Car Insurance in Austin

Austin, Texas’s capital, is known for a buzzing country and rock music scene with a vibrant, growing culture. It also has a fair amount of traffic congestion. Some reports even tabulated that in 2019 drivers lost 133 hours waiting in rush hour traffic. That’s 5 days, 13 hours, enough time to listen to Willie Nelson’s “Shotgun Willie” over 3,380 times. Time lost in traffic has decreased significantly for 2020 to approximately 75 hours, bringing relief to many drivers. But, for those drivers still on the roads, car insurance is a necessity.

Quick Facts

Two important factors that determine your rate will be the zip code you live in and your age. Insurance providers base part of their premium calculations on a zip code’s statistics, such as population density, number of accidents, crime rates, and average income, which may translate into the types of vehicles common in that zip code. Your age also plays a significant factor, especially for new young drivers who experience more accidents and are considered riskier drivers.

In order to guarantee your car insurance rates will go down, you must maintain a clean driving record.

How Many Fatal Accidents Happen in Austin?

Austin reported 86 fatalities in 2019, performing worse than the average number of fatal accidents statewide. In Texas, there were 1.26 fatalities per 100,000 people. Austin suffered 9.05 deaths per 100,000 people.

Many of those fatalities could have been prevented. Although statistics on restraint use in fatal accidents in Austin are not readily available, in 2019, 42.42% of statewide accident fatalities were not wearing seat belts. Even more disturbing, approximately 50% of drivers in fatal accidents had known blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) above the legal limit.

How Are the Road Infrastructure and Bridges in Austin?

The Austin Department of Public Works is responsible for maintaining roads. This includes simple repairs like filling potholes and placing signs. But more, it includes resurfacing worn-out roads, keeping through ways clear of overgrowth, maintaining bridges and guardrails, and repairing traffic lights and streetlights, among many other tasks that keep roads drivable.

The American Society of Civil Engineers periodically releases a report card for the overall infrastructure of America. Their 2021 report gave Texas an overall grade of C, a mediocre rating. Worse, Texas roads were graded a D+, poor rating. Bridges were graded a B-. The report states that Austin roads are experiencing an increase in traffic congestion due to the area’s growth.

Despite these ratings, the ASCE is sure to mention that they do not reflect the diligence of local agencies tasked with maintaining these vital infrastructures. Texas is the second-most populous state, and it should be expected that their roads and bridges will undergo a significant amount of use. These ratings are useful for these agencies to understand where their efforts need to go with the limited resources with which they have to work.

In Austin, Texas, you will find the minimum auto liability requirements to be much higher when compared to other states. Drivers in Austin are required to have the following minimum limits:

There are many standard components in determining an appropriate car insurance rate. Insurance providers in Austin, Texas, may base their calculations on the following factors.

Austin drivers can save money on their auto insurance if they take advantage of every possible discount available. Some examples of discounts include:

Because it is required for Austin drivers to have a minimum amount of insurance coverage, there are penalties if you are found driving and uninsured. Your first offense will require you to pay a fine of $175-$350. A second offense for an Austin driver will fetch a fine of $350-$1,000, possible suspension of your driver’s license, and possible impoundment of your car.