Best car insurance in Houston, TX (2024)

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Gianetta PalmerContributing WriterGianetta Palmer is a contributing writer at Policygenius, where she covers life insurance, home insurance, and auto insurance. Her writing has also appeared in TIME, Readers Digest, Healthline, and elsewhere.&Andrew HurstSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertAndrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.

Edited by

Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing EditorAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.
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Michael Reynolds, CSRIC®, AIF®, CFT-I™Michael Reynolds, CSRIC®, AIF®, CFT-I™Financial AdvisorMichael Reynolds, CSRIC®, AIF®, CFT-I™, is a financial advisor, principal and founder of Elevation Financial, host of the weekly personal finance podcast Wealth Redefined®, and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius.

Updated|4 min read

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The average cost for full coverage car insurance in Houston is $2,231 per year. Compared to the Texas state average of $1,818, Houston drivers pay more than $413 more than average.

Ready to shop car insurance?

Texas has three of the largest cities in the nation, and that’s one of the reasons car insurance rates are so expensive. Comparing car insurance quotes with Policygenius is an easy way to find cheaper coverage. Policygenius can help you see quotes from top insurers to find the best coverage at a price that works for you.

Key Takeaways

  • Texas Farm Bureau Insurance has the lowest average rates in Houston at $1,243 per year for full coverage.

  • At $1,983 per year, Redpoint County Mutual has the lowest rates for drivers with bad credit.

  • The minimum Texas car insurance requirements are $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $25,000 in property damage liability per accident.

Methodology & why you can trust our rates

Policygenius has analyzed car insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. For full coverage policies, the following coverage limits were used:

  • Bodily injury liability: 50/100

  • Property damage liability: $50,000

  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist: 50/100

  • Comprehensive: $500 deductible

  • Collision: $500 deductible

In some cases, additional coverages were added where required by state or insurer.

Rates for overall average rate, rates by ZIP code, and cheapest companies determined using averages for single drivers ages 30, 35, and 45. Our sample vehicle was a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles/year.

Rates for driving violations and “Poor” credit determined using average rates for a single male 30-year-old driver with a credit score under 578.

Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.

Cheapest car insurance companies in Houston, TX

Drivers in Houston pay more for insurance because it is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. More people on the road means a higher risk of being involved in an accident.

But there are still ways to find cheap coverage. Below are the cheapest car insurance rates by company in Houston.

Company

Average cost

JD Power Rating

Farm Bureau

$1,243

--

State Farm

$1,293

882

Germania Insurance

$1,499

--

Southern County Mutual

$1,762

--

USAA

$1,763

890

Cheapest car insurance rates by ZIP code in Houston, TX

Where you call home is an important factor when it comes to how much you’re going to pay for car insurance. If you live in a neighborhood where car thefts are common, you’re probably going to pay more for your insurance. Additionally, the number of accidents and speeding tickets, as well as access to secure parking in your ZIP code can impact rates too. 

The table below shows the ten most expensive ZIP codes in Houston.

ZIP code

Average cost

77062

$2,006

77094

$2,008

77339

$2,019

77345

$2,019

77059

$2,030

77058

$2,053

77079

$2,080

77095

$2,086

77070

$2,095

77025

$2,106

77069

$2,108

77027

$2,114

77024

$2,118

77046

$2,124

77007

$2,125

77056

$2,128

77008

$2,134

77006

$2,138

77041

$2,141

77043

$2,147

77068

$2,154

77030

$2,156

77064

$2,156

77065

$2,156

77089

$2,158

77077

$2,160

77057

$2,166

77098

$2,174

77019

$2,179

77015

$2,181

77018

$2,186

77080

$2,193

77084

$2,196

77040

$2,197

77055

$2,199

77034

$2,202

77009

$2,203

77054

$2,203

77073

$2,210

77032

$2,212

77096

$2,214

77010

$2,218

77002

$2,228

77014

$2,228

77049

$2,233

77092

$2,234

77042

$2,245

77066

$2,253

77044

$2,254

77063

$2,255

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Choosing the right car insurance company in Houston, TX

When choosing car insurance for your family, you want to be sure that the company you select will be there when you need them the most. Customer service is important. Does your insurer respond in a timely manner? How does the claims system work? 

Policygenius can help you see quotes from top companies, and compare things like customer service ratings and coverage options, so you can choose the coverage that suits your needs.

Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in Houston, TX

Your driving history tells insurance companies what kind of risk you are when it comes to car insurance. More tickets and accidents on your driving record will make it harder for you to find affordable car insurance.

Below are the average rates for drivers in Houston with a speeding ticket or other moving violations on their record.

