Auto Insurance And Vehicle Registration: Understanding The Texas Connection

In Texas, you need to have car insurance to register a vehicle. This is a legal requirement, and driving without insurance can result in a fine. To register your vehicle, you'll need to provide proof of insurance, proof of ownership, and a passing inspection from a certified Texas Department of Public Safety inspector. You can renew your registration online, by mail, or in person.

Vehicle registration requirements in Texas

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) manages vehicle registration for the state. Here are the requirements for registering your vehicle in Texas:

Vehicle Inspection:

• Take your vehicle to a certified Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) inspection station. Mechanic shops, oil change locations, and service stations may be certified by DPS as inspection stations.
• Bring your insurance card as proof of insurance.
• Texas-registered vehicles must pass an annual inspection to ensure compliance with safety standards.

Insurance Coverage:

• Show insurance coverage for the required minimums per person, per accident, and for property damage.
• In Texas, the minimum insurance coverage is $30,000 per injured person, up to a total of $60,000 for everyone injured in an accident, and $25,000 for property damage.

Registration and License Plates:

• Visit your local county tax-assessor collector office to obtain your vehicle registration and Texas license plates.
• You will need your insurance card, the Vehicle Inspection Report from the inspection station, and proof of vehicle ownership, such as the registration or title from your previous state.
• If you have a foreign or military vehicle, you can provide the appropriate ownership documents.
• The base registration fee in Texas is $50.75, plus $1 for TexasSure, the electronic insurance verification program, for a total state registration fee of $51.75.
• Counties may add other fees to this cost.
• As a new Texas resident, you will also pay sales tax-related fees to the state's Comptroller of Public Accounts. These fees can be $90 or the difference between your previous state's sales tax and the Texas sales tax.

Address Updates:

• If you move to a different address in Texas, it is important to update your address on your motor vehicle record.
• Updating your address ensures that you receive your registration renewal notices and helps you avoid fines for failing to renew your registration.

Registration Renewal:

• You can renew your vehicle registration online, by mail, or in person.
• Online renewal is available 90 days before the expiration date or up to 12 months after the expiration date if you haven't received a citation for an expired registration.
• There is a $1 discount for online renewals.
• To renew by mail, send the renewal notice, a copy of your Vehicle Inspection Report, proof of current liability insurance, and all fees to your county tax office.
• For in-person renewal, take your registration renewal notice and proof of current liability insurance to your county tax office or an approved substation.
• You must have a passing vehicle inspection before you can renew your registration.

The address on your auto insurance and registration

In Texas, the address on your car insurance and registration does not have to match. However, you need to check your local state laws to make sure you can legally have car insurance and registration at different addresses. If you do not, you will be committing insurance fraud. Car insurance rates vary by state and city, so it is important to be as accurate as possible on your car insurance policy.

Your insurance agent and loan company would also expect to know where your car is being garaged. It helps them set appropriate rates. If you don't make your payments or don't maintain proof of required insurance, it also tells your lender where they should look for your car.

If you wanted to get your bill at a different location, you could change your mailing address for your auto insurance policy or loan.

If you are moving, you may wonder, "Does my insurance address have to match my driver's license or registration?" Yes, you shouldn't have different addresses on your driving license and car insurance policy. If you do, your insurer may suspect you of lying about your address to get better rates. Although it's acceptable for them to not match when you are moving, you should get them changed before the state's local time limit is up.

In most states, you are required to get a new driver's license within 30 days. If you have not moved out of state, you may simply be required to get a change of address card. If you have moved out of state, you will need to register your car in your new home state.

Your car insurance and registration address must match in New York. However, the state has exceptions for leased and financed vehicles.

California drivers must have insurable interest in vehicles they own, but the names on insurance and registration don't always need to match exactly.

In South Carolina, auto insurance laws don't prohibit having different names on car insurance and registration.

No, your Texas auto insurance policy and registration don't have to match exactly, but the owner must have insurable interest in the vehicle.

The consequences of having a mismatched address

In Texas, vehicle registration is managed by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). While there is no explicit information on the consequences of having a mismatched address, it is important to note that keeping your address updated is crucial. Here are some potential issues that may arise if your auto insurance address does not match your registration address in Texas:

Legal Consequences

In some jurisdictions, registering a vehicle with a mismatched address may be considered insurance fraud. Providing false information or registering your car at the wrong address can lead to legal consequences, including fines, license suspension, or even criminal charges. It is essential to comply with state laws and provide accurate information to avoid these penalties.

Issues with Law Enforcement

If you are pulled over by a law enforcement officer and the addresses on your license, registration, and proof of insurance do not match, it may raise red flags. This could lead to further inquiries and complications, as the officer may interpret mismatched addresses as a potential sign of fraud or other issues.

