Texas Wants 30/60/25 — Higher Than Most States

An SR-22 certifies that you carry at least the state minimum liability coverage. So before anything else, it is worth knowing exactly what Texas asks for — because it is not the number most people carry in their head.

The three numbers

1. <strong>$30,000</strong> for each injured person
2. <strong>$60,000</strong> for total injuries per accident
3. <strong>$25,000</strong> for property damage per accident

Written as shorthand, that is 30/60/25. The Texas Department of Insurance publishes it in its consumer auto guide, and the requirement itself sits under the Safety Responsibility Act.

Why this catches out-of-state arrivals

A large number of states use 25/50/25. If you moved to Central Texas with a policy written to that standard — or if you simply asked a carrier for state minimum without saying which state — you can be carrying a policy that does not satisfy Texas law.

The minimum is a floor, not a recommendation

The Department of Insurance makes a point worth repeating in its own words: the minimum limits might be too low if you cause a multi-vehicle accident or total someone's car. If your coverage does not pay for the damage you caused, the other driver can sue you for the difference.

Buying the minimum is a decision with a consequence attached, not a default. That said, when the immediate problem is getting a licence back, minimum limits with a filing are a legitimate starting point — and worth revisiting once the requirement clears.

What the filing does not limit

An SR-22 is not a type of insurance and it does not cap your coverage. You can attach it to a policy with collision, comprehensive, and limits well above 30/60/25. If you have a loan or a lease you will need physical damage coverage anyway, whatever the state asks for.

If nobody will write you at all

Texas has a backstop that most drivers have never heard of. Once two insurance companies have turned you down, you become eligible for coverage through the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association.

It sells liability, personal injury protection and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage only — no collision, no comprehensive, and no limits above the state minimum. It costs more. But it exists, and after three years without tickets or accidents your carrier is required to offer you something cheaper outside it.

We would rather place you in the ordinary market first, which is usually possible even after a DWI. You should just know the floor is there before you conclude you cannot get insured.