Texas ranks second in the country in terms of land area and third in population, next only to Alaska and California, respectively. While people might associate the state with desert or large fields of ranches, only about 10% of its territory is arid. The land is actually diverse, featuring rivers, swamps, forests, prairies, coastlines, mountains, and grasslands.
It is not surprising, therefore, that every year, some 60 million tourists visit Texas, drawn to its many attractions like the Alamo, NASA Space Center, Dealey Plaza, River Walk, and the Sixth Floor Museum, among others.
Texas is considered a comparative fault state, which means that drivers will shoulder the cost of the road crash or collision if they are found to be over 50% at fault. That is why most people try to find the best car insurance in Texas to make sure that they are protected in case of an accident.
The Department of Motor Vehicles reported that every year, it registers about 24 million vehicles, collecting $4.5 billion from fees and other charges. A bulk of the collection will go to the treasury, which will, in turn, be used to improve and maintain the roads and bridges of the state.
Although that might seem to be a lot of vehicles, Texas actually ranks near the bottom in terms of registered cars per capita. For instance, out of every 100, there are only 29 people who have cars in the state. Compare that to Delaware, which has a ratio of 43:100.
How Many Are Uninsured?
It should surprise you, however, that a large number of motorists in Texas are risking it by not having vehicle insurance.
According to the report from the Insurance Research Council, as shared by the Insurance Information Institute, about one in eight motorists in the United States were uninsured in 2015. There is no latest data but from 1992 to 1998, the figure hovers about 13-14% in the United States.
Texas, meanwhile, was around 14%. If you go by the 24 million registered vehicles, it means that 3.3 million vehicle owners in the state do not even make the effort to find the best car insurance in Texas. However, some estimates claim that as much as 20-25% of the motorists in the state have no insurance. If you go by the latter estimate, you are looking at six million without insurance.
What Happens When They Get into An Accident?
If you have no insurance and you figure into an accident, you can be sued for damages by the other party. Now, every time you go out, you are risking getting pulled over. The state mandates that people who get behind the wheel must have liability insurance. Besides that, you will need the help of a lawyer in case you fall trap in an accident. For that, you can read more here and find out how an attorney can be helpful
At the minimum, the liability insurance is equivalent to $60,000 per accident in the case of personal injury or $25,000 for property damage. If you are caught for the first time, you will pay from $175 to $350, plus an additional $250 annual surcharge that you have to pay for the next three years when you renew your driver’s license.
For subsequent offenses, you will pay a maximum of $1,000, plus the $250 surcharge on your driver’s license for the next three years. There is also the risk of getting your license revoked or your vehicle impounded.