Insurance Coverage and Premiums

Insurance companies use your address to assess the risk associated with insuring your vehicle. Registering your car at a different address, especially in a different ZIP code, can impact your insurance premium. Failing to update your address with your insurance carrier may result in incorrect coverage for your vehicle, as the location where the vehicle is primarily kept is a factor in determining coverage.

Renewal and Cancellation Issues

Having a mismatched address on your auto insurance and registration may lead to issues when it is time to renew your policy. Insurance companies may refuse to renew your policy if they identify incorrect or fraudulent information. Additionally, incorrect insurance information can lead to the cancellation of your existing policy.

Compliance with State Laws

Each state has its own laws and requirements for vehicle registration and insurance. By having a mismatched address, you may inadvertently violate these laws, leading to potential fines or other penalties. It is important to review the specific regulations in Texas to ensure compliance.

Delayed or Misdirected Mail

Having a mismatched address can cause delays or misdirected mail regarding your vehicle registration or insurance. This includes important documents, renewal notices, or other correspondence. Ensuring that your address is up to date helps you stay informed and compliant with any deadlines or requirements.

In summary, while there may be exceptions in certain states, it is generally advisable to keep your auto insurance address and registration address the same. This helps to avoid legal issues, complications with law enforcement, and issues with insurance coverage and compliance. Remember to update your address with the DMV and your insurance carrier whenever you move to prevent any potential consequences.

How to update your address in Texas

In Texas, you have 30 days to notify the DMV of your change of address. Here's how to update your address:

Moving to Texas from Another State

To get a Texas driver's license, you'll need to go to the Texas Department of Public Safety in person to apply. The cost of a Texas driver's license varies by age: $16 for applicants under 18, $25 for applicants 18-84, and $9 for applicants 85 and older.

You'll also need to register your vehicle with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) within 30 days. To do this, you'll need to:

• Take your vehicle to a certified Vehicle Inspection station and obtain a passing Texas inspection.
• Bring your insurance card with you because the inspection station will ask to see proof of insurance.
• Visit your local county tax-assessor collector office to obtain your Texas license plates and registration sticker. You will need your insurance card, the Vehicle Inspection Report issued by the inspection station, and proof that you own the vehicle, such as the registration or title from your previous state.

Moving Within Texas

You can update your address with the DMV in four ways:

• Online: Go to the Texas DMV website and fill out the change of address form. After submitting, you can print out a temporary license while you wait for your official license to arrive.
• In-person: Visit a Texas driver's license office near you and fill out a change of address form.
• By phone: Call the Texas Driver's License Renewal Service at 1-866-357-3639 from a touch-tone phone. You must be between the ages of 18 and 74 with an active license and no outstanding traffic tickets or warrants to update your address by phone.
• By mail: Download and fill out form DL-64, then mail it to the address listed at the top of the form.

To update your address for your driver's license, you will need:

• Your current Texas driver's license or ID card
• The last four digits of your social security number
• A credit card to make your payment

To update your address for your vehicle registration, you will need:

• Your current Texas driver's license or ID card
• Your license plate number
• The last four digits of your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

You can update the address on your vehicle's registration online through the Texas DMV. You must update your registration information within 90 days of your move, and address changes will go into effect after two days. Alternatively, you can update your address in person at your local Texas county tax office.

Moving From Texas to Another State

If you are moving from Texas to another state, you do not need to notify the Texas DMV. Your Texas driver's license will be automatically canceled once you obtain a new driver's license from your new state. Similarly, your vehicle registration will be canceled once you register your vehicle in your new state, and you can keep your Texas license plates.

The minimum insurance coverage in Texas

In Texas, you must have at least $30,000 in liability coverage for each injured person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. This basic coverage is called 30/60/25.

This means that, in the event of an accident, you’ll be covered for up to $25,000 for bodily injury to one person per accident, $50,000 coverage for bodily injury to two or more people per accident, and $25,000 in property damage coverage per accident.

However, these requirements are simply minimums and there’s no guarantee that minimum coverage will address all the costs of recovery and repairs if you’re injured in an accident. For instance, car prices and the high cost of medical care mean that the minimum amounts might not be enough to pay all of the costs if you're at fault in an accident. Other drivers could sue you to collect the difference.

Therefore, it is recommended that you purchase more than the minimum limits to protect yourself. Collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, medical payments coverage, and personal injury protection are all options to consider.

In addition to purchasing auto insurance, you also need to show proof of insurance if police request it. You’ll need to produce proof of insurance if you’re involved in an accident, as well as to register your car and get a Texas driver’s license or renew either your registration or your license. The law requires you to show proof of insurance as part of your annual vehicle inspection.

Frequently asked questions