- What car insurance coverage is required in Houston?
- Additional coverages available to Houston drivers
- How much does Car insurance cost in Houston?
- Best day trips around Houston
- Houston Museum of Natural Science
- Other ways of getting around Houston
- How accessible are hybrid and electric vehicles in Houston?
Spinning your wheels trying to get the best auto insurance rates in Houston? The last thing you want to do is randomly pick a car insurance company and hope for the best. Or worse, drive without enough coverage and pray you won’t get into a car accident.
Insurance requirements and limitations in Houston are determined by the state of Texas. But don’t sweat the details. When you apply for car insurance in Houston, we’ll automatically get you hooked up with the auto insurance coverages you need, and offer extra coverages to help you customize your policy so you feel protected behind the wheel.
Read on to learn about how you can get the best rates on car insurance in Houston.
What car insurance coverage is required in Houston?
The state of Texas requires all Houston drivers to have car insurance.
Let’s run through some basics first. Remember: A “limit” on your car insurance policy refers to the maximum amount your insurance company will pay out on a certain type of claim.
For example, Texas drivers are required to have a minimum of $30,000/$60,000 of bodily injury liability coverage. That means that for a certain type of claim your car insurance company could pay out a maximum of $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, and $60,000 of bodily injury coverage in total (for all of the people injured in an accident.)
To comply with Texas’s car insurance coverage requirements, Houston drivers need the following coverages and minimum coverage amounts:
| Required minimum coverages for Houston drivers | Minimum amount required |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability coverage | $30,000/60,000 |
| Property damage liability coverage | $25,000 |
Keep in mind: Your levels of bodily injury and property damage liability coverage don’t have to stop at the bare minimum. You can easily select higher amounts for each required coverage and include optional add-on coverages when you build your policy on our app.
Additional coverages available to Houston drivers
Houston drivers who drive with Lemonade Car can (and arguably should) add the following coverage options to their auto insurance policy to boost their protection behind the wheel.
| What add-on coverages does Car offer? | What can it help pay for? |
|---|---|
| Collision coverage | To repair or replace your own car if it’s damaged in an accident with another vehicle, or a stationary object (like a fence, highway divider, and so on). |
| Comprehensive coverage | To fix damage to your car, or possibly replace it entirely, if there are damages or losses from an incident that didn’t involve a collision with another vehicle (like if you hit a deer, damage from a hailstorm, and so on). |
| Personal Injury Protection (aka PIP) | Medical expenses for you or a passenger in your car after a crash— like ambulance fees, hospital visits, and health insurance co-pays, a percentage of your lost wages as a result of your injuries, or for funeral services (in a worst case scenario). Usually doesn’t have a deductible. |
| Uninsured/underinsured driver bodily injury coverage | Medical bills and lost wages related to injuries caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver. |
| Uninsured/underinsured driver property damage coverage | To repair or replace your own car if you get into a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. |
| Temporary transportation coverage | Transportation expenses like rideshares, public transportation, bike sharing, or a rental car for up to 30 days while your car is being repaired or appraised. |
Want to dive into the nitty-gritty of what Texas car insurance has to offer? Get the full scoop here.
How much does Car insurance cost in Houston?
Well, that depends.
Your car insurance premium price is based on a number of factors—including the car you drive, the coverages you include, and their limits and deductibles.
The way you drive matters, and actually helps determine your price. So when you’re building a quote for your first term, things like your driving record, your driving history, your insurance score, and how many miles you typically drive help us determine the fairest price and average cost for your car insurance policy.
When you buy a Car policy, you’ll have the chance, over every six-month term, to prove your safe driving habits and potentially lower your price. Those habits can boost your Safety Score and possibly lower your cost of car insurance (especially if you maintain a clean driving record).
Here’s a shout-out to our low-mileage drivers—the less you drive, the more you save. Along with lots of other factors, we consider how much you drive (or how little in your case) to come up with your price, making it especially ideal for the low-mileage driver.
The right car insurance combines the coverage you need with car insurance rates and deductibles you can afford. That’s why we offer insurance you can easily customize. You deserve a policy that feels just right—and fits your budget. Learn more about the cost of insurance and how you can lower the cost of your rates.
The most straightforward way to get a sense of how we price car insurance is by applying for coverage via our mobile app or website.
Click below to get your car insurance quote in Houston.
How can I find a trustworthy car repair shop in Houston?
When your car gets damaged and needs repairs, knowing where to go can feel overwhelming. We get it—mechanics can seem intimidating, and it’s not always easy to know what questions to ask the car repair shop before trusting them with your ride.
Not sure where to start? Click below for a list of car repair shops in Houston—including contact details—that Lemonade has had positive experiences with in the past, if you’re interested.
Here are a few tips to make sure the shop you choose is trustworthy:
- Check reviews and ratings from other customers to see what their experiences have been.
- Ask for certifications like ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) to ensure the mechanics are well-qualified.
- Get a detailed estimate before agreeing to any repairs so there are no surprises later.
Keep in mind: Some car repairs may take longer than usual, check out why delays are happening and how to be prepared here.
Best day trips around Houston
Looking to get away for the day? Buckle up: These quick road trips can satisfy your wanderlust without taking you too far from Houston.
The Houston Botanic Gardens
Just a fifteen minute drive from downtown, you’ll encounter the Houston Botanic Gardens. Its seven different types of gardens will fill you with awe and wonder.
