Purchasing the right auto insurance Houston policy can benefit you in several ways. Too often we hear can you beat my current rate? We understand money is tight but having the cheapest policy isn't always the best thing to consider. Let's provide the policy that fits your need first and then we can talk about price. Let our agency be your home for all your insurance needs!
It’s Monday Morning and you’re running late for work. You rush for the door still trying to put on your other shoe and grab your car keys. You make it to your car, fumble with your car keys and, in the process, drop your cup of coffee. You get in the car and putting the key in the ignition, you think, “This day can’t get any worse.”
As you’re merging onto the Baytown-East Freeway, it happens. WHAM! Your car, which you haven’t even finished paying off, is rear-ended. It seems to be a case of “Murphy’s Law Monday.” Whatever can go wrong has gone wrong. And, if you don’t have auto insurance, things can quickly get a whole lot worse.
Driving in Houston can be hectic, to say the least. That’s why having auto insurance in Houston isn’t just a good idea. In the state of Texas, it’s also the law. Texas state law requires drivers to maintain a certain level of car insurance coverage.
Believe it or not, in the “Lone Star State” a qualifying vehicle insurance policy must contain at least $115,000 in coverage. However, that $115,000 is broken down in a very specific way. So, what is the coverage breakdown for the state of Texas? Well, for your policy to be considered a qualifying auto insurance policy in Texas it must include:
Property Damage Coverage. $25,000 in coverage per incident
Bodily Injury Coverage. $30,000 in coverage per person.
You MUST have a total of $60,000 in bodily injury coverage per incident.
Houston drivers, please pay attention to what you will read next. Sadly, there is good reason why Texas has certain requirements for auto insurance policies. In 2017, for example, there were upwards of 3,700 people killed on Texas roadways. Yes, we said ‘killed’. And, according to the Insurance Council of Texas, in a seven-year span, traffic deaths have increased by 34%. Notice these figures reference traffic fatalities. They don’t include pedestrian deaths due to auto accidents and they also don’t include car accident injuries.
Want to know what those numbers look like? Probably not but, to convince you that you definitely need good auto coverage, we are going to tell you anyway.
Figures from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) paint a pretty clear picture of just how hazardous Texas roadways can be for you or any other driver. For instance, 2016 saw an estimated 670 auto-pedestrian fatalities and over 265,000 car accident injuries.
It’s no small wonder Texas is known as the car accident capital of the U.S. The moral of the story here is that you shouldn’t just think of an auto insurance policy in Houston as a legal requirement. Instead, consider it peace of mind for you and you family, especially if you frequently have your children in the backseat.
Let’s be honest, it is pretty safe to assume most of us don’t have thousands of dollars to pull out of pocket at the drop of a hat. Should we be involved in a car accident or a major wreck, there will be consequences.
Lots of things can contribute to auto accidents and, unfortunately, two of those things mean many auto accidents could have been avoided. We’re talking about speeding and driving under the influence. Based on the statistics, although you may not be the drunk driver or the driver with the lead foot, it’s highly likely you’ll be involved in an auto accident.
You may not be physically hurt as a result of a vehicular accident. Chances are your bank account will feel some pain though. First, if you have recently become a Houston resident, be advised that your beautiful, new home state is a tort state. If you don’t know what that means, allow us to explain.
A tort state is one that has a very particular auto insurance system. This system basically states that any driver who is found at fault for causing a traffic accident will be held responsible for any related damages. These damages can include vehicle damage, victim(s) medical expenses, lost wages, etc.
Should you be found at fault for an accident and be caught driving uninsured, be prepared to pay. We mean that quite literally. Texas law mandates you carry proof of insurance at all times while driving. To the contrary, you could be fined up to $350. Got caught driving without proof of insurance a second time? Rest assured you’ll be $1,000 poorer.
What if you are the victim in a car accident and not the driver at fault, as was the case in the “Murphy’s Law Monday” scenario? Well, for cases like these, you may want to seriously consider a supplemental auto insurance policy. Let’s assume the driver who hit you was uninsured. All of your expenses may not be fully covered, unless you have supplementary coverage.
Also, note that your personal auto insurance policy in Houston will not cover you if you use your personal vehicle for commercial gain. Think Uber or Lyft. There are now many companies offering coverage for folks who provide this type of service.
Remember, however, what is considered mandatory coverage in one state, may not be mandatory in another. In such instances, coverage that isn’t considered mandatory would then be considered supplemental/optional. And yes, owning a vehicle means freedom, but it also means responsibility. As licensed drivers, we all have a responsibility to ourselves, other drivers on the roads and pedestrians. Part of that responsibility is to ensure we are lawfully and properly insured.
Great! Let the knowledgeable staff of the Frank Medina Insurance team work with you to figure out the policy that meets your needs and budget.
No, all policies are not created equal. The amount of coverage and the deductible impact how much your policy will cost. In case you don’t speak “insurance agent,” a deductible is the amount you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance starts to pay. This amount varies from policy to policy, so it’s wise to speak to a knowledgeable insurance professional to fully understand your options.
At Frank Medina Insurance, we don’t just offer coverage for your car, we also have policy options for life insurance, home coverage, recreational vehicle (RV) and motorcycle insurance. In addition, we also offer policies for renters, condominiums and even workers compensation insurance.
You’ve worked hard for your car, home and other possessions, so why not protect them? An insurance policy is an investment in the future. It’s knowing that should the unthinkable happen—car accident, house fire, flood, etc.—we have you, your family and belongings covered. Proper insurance protection starts with a call, click and quote. It’s that easy.
We’ve been serving Houston families just like yours since 2013. We’ve made it our mission to ensure hardworking people like yourself are properly insured and can be confident their policy covers what needs coverage.
We consider ourselves an insurance resource for the communities we serve. Life happens and when it does, we’re here to help. Finding the right insurance coverage can seem daunting. Working alongside one of our friendly insurance agents can make the process easier. We know our products and services inside and out and can provide the guidance to put you on course towards the insurance policy that best suits you.
Our years of experience mean you get excellent customer service, and quality insurance coverage, at a price you can afford.
Whether you’re in Houston or Milwaukee, call or click for more information and a quote from our specialized insurance agents.
Houston Auto Insurance Agency
Frank Medina Insurance
Texas
3663 N Sam Houston Pkwy E #600
Houston, TX 77032
Hours of business
Monday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Closed Saturday and Sunday