Personal Injury Protection Requirements — Texas
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Texas Does Not Mandate PIP
Texas does not require Personal Injury Protection. The state's mandatory minimum liability coverage is $30,000 per person for bodily injury, $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. PIP is an optional coverage you can add to any auto policy, including policies covering multiple vehicles.
PIP pays your own medical expenses and lost wages after a crash, regardless of who caused it. Liability coverage pays the other driver's expenses when you are at fault. The two coverages serve different purposes, and Texas law requires only liability.
“PIP applies per policy, not per vehicle — adding it to a multi-car policy covers every car and every driver on that policy.”
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Texas Minimum Liability Limits
These are the lowest liability limits you can carry to register and legally drive in Texas. Bodily injury coverage applies per person and per accident; property damage applies per accident.
Texas Department of Public Safety
What Personal Injury Protection Actually Covers
PIP covers your medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost income, and sometimes funeral expenses after a crash, no matter who caused it. It applies to you, your passengers, and in some cases household members injured while riding in another vehicle or as pedestrians.
Because Texas does not require PIP, carriers structure it as an add-on. When you insure multiple vehicles on one policy, PIP typically applies to every vehicle on that policy once added. You do not buy separate PIP for each car.
PIP pays out before your health insurance kicks in, and it covers expenses health insurance often excludes: lost wages during recovery, childcare costs while you cannot work, and services you can no longer perform yourself. It does not cover vehicle damage.
PIP applies per policy, not per vehicle. Adding it to a multi-car policy covers every car and every driver on that policy.
How PIP Interacts with Liability and Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Liability coverage pays the other driver's medical bills when you cause a crash. PIP pays your own medical bills regardless of fault. The two coverages do not overlap. You can carry both, and most households insuring multiple vehicles do.
Uninsured motorist coverage pays your expenses when the at-fault driver has no insurance. PIP pays your expenses regardless of whether the other driver has insurance or who caused the crash. In a crash where the other driver is uninsured, PIP pays first, then uninsured motorist coverage pays amounts PIP does not cover.
Texas does not require uninsured motorist coverage either, but carriers must offer it. Households adding PIP often add uninsured motorist coverage at the same time to close the gap left by drivers who carry no insurance. The two coverages work together but serve different scenarios.
14.5%
Uninsured Motorists in Texas
Nearly one in seven Texas drivers carries no insurance. When an uninsured driver causes a crash, your own coverage pays your expenses. PIP and uninsured motorist coverage both address this gap.
Insurance Information Institute, 2023
Adding PIP to an Existing Multi-Vehicle Policy
You can add PIP to an existing policy at any time. Contact your carrier or log into your account portal. Adding PIP mid-term re-rates the policy from the date you add it, not from the original policy start date. The premium adjustment appears on your next billing cycle.
When you add PIP to a policy covering multiple vehicles, the carrier applies it to every vehicle on that policy. You do not select which cars receive PIP. The coverage follows the policy, not individual vehicles. If you later add another vehicle to the policy, PIP automatically extends to that vehicle.
Compare Carriers That Write Multi-Vehicle Policies in Texas
Carriers structure PIP differently. Some offer higher coverage limits, others include additional benefits like funeral expenses or household services. When you insure multiple vehicles, compare how each carrier prices PIP as an add-on and what limits they offer. A carrier with a strong multi-car discount but expensive PIP may cost more overall than a carrier with a smaller discount and cheaper PIP.
Use the site's comparison tool to see which carriers write multi-vehicle policies in Texas and how they structure optional coverages like PIP. Enter your household's vehicle count, driver details, and coverage preferences. The tool shows which carriers offer PIP, what limits they provide, and how adding it affects your total premium across all vehicles.
When PIP Makes Sense for Multi-Vehicle Households
If your health insurance carries a high deductible or excludes lost-income coverage, PIP fills that gap. A household with multiple earners benefits more than a household with one income and strong employer-provided health coverage. PIP pays regardless of fault, so it covers you even when the other driver is uninsured or underinsured and your own liability does not apply.
When a multi-vehicle policy covers drivers with varying health insurance quality, PIP protects the driver with weaker coverage. A teen on the family policy may have different coverage than the policyholder. PIP ensures every driver on the policy has baseline medical and wage-loss protection after a crash.
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Get My Texas Car Insurance QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Texas require Personal Injury Protection on auto insurance policies?
No. Texas does not require Personal Injury Protection. The state mandates only liability coverage: $30,000 per person for bodily injury, $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. PIP is an optional add-on.
What does Personal Injury Protection cover in Texas?
PIP covers your medical bills, lost income, rehabilitation costs, and sometimes funeral expenses after a crash, regardless of who caused it. It applies to you, your passengers, and in some cases household members injured as pedestrians or in another vehicle.
If I add PIP to a multi-vehicle policy, does it cover all the cars?
Yes. PIP applies to the policy, not to individual vehicles. When you add PIP to a policy covering multiple vehicles, it covers every vehicle and every driver on that policy. You do not buy separate PIP for each car.
How does PIP differ from liability coverage in Texas?
Liability coverage pays the other driver's medical bills and property damage when you cause a crash. PIP pays your own medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash. The two coverages serve different purposes and do not overlap.
Can I add PIP to my policy after I buy it?
Yes. You can add PIP to an existing policy at any time by contacting your carrier or updating your policy online. Adding PIP mid-term re-rates the policy from the date you add it, and the premium adjustment appears on your next billing cycle.
Does PIP work with uninsured motorist coverage?
Yes. PIP pays your expenses first, regardless of whether the other driver has insurance. Uninsured motorist coverage then pays amounts PIP does not cover when the at-fault driver is uninsured. The two coverages work together to close gaps left by uninsured drivers.