Like a culinary garden that highlights the ways in which people have used plants and flowers to cook. And a discovery garden where families can use their senses—like touch, smell, sight, and hearing—to immerse themselves in nature. The gardens additionally host nature camps for kids, as well as other fun and educational events, like light shows and art exhibits.
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Founded in 1909, the Houston Museum of Natural Science has been educating and delighting visitors for over a century. It is located in Houston’s museum district, just a ten minute drive from downtown.
The museum hosts five floors of permanent exhibits on everything from space science, to paleontology, to energy. It also offers a number of rotating special exhibits. The variety of experiences available makes this museum one of the most popular to visit in the US.
East End Lagoon Nature Preserve on Galveston Island
Located just an hour outside of Houston, the East End Lagoon Nature Preserve is a microcosm of its own on Galveston Island. Though small, each zone of the nature preserve is rich with different wildlife according to their compatibility with its specific tides, elevations, and salinity.
The East End Lagoon is a great place to go bird watching. You can also take a stroll down the nature trail, or go fishing or kayaking in the lagoon itself.
Sam Houston National Forest
Just a half an hour north of Houston you’ll find one of the four national forests of Texas—the Sam Houston National Forest. The forest is home to more than 160,000 acres of natural wonders, campgrounds, recreational areas, and more. It’s also a wintering ground for the bald eagle, and home to the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.
During your visit, you can take a hike, bike, or horseback ride on some of the trails, go fishing, or even take a boat for a spin on the lake.
The George Observatory
Located just a little under an hour from Houston in Brazos Bend State Park, you can stargaze at George Observatory. Technically, the observatory is a branch of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, but it’s one of the largest public telescopes in the US, making it a major attraction on its own.
Want to learn about astronomy and watch live camera feeds of the night sky? The observatory is the perfect spot. Just make sure to book in advance, because tickets are limited.
Other ways of getting around Houston
While cars can be a major convenience, sometimes it’s just quicker and cheaper (not to mention better for the planet) to find an alternative.
The Metro operates a number of public transit options throughout the Houston area—including buses, and a light rail. Like many US cities, Houston residents who choose not to drive can get around using bikeshares and electric scooters, as well as rideshares.
Houston is a sprawling city and as a whole it’s not considered the most walkable city in America. But there are still some neighborhoods, such as Neartown-Montrose, Downtown, and Midtown, that are easy to get around on foot, according to Walk Score.
We reward low-mileage drivers with lower premiums. Houston drivers who are behind the wheel fewer than 9,000 miles a year (around 22 miles daily) could be eligible for low-mileage car insurance discounts.
Because of that, we encourage you—whenever possible—to go out and about without your car.
How accessible are hybrid and electric vehicles in Houston?
As accessibility, efficiency, and upfront costs of hybrid and electric vehicles (EV) improve, the trends of drivers heading towards the future do, too. The market is expected to continue growing exponentially as new makes and models, legislation, and incentives become available.
Houston was one of the first cities in the US to adopt EVs as part of their municipal fleet. Unfortunately, that fleet was destroyed during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The City of Houston is working to resupply the municipal fleet with EVs in partnership with Evolve Houston—a non-profit focused on making clean transportation available to all Houstonians.
The city has already managed to acquire about 100 electric vehicles for the fleet, with the goal to convert all non-emergency, light-duty municipal vehicles to electric by 2030.
In addition, Evolve Houston has created an extensive roadmap for the city of Houston, focusing on three areas: Availability, awareness, and affordability. The goal is that Houston will be carbon free by 2050.
You can check out where your nearest EV charging stations are here.
We support Houston drivers who make environment-friendly choices. We offer awesome protection and perks for hybrids and EVs—like coverage for your home charging station or a portable charger. Side note: Lemonade Renters and Homeowners policies can also be customized to include extra coverage for certain types of e-bikes, if that’s how you like to cruise.
Fast transportation facts about Houston
Houston isn’t just the fourth most populous city in the United States—it’s also a haven for those who love all things that move fast. Here are a few Houston-oriented transportation-centric tidbits:
Space Center Houston
Houston has been a center for space exploration from its very beginnings. Space Center Houston is a testament to Houston’s place in the history of space travel. Tour the Nasa Johnson Space Center, see the collections of starships and spacesuits, learn about NASA’s Artemis program, Mars exploration, and more.
Art Car Museum
This small museum focuses on “art cars”, cars that have been used as canvases for art car artists to express themselves and their passions. In addition to these colorful automobiles, the Art Car Museum also hosts automotive photography exhibits, car shows, focusing on a specific type of car, and more. Tickets are by appointment only.
1940 Air Terminal Museum
The 1940 Air Terminal Museum is mostly known for the beautiful art-deco building in which it is housed. Originally the administrative center of Houston’s municipal airport as well as its control tower, the museum now houses exhibits on the history of aviation.
Before we drive off into the sunset…
Houston drivers, we can’t wait for you to take Lemonade Car for a spin. Here’s hoping you never get stuck in rush hour traffic on the US-59 and IH-10!
We offer top-of-the-line coverage and trunk loads of discounts—plus opportunities to make the road (and the world around us) a better place. Applying for your free quote is easy, and coverage starts at just $30/month.
Our great coverage and super fast claims resolution don’t stop at auto insurance, though. Did you know that we also offer Homeowners, Renters, Pet, and Life Insurance? Not only will you become eligible for our bundling discounts, you can also manage each of your policies through the same app you use for Lemonade Car.
Let’s drive.
A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of policies issued by Lemonade, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage may not be available in all states.
