Driving Without Insurance in Texas

Summary: Driving without insurance comes with many financial penalties. Fines can reach $350 for first-time offenders, however, they are much higher for those with repeat offenses. Furthermore, you can face many other penalties other than a no insurance ticket in Texas, including your vehicle being impounded. Combined with potential property damage liability, medical expenses, and legal fees, it’s best to avoid driving without insurance by keeping your coverage current. Estimated Read Time: 6 mins

Table of Contents:

1. How Much Is a Ticket for No Insurance in Texas?
2. Can You Go to Jail for Driving Without Insurance in Texas?
3. Can Your Car Get Towed for No Insurance in Texas?
4. Avoid The Risk of Driving Without Insurance, Get Affordable Coverage Today

Driving without insurance can be a tempting way to save money but the hundreds of dollars per month you save is nothing compared to the severe, expensive risks that come along with it.

There are legal issues to deal with, fines, penalties, and the cost of covering the damage to another party’s property to consider. Worst still, is the risk of covering expensive medical bills after a wreck.

There can be a lot of misconceptions about what happens when driving with a car with no insurance, and we are here to set the record straight.
Learn more about the penalty for driving without insurance, how you can protect yourself, and ways to save on coverage.

How Much Is a Ticket for No Insurance in Texas?

The penalty for driving without insurance in Texas will vary depending on how many times you’ve been reprimanded for doing so.

Drivers with more infractions will pay more and have stiffer punishments than those who are first-time offenders.

However, you’ll see that no matter where you fall on the scale, the penalty for driving without insurance can cost you mightily. Here’s how much you can expect to pay:

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance (First-Time Offenders)

The fine for driving without insurance ranges between $175 to $350, but the costs don’t stop there.

You’ll now be required to carry SR-22 insurance and deemed a high-risk driver to carriers.

This means you’ll pay much more for coverage once obtained than the ordinary rates you could have received beforehand.

Your first time is a slap on the wrist comparatively, meant to hurt, but also inspire you to do the right thing and purchase liability insurance. Stiffer penalties await for drivers without insurance who receive multiple tickets.

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance (Repeat Offenders)

For second-time offenders, and those who go on after a second time, the fine for driving without insurance comes with a range of harsher penalties:

• Repeat offenders face fines between $350 and $1,000 per ticket.
• Because Judges are notorious in the Lone Star State for not taking this lightly, you can expect long driving suspensions as well.
• Depending on how severe the offense is, you could have your vehicle impounded for up to 180 days and a daily fee of $15 per day for a maximum fine total of $2,700.
• To get your vehicle back, you will also need to show proof of insurance, and you can bet that those rates are going to skyrocket. You also may limit your options of insurance brands which further reduces your options for discounts, comparative shopping, and more.
• For repeat offenders, vehicle registration or driver’s license suspension is another punishment, and the suspension period depends on whether the offender has insured his or her vehicle for two years since their last conviction.

Penalty for Driving Without Insurance and Registration

As if the punishment for driving without insurance isn’t enough, if you don’t have your vehicle’s registration up-to-date, you could risk paying hundreds of additional dollars in fines.

There are potential fines for not having a registration or having an expired inspection, and the exact costs vary by county.

However, each violation will likely tack on more than $100 to your already hefty fine for driving without liability coverage.

Unknowingly Driving Without Insurance

If an uninsured driver is driving an insured car, there is a lot to consider, as each auto insurance policy is different.

• Uninsured drivers can drive your vehicle if they have permission and the car’s policy allows for such, however, both you and the uninsured driver are responsible for damages that extend past your policy limits. Known as “permissive use”, the driver just needs a valid license, but this is only for occasional use situations.
• Some policies may have “named-driver exclusions”, which is especially the case for high-risk drivers. This means you’re only covered for drivers explicitly listed on your car insurance policy.
• Your carrier may also have a “step-down policy” that will reduce the coverages and their limits when drivers not on your policy are driving.
• If someone living within your home is driving, most auto insurance companies require you to list them as a named driver. Some roommates and other individuals can be excluded, depending on your situation. Excluded drivers who cause accidents in your vehicle aren’t covered, so your claims would be denied. Be sure to list all regular drivers, even if they are not members of your home, on your policy.
• Drivers who borrow your car often but don’t have a vehicle of their own should have a non-owner policy.

Failing to know about these many scenarios won’t help you get out of a no-insurance ticket in Texas. If you are unsure about what coverage you need, speak to a licensed insurance agent.

Related Read: What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

Can You Go to Jail for Driving Without Insurance in Texas?

No, you won’t go to jail for driving without insurance in Texas. However, as you can see having no insurance in Texas while operating a motor vehicle leads to serious consequences.

It’s an expensive endeavor even the first time and can be a major disruption with serious financial ramifications for repeat offenders.

Also, it’s illegal to drive without insurance in Texas as it is in most of the United States, with New Hampshire and Virginia being the exceptions.

Liability car insurance is required by Texas and all motorists must fulfill the 30/60/25 minimum coverage.

Enrolling in minimum coverage can keep you protected as well as out of legal trouble.

However, keep in mind that while minimal coverage can be a budget-friendly way to avoid unnecessary fines, you may be exposed to certain losses without additional coverage.

Is Driving Without Insurance a Felony?

While driving a car without insurance isn’t a felony in Texas, it’s still a Class C misdemeanor that comes with a litany of problems.

Getting a no insurance ticket, formally known as “Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility (FMFR)”, will land you with the previous penalties we’ve discussed.

Can Your Car Get Towed for No Insurance in Texas?

One potential driving without insurance penalty is that your vehicle can be towed.

If you are driving with no insurance, your vehicle can be impounded on the spot if you don’t have a way to get your vehicle to your home legally and safely.

Each situation is different but traffic officers are fully capable of making this decision, adding to your headache and expenses.

Avoid The Risk of Driving Without Insurance, Get Affordable Coverage Today

Getting a ticket for no insurance in Texas is completely avoidable and while fines and legal issues are expensive, they pale severely when compared to the other risks drivers may face on the road.

Rising costs are driving up how much it takes to restore a vehicle after an accident.

Even more expensive still, are the rising costs of healthcare that can take tens of thousands of dollars from drivers without insurance if at fault and causing medical bills for another party.

Overall, driving without insurance in Texas is an expensive and irresponsible endeavor where the risks far outweigh the reward of saving a couple of bucks.

Freedom Insurance Group helps Texans compare coverage from 25+ top-rated insurance brands that deliver affordable protection for your vehicle.

We are committed to helping you find protection that fits your needs and budget.

This includes liability coverage to keep you legal, but also covering your own vehicle through collision coverage, using comprehensive coverage to prepare for the unexpected, and many other options depending on your needs.

Ask an agent about how we can help you avoid driving without insurance and save money or use our online auto insurance quote tool for a quick, accurate estimate.

Sources:

Chapter 502 Registration of Vehicles, Texas Constitution and Statutes, Accessed. May 2024. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.601.htm