Violation

Farm Bureau

State Farm

Germania Insurance

Southern County Mutual

USAA

At-fault accident

$2,138

$1,552

$2,067

$2,682

$2,882

DUI

$2,624

$2,086

$3,496

$2,391

$2,851

Suspended license

$1,352

$1,819

$2,781

$2,391

$2,640

Open container

$2,624

$1,978

$1,606

$2,391

$2,139

Expired registration

$1,352

$1,310

$1,606

$1,989

$2,139

Driving without lights

$1,352

$1,310

$1,606

$1,989

$2,139

Running a red light

$1,352

$1,310

$1,606

$1,989

$2,139

Following too closely

$1,352

$1,310

$1,606

$1,989

$2,139

Hit and run

$1,352

$2,086

$3,496

$2,391

$2,851

Not-at-fault accident

$1,352

$1,310

$1,671

$1,855

$1,890

Passing a school bus

$1,352

$1,310

$1,606

$2,391

$2,139

Reckless driving

$1,352

$2,086

$3,496

$2,391

$2,851

Speeding

$1,352

$1,310

$1,606

$1,989

$2,139

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→ Read about finding SR-22 insurance in Houston

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in Houston, TX

Drivers in Texas pay an average of $1,818 per year for full coverage car insurance, but the average rate for a driver with a DUI or DWI is 63% higher at $2,962 per year.

But drivers with a DUI can still save money by comparing rates from multiple companies. According to our research, State Farm, Southern County Mutual, and Farm Bureau have the lowest rates for drivers with a DUI in Houston.

Company

Rates for drivers with DUIs

State Farm

$2,086

Southern County Mutual

$2,391

Farm Bureau

$2,624

USAA

$2,851

Germania Insurance

$3,496

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Houston, TX

Texas drivers will see an increase in their rates if they get a speeding ticket; drivers with a speeding ticket on their record have an average car insurance rate of $2,296 per year, which is almost $500 higher than the average rate for drivers with no moving violations on their record. We found that State Farm, Farm Bureau, and Germania Insurance had the cheapest average rates for drivers with a speeding ticket in Houston.

Company

Rates for drivers with speeding tickets

State Farm

$1,310

Farm Bureau

$1,352

Germania Insurance

$1,606

Southern County Mutual

$1,989

USAA

$2,139

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Houston, TX

If you’ve had trouble getting approved for a car loan or qualifying to rent an apartment because of your credit score, chances are you’re going to pay more for car insurance. 

Insurance companies consider drivers with a poor credit score at greater risk of filing a claim, but some companies offer better rates for drivers with bad credit. Below are the cheapest car insurance rates in Houston for drivers with bad credit.

Company

Rates for drivers with bad credit

Redpoint County Mutual

$1,983

Germania Insurance

$2,951

Farm Bureau

$3,119

Auto Club

$3,308

Nationwide

$3,324

Ready to shop car insurance?

Buying car insurance in Houston, TX

To be legally insured in Texas, state law says drivers must have the following minimum liability insurance requirements:

  • Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $30,000

  • Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $60,000

  • Property damage liability coverage: $25,000

  • The insurance must be issued by a company licensed by the Texas Department of Insurance

  • Have continuous coverage on a vehicle even if it is inoperable or not being driven.

Texas is a fault state when it comes to accidents. This means that if you cause a wreck, you are responsible for paying for any damages or injuries to the other driver. 

The Lonestar State also follows a modified comparative fault rule when more than one party is to blame for a wreck. If the case goes to trial, a jury is tasked with awarding damages based on the degree of fault. If the jury finds you more than 50 percent responsible for the wreck, you will not recover any damages due to the modified rule.

If you drive an expensive car or want to purchase more than just the state minimum requirements in Houston, here are two options to consider:

  • Comprehensive Insurance: This protection covers events such as falling objects, vandalism, and fire.

  • Collision Insurance: This protection pays for repairs to your car if it’s hit by another vehicle or you collide with a stationary object.

The best way to save on insurance in Texas is by comparing online quotes before choosing a policy.

How to get cheap car insurance in Houston, TX

Because Houston is such a large city, drivers pay a lot for car insurance. But, many companies offer discounts as a way to save money. Here are some of the most common:

  • Multi-Line discount: Savings for bundling home and car insurance with the same company.

  • Military discount: A discount for active-duty service members and their families.

  • Good student discount: A discount for high school drivers who maintain a B average or better.

  • Safe driver discount: For drivers who maintain a good driving record or take a defensive driving course.

  • Low mileage discount: For drivers who drive less than 7,500 miles a year.

Not everyone will qualify for these discounts, so be sure and ask your provider about other ways to lower your insurance costs.

Looking for home insurance? Find the best homeowners insurance in Houston

Frequently asked questions

Who has the cheapest car insurance in Houston?

According to our research, Texas Farm Bureau has the lowest rates in the city, at $1,243 per year. But the cheapest insurance company overall isn’t the cheapest for every driver, so you should still comparison shop to find your best rates.

How much is car insurance in Houston?

On average, drivers in Houston pay $186 per month for car insurance. Compared to the average cost of car insurance in Texas, coverage in Houston is more expensive.

Is car insurance more expensive in Houston or Dallas?

Houston is more expensive than Dallas for auto insurance. The cost of car insurance in Houston is $2,231 per year, while coverage is $2,170 in Dallas. Rates in both cities are more expensive than the average cost in Texas.

What is the minimum car insurance required in Houston?

In Houston, you have to carry at least $30,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person, $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 of property damage liability coverage to drive legally.

Authors

Gianetta Palmer is a contributing writer at Policygenius, where she covers life insurance, home insurance, and auto insurance. Her writing has also appeared in TIME, Readers Digest, Healthline, and elsewhere.

Andrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.

Editor

Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.

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