Harlingen Car Insurance
A 30-minute drive from Brownsville Texas and the Mexican border, Harlingen is a working class town where both American and Mexican nationals work and live together. South Padre Island beach on the Gulf coast is only a 40-minute drive and considered one of the best beaches in the continental United States.
The low cost of living that adds to Harlingen's appeal does not extend to car insurance prices.
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Harlingen drivers must comply with Texas car insurance regulations and tend to pay more than the U.S. average for car insurance. Money can still be saved by careful shopping when renewal time comes.
Texas Car Insurance Requirements
The most important function of car insurance in Texas according to the law is that all drivers must have the ability pay for any damages or injuries resulting from the car accidents that they cause.
Texas law requires drivers to be financially able to pay for damages but does not require car insurance. There are options to prove financial responsibility in Harlingen:
- A licensed driver may obtain a surety bond underwritten by a Texas surety that has a value equal to or more than the total dollar amount of the minimum liability requirement.
- $55,000 in cash or securities deposited with the Texas State Comptroller would satisfy the minimum legal requirement for car insurance.
- A licensed driver could also deposit $55,000 in cash or cashier’s check with the county judge of the county in which the car is registered. For Harlingen, it would be Cameron County.
- Own a fleet of 25 cars or more for your business and you may be self-insured. The state of Texas will accept an official certificate of self-insurance.
Licensed drivers in Harlingen agree that car insurance is the easiest way to be financially responsible for potential damage and injury and comply with the law.
Getting Car Insurance in Harlingen
Minimum liability coverage in Texas is $30,000 for bodily injury per person per accident, $60,000 bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 of coverage for property damage.
Uninsured motorist and underinsured is not legally required but it is estimated that 20 percent or 1 of every 5 drivers in Texas is uninsured. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is strongly recommended even for drivers who would not purchase insurance without a legal requirement.
Examples of Car Insurance Prices in Harlingen
A 61-year-old married woman who drives a 2013 Toyota Camry will pay $136 per month for premium coverage with Geico.
Premium is the most complete coverage and has a deductible of $250, $250,000 per person for bodily injury, $500,000 per accident and $100,000 for property damage. She is also protected by $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury uninsured motorist protection.
She has towing, rental car and full glass coverage on this policy. Adding her husband and his 2013 Ford to the policy and receiving a multi-car discount will cost this couple $211 per month for premium coverage for both vehicles in Harlingen. State Farm will charge $244 per month and Farmers wants $500 per month.
A 38-year-old married man with a 2012 Nissan Quest will pay $158 per month with USAA for extended coverage which provides $100,000 per person bodily injury, $300,000 per accident, and $50,000 for property damage.
Extended coverage also provides $100,000 per person bodily injury, $300,000 per accident, and $50,000 property damage when involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist.
Extended coverage includes towing service and a rental car. The deductible is $500 dollars. Adding his 39-year-oldd wife and her 2011 Subaru Forester will increase the cost to a total of $317 per month.
Putting their newly-licensed daughter on their policy increases the premium to $494 per month. State Farm will charge this family $399 dollars per month and Farmers Insurance will want $655.
For a 26-year-old single man seeking the basic minimum on his 2002 Saturn, USAA will sell him insurance if he has a military connection for $172 per month. State Farm is not much higher at $186 per month. Farmers will provide this coverage for $282 per month.
Harlingen is home to three State Farm insurance agencies and three Farmers insurance agencies.
Proof of Insurance in Harlingen
The fine for people in Texas who drive without car insurance is $350 for the first offense and $1,000 for the second offense.
If the $1,000 fine cannot be paid or there is a third offense, the driver’s license will be suspended for up to two years. It is very important to have proof of insurance.
Proof of insurance or financial responsibility is needed if a driver is stopped by a police officer, involved in a car accident or must reregister or renew the car’s registration or a driver’s license. Car insurance companies provide insurance cards whenever car insurance policies are renewed.
Recently, Texas Senate Bill 181 was passed which gives motorists the ability to pull up proof of insurance on their smart phones. The smart phone application allows traffic officers to verify current insurance information.
The ability of traffic officers to electronically verify current auto insurance is also very recent and is expected to help reduce the number of uninsured drivers.
It can be very difficult for drivers with poor driving records to find car insurance. If a licensed driver has been refused by 2 insurance companies, car insurance can be purchased through the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association (TAIPA).
In order to qualify for this program, drivers must have or do the following:
- Possess a valid driver’s license or be in the application process.
- Be a Texas resident, or own a car registered in Texas.
- Be willing to sign an affidavit stating that your application has been denied by two different insurance companies.
Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association
A TAIPA insurance policy will cover the minimum required liability amount plus the following:
- $2,500 of personal injury protection which can pay for injuries suffered by at-fault driver and family member at-fault driver passengers. Personal injury protection can also pay for income replacement, funeral expenses and work the injured are unable to do.
- Uninsured and under-insured motorist coverage in the amount of $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 per accident and $25,000 of property damage.
- TAIPA insurance must be paid annually, but it is financed with a down payment of the greatest of 20 percent of the premium or $40 and the balance can be paid in 8 equal installment payments.
- Texas insurance law requires that the TAIPA insured drivers who have gone three years without an accident or a violation must be offered standard insurance by their agent at a lower rate.
Insurance companies offer a wide range of discounts that vary between different companies. Not all discounts are offered by all insurance companies.
In order to help promote safe driving, Texas car insurance companies are required by law to offer one particular discount which is a car insurance premium discount to all drivers who complete the Texas Education Agency approved drug and alcohol awareness course.
Now that you've learned more about auto insurance coverage in Texas, enter your zip code below to compare rates from multiple companies in your area!