If you live in Austin County or the surrounding area, and need to drive to work or run your usual errands, you wouldn’t want to be driving without any auto insurance coverage. After all, your life could be turned upside down if your vehicle is damaged or destroyed in an accident. It could also get stolen or ruined by fire, flooding, a tornado, or some other event.

This is why it’s essential to have the right auto insurance policy that’ll help you get back on your feet and on the road, whatever misfortune may befall you and your car. The right auto insurance cover can also provide you with ample protection against legal and medical expenses arising from injury and loss of limb or life, as well as any property damage resulting from an accident that involves your vehicle.

At LKL Insurance, we’ll work with you and assess your specific needs to identify the best auto insurance product for your lifestyle.

Minimum auto insurance requirements in Texas

In Texas, driving without insurance is illegal, and there are minimum auto insurance requirements for drivers:

• Bodily Injury Coverage: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident

• Property Damage Coverage: $25,000 per accident

Bodily injury insurance takes care of costs related to car accident injuries (other than property damage), including any psychological harm and emotional distress the injured people experience because of or relating to the accident.

It comes into effect when the policyholder-driver’s fault in an accident is established. It encompasses both short- and long-term costs to the injured passengers riding on another vehicle involved in the accident, as well as pedestrians and bystanders hurt by the at-fault driver.

However, the level of protection you’ll receive from your auto insurance depends on your policy. So when you have to shoulder bodily injury expenses amounting to $75,000, it doesn't necessarily mean that your insurer will be releasing the exact same amount. If your insurance policy only covers $60,000 for bodily injury, then that’s the limit of the policy.

The moment your minimum policy limit is exhausted, you’ll need to dip into your own savings. And since Texas is a tort-based or at-fault state, your liability insurance will only cover the costs incurred by other parties because of injury and property damage.

You are not covered.

This could leave you financially and medically vulnerable if your car is wrecked and you are hurt during the accident. Therefore, going by the state’s minimum insurance requirements does not prepare you for such scenarios.

Going beyond the minimum

For your protection as a driver and car owner in and around Austin County consider other types of insurance, including comprehensive car insurance, collision car insurance, and Med Pay.

These are all optional, of course. However, they'll provide the protection you need in the unfortunate event that you get involved in a car accident.

If you wish to know more about other insurance products that can complement your minimum auto insurance or the cover you already have, please reach out to us at LKL Insurance.