Texas (KLTV) – Nearly one in seven Texas drivers is on the road without insurance, and experts say the financial and legal consequences of a single crash can far outweigh the cost of a policy.
Texas ranks 22nd in the nation for uninsured drivers. The average Texan with coverage pays $1,800 a year — nearly 27% more than the national average. Experts say that cost is pushing more drivers to go without coverage.
What’s at stake without coverage
Attorney Justin Roberts said the consequences extend well beyond a traffic ticket. One accident, he said, could cost $15,000 to $25,000 out of pocket — the equivalent of up to 13 years of premiums.
“If you hit somebody, they won’t be able to pay their medical bills potentially,” Roberts said. “You also have the exposure of getting sued personally and won’t have insurance there to protect you.”
In Texas, driving uninsured can result in hundreds of dollars in fines. Repeat offenders risk losing their license and having their vehicle impounded.
Roberts also cautioned that purchasing a policy after a crash provides no protection.
“Insurance takes effect when you purchase it,” Roberts said. “So if you get in a wreck and then try to buy insurance, it’s too late.”
The uninsured driver risk to insured motorists
Roberts said drivers who do carry insurance are not fully protected if they are hit by an uninsured motorist — unless they carry underinsured motorist coverage.
“Because of the uninsured drivers on the road, nearly one in seven Texas drivers don’t have any insurance,” Roberts said. “And so if you get hit by one of those drivers, the only protection you have is your own underinsured motorist coverage.”
Affordable options still available
Yan Reyes, an insurance agent at Easy Access Insurance in Tyler, said affordable coverage options remain available even as rates rise.
“We work with multiple companies,” Reyes said. “So, we can definitely help every customer get at least liability insurance. Or also, we can get comprehensive and collision at a very affordable price as well.”
Since the pandemic, the national uninsured rate has climbed nearly three percentage points and has not recovered. Roberts said the cost of coverage, while significant, does not outweigh the risk of going without it.
“It is the best purchase you can make because you never know when you’re going to need it,” Roberts said. “And when you need it, you really do need it.”
Experts say drivers should shop around and confirm their policy is current before they need it.
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