the coverage does not apply if any insured named in the policy rejects it in writing.
Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Texas?
Under Insurance Code §1952.101, an insurer may not issue a Texas auto liability policy unless it provides uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, but the coverage does not apply if any insured named in the policy rejects it in writing.
What counts as proof of insurance in Texas?
Transportation Code §601.053 lists the evidence a driver may show a peace officer or another person in a collision, including the liability policy or a copy, the standard proof of insurance form issued by the insurer, an image on a wireless device that includes the required information, an insurance binder, and certain bond, deposit or self-insurance certificates.

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