Here is what you need to know to find the best Fort Worth car insurance. Drivers in Fort Worth are required to be financially responsible if they are at fault for a motor vehicle accident. Most of them choose to buy car insurance to satisfy this requirement.

Fort Worth Car Insurance: Minimum Coverage Required

Drivers in Fort Worth, as well as everywhere else in Texas, are required to have a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury insurance in place on their vehicle. This coverage is used to pay for medical bills and other expenses incurred by a single person injured in an accident. A total of $50,000 in liability insurance coverage must be purchased to cover the expenses of all people injured in the same accident, no matter how many of them were hurt.

Along with the bodily injury liability insurance coverage, Fort Worth drivers are also required to have $25,000 in liability insurance in place to pay for damage to property. In a car accident, the property includes the other driver’s vehicle, as well as other objects that were hit in the accident. These may include sign posts, mail boxes, sheds, fences, or other buildings.

The minimum levels of coverage required will be increasing as of January 1, 2011. At that point, drivers will need to have at least $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for one person injured in a car accident, and $60,000 for injuries sustained by all people injured in the same occurrence. The minimum level of insurance coverage required for damage to property will remain at the $25,000 level.

Fort Worth Car Insurance: Penalties for Driving Without Insurance

Getting caught without proper car insurance coverage in Fort Worth, Texas means you will be facing some serious consequences. For a first offense, a driver is facing a fine of between $175 and $350. If you get caught violating the state’s financial responsibility laws a second time, the penalties go up. At that point, the fines range from $350-$1,000.

Your driver’s license will be suspended and your vehicle will be impounded. Law enforcement officers will be able to verify whether a driver has proper insurance coverage during a traffic stop, so you need to ensure that you have the proper coverage in place.

To avoid a lapse in coverage, be sure to notify your insurance company if you move. Letting your coverage lapse in Texas for any reason means that your insurance company will consider you a higher-risk driver. You are looking at higher rates for your coverage if you are ever given this designation. Some insurance companies may refuse to extend coverage to you altogether, and you will be forced to seek coverage from a provider that specializes in higher risk drivers.

Finding Cheap Fort Worth Car Insurance Rates

Other than keeping your insurance coverage current, you can save money on your Ft Worth car insurance policy by increasing your deductible. When you agree to take on a larger level of financial responsibility, you are lowering the level of risk to the insurance company and qualify for better rates for your coverage.

Make sure that you choose a deductible level that you feel comfortable with. If you are involved in an accident or suffer a loss, you will be paying this amount out of pocket before the insurance company will write a check for any damages. If paying a large deductible will put a strain on your budget, you may be better off considering a higher premium rate for your Ft Worth car insurance coverage.

Insurance companies serving Fort Worth also look at your credit record when determining how much to charge you for your coverage. A person with a poor credit history may be considered irresponsible by the insurer, and therefore a higher risk to insure. Paying your bills on time is always a good idea, and you can reap the benefits of a high credit score by getting better rates for your insurance coverage.

Doubling up your Fort Worth car insurance coverage by purchasing it from the same company who sold you your homeowners insurance can get you a discount. The neighborhood where you live also has an impact on your car insurance coverage rates. If you settle in an area with a high level of crime, be prepared to pay more for your car insurance coverage. All of these factors play a part when insurance companies are assessing the level of risk you present.

Get Fort Worth Car Insurance Quotes Online!

Shopping around is a good strategy if you want to get the lowest rates for your Fort Worth car insurance coverage. Each company uses different criteria to assess insurance applicants, and the rates they charge for coverage vary greatly. Find the best Fort Worth car insurance quotes today!