Texas car insurance quote checklist

Documents and details to have ready

• Driver license numbers and birth dates for everyone in the household of driving age. TDI notes some companies require all of them on the policy.
• The VIN, year, make, and model of each car. The VIN must match your registration so TexasSure can verify your coverage.
• Where each car is kept overnight, by ZIP code. TDI says rates can vary between ZIP codes in the same city.
• How each car is used: commuting, business, or delivery and rideshare driving.
• Your current declarations page, showing limits, deductibles, and your renewal date.
• Tickets, crashes, and claims in recent years. Insurers often check the CLUE claims database, and TDI says you can get a free copy of your report each year from LexisNexis at 866-312-8076.
• Lender or lease details if you're financing, since the lender will require collision and comprehensive.

Decide on PIP and UM/UIM before you sign

Every Texas auto policy includes PIP and UM/UIM unless a named insured rejects them in writing (Insurance Code Sections 1952.101 and 1952.152). A rejection carries over: the insurer doesn't have to add the coverage back on renewal or reinstatement, or on a later policy from the same or an affiliated company, unless you ask for it in writing. Review any old rejection when you switch or renew.

PIP pays medical bills, lost income, and certain household services for you and your passengers regardless of fault. Insurers aren't required to offer more than $2,500 per person, though some may offer higher amounts. UM/UIM pays when the at-fault driver has no insurance or too little, and for hit-and-run crashes reported to police.

Pick liability limits above 30/60/25

The Texas minimum is $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per crash for injuries, and $25,000 for property damage. TDI points out that a minimum policy will pay at most $25,000 for car repairs, which may not cover a newer vehicle or a multi-car crash, and that you can be sued for the difference.

Your UM/UIM limits can't be higher than your own liability limits (Section 1952.105). Raising liability can make higher UM/UIM available too. TDI says UM/UIM can usually be added in $5,000 increments and suggests carrying at least enough UM property damage coverage to replace your car.

Deductibles and physical damage

Collision and comprehensive have deductibles but no dollar limit beyond the car's actual cash value. TDI says hail, flood, theft, and hitting an animal fall under comprehensive. The UM/UIM property damage deductible is $250 by statute, which TDI notes is often lower than a collision deductible.

Ask how each quote handles rental reimbursement and towing, which have their own dollar limits.

Questions to ask each company

TDI's HelpInsure.com shows sample prices and lists which companies use credit scores. Use it to narrow the field, then get current quotes.

• Do you use credit information? Texas requires an insurer to tell you at application if it does.
• Will any household driver be excluded? A named driver exclusion must name the person and be accepted in writing.
• What discounts apply, such as defensive driving, multiple cars, or bundling?
• Are the limits, deductibles, PIP, and UM/UIM identical to the other quotes I'm comparing?
• Do you file SR-22s, if I need one?

Check the seller and avoid a gap

TDI suggests calling its Help Line at 800-252-3439 to confirm a company or agent is licensed. After a fake-card scam, TDI also suggests paying the company rather than an agent personally and calling the company to confirm your policy is active.

Don't cancel your old policy until the new one is in force or you have written proof of coverage, TDI says. If you buy another car mid-term, Texas policies must cover it if you tell your insurer within 20 days of becoming the owner, or a later date your policy allows (Section 1952.059).

If two companies turn you down, an agent can place minimum coverage through the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association (TAIPA).