Personal auto insurance is essential for protecting drivers from the financial impact of accidents, weather damage, and other unexpected events. These risks are especially common for drivers in Arlington, TX, who frequently face severe storms and urban traffic conditions. The right auto insurance helps cover repair costs, medical expenses, and liability, giving Arlington residents peace of mind behind the wheel.
GEICO is committed to providing affordable, dependable coverage tailored to the needs of Arlington drivers, offering key benefits like responsive customer support, bundling opportunities to save more, easy account management through the GEICO App, and the confidence of nationwide coverage wherever you travel.
Texas law requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage to ensure that others are financially protected if they cause an accident. This liability coverage is divided into two key components—bodily injury and property damage, each with specific minimum limits.
| Coverage Type | Texas Minimum Limit |
|---|---|
| Bodily Injury Liability | $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident |
| Property Damage Liability | $25,000 per accident |
While these state-mandated minimums offer a solid foundation for a personal auto insurance policy, they primarily focus on protecting other drivers in an accident you cause. Unfortunately, these basic requirements do little to safeguard you, your passengers, or your own vehicle from financial loss.
To build a more well-rounded insurance plan, Arlington drivers must consider adding optional coverages tailored to their unique needs and risks. Combining required minimums with add-ons like comprehensive, collision, and personal injury protection coverage ensures everybody on the road is adequately protected in the event of an accident.
Liability coverage is a core component of auto insurance that helps pay for injuries and property damage you cause to others in an accident where you’re at fault. It’s divided into two key parts: bodily injury liability, which covers medical expenses, lost wages, and legal fees for others; and property damage liability, which pays for repair or replacement costs to another person’s vehicle or property.
This type of coverage is the only one required by the state of Texas because it ensures drivers take financial responsibility for harm they may cause to others on the road, helping protect fellow motorists.
Collision and comprehensive coverage are optional types of auto insurance that help protect your own vehicle; this is typically where drivers begin building the portion of their policy that focuses on their own protection. Collision coverage helps pay for repairs or replacement if your vehicle is damaged in an accident, regardless of who’s at fault. Comprehensive coverage, on the other hand, covers non-collision events like theft, vandalism, or weather-related damage.
For example, in Arlington, where hailstorms are common during severe weather seasons, comprehensive coverage can help pay for repairs if your car’s windshield or body is damaged by hail, an expense that could otherwise be costly out of pocket.
Medical Payments (MedPay) and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) are other optional coverages designed to protect you and your passengers from bodily injury expenses, rather than focusing on damage to your vehicle like collision or comprehensive coverage.
While both options help pay for medical bills, PIP provides broader protection—it also covers lost wages and other related costs—and is the more commonly selected option in Texas, where insurers are required to offer it (though drivers can decline it in writing).
Because Texas is an at-fault state, meaning the driver responsible for an accident must cover the other party’s damages, having PIP or MedPay ensures you have immediate access to funds for medical expenses. It also provides added protection if the other driver is at-fault but is uninsured or underinsured.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage is an optional add-on that protects you if you're involved in an accident with a driver who has no insurance or not enough to cover your damages.
While Texas does not require this coverage, several other states do, highlighting just how critical it’s considered for financial protection. This is especially relevant in Texas, where over 8% of drivers are uninsured, making the chances of encountering one on the road a real concern. Including UM/UIM in your policy helps ensure you're not left paying out of pocket for someone else’s lack of coverage.
Whether you choose to stick with Texas's minimum liability requirements or enhance your policy with optional add-ons, tapping into available discounts is one of the most effective ways to lower insurance costs.
GEICO understands this better than most, offering a wide variety of savings opportunities designed to help drivers keep premiums affordable. From bundling coverage and renewing early to paying your bill online, GEICO ensures nearly every policyholder has a chance to qualify for meaningful discounts:
In Texas, the average annual cost of personal auto insurance is quite a bit higher than the national average. This disparity can be attributed to factors such as the state's high number of uninsured drivers, increased vehicle theft rates, and urban congestion in cities like Arlington. This said, your personal premium will be influenced far more by individual factors like the type of vehicle you drive, your driving history, and the specific coverages you select.
Regardless of how these elements currently affect your rate, exploring available discounts remains one of the most effective ways to reduce your premium without compromising on coverage.
Beyond the common optional coverages mentioned earlier, many insurers also provide specialized add-ons designed for drivers with unique needs or those seeking more complete protection.
GEICO stands out by offering a wide range of these options, enabling drivers to personalize their policies to fit their specific situation. Additional coverages such as emergency roadside service, rental car reimbursement, and mechanical breakdown insurance can be added to extend protection even further, giving drivers greater peace of mind on the road.
GEICO makes taking the first step toward securing your personal auto insurance policy easy and stress-free. You can get a free, personalized quote today; it only takes a few minutes and can be done either online or by phone. Don’t wait until after an accident to start thinking about whether or not you have the right coverage—ensure you’re sufficiