Texas Transportation Code § 601.072 – State Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements
Table of Contents
Statutory Text:
Sec. 601.072. MINIMUM COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS; EXCLUSION.
(a) The minimum amounts of motor vehicle liability insurance coverage required to establish financial responsibility under this chapter are:
(1) $30,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in one accident;
(2) $60,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in one accident, subject to the $30,000 limit for one person; and
(3) $25,000 for damage to or destruction of property of others in one accident.
What Does This Law Mean for Injury Victims?
This statute defines the minimum amount of auto liability coverage every driver in Texas must carry.
If you are injured in a crash, the at-fault driver’s insurer is only required by law to pay:
$30,000 per person for injury or death
$60,000 total for all injured people per accident
$25,000 for property damage
This means that in serious injury cases, these limits are often not enough which is where underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage becomes crucial.
Example Scenario
You suffer a traumatic brain injury in a crash. The at-fault driver only carries the minimum $30,000 per person required under § 601.072. Your medical expenses total over $150,000. After collecting the $30,000 liability limit, your attorney files a claim against your UIM policy for the remaining losses.
When This Law Applies
This statute applies:
Any time you’re in an accident in Texas
When calculating how much the at-fault driver’s insurance will pay
When filing UIM claims if your damages exceed these limits
When negotiating settlements or evaluating recovery caps
These limits often fall short in serious injury cases, so knowing them helps you plan for alternative coverage options.
Related Statutes
§ 601.051 – Proof of Financial Responsibility
§ 1952.101 – UIM Coverage Requirements
§ 542.058 – Delay in Payment Penalties
§ 541.060 – Bad Faith Insurance Conduct
Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 33.001 – Comparative Negligence
Texas Case Law Interpreting § 601.072
Clarified the interaction between minimum liability limits and UIM policy obligations.
Discussed how insurers must honor policy terms once liability limits are exhausted.
Held that policy language must comply with statutory minimums, even if exclusions exist.
Frequently Asked Questions About § 601.072
Houston Personal Injury Lawyer - Joel A. Gordon
$30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident for injury, and $25,000 for property damage.
You may pursue compensation through your own underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage.
Yes, but collecting more than their policy limits may be difficult unless they have personal assets.
Yes. Any driver operating a vehicle in Texas must comply with these minimum financial responsibility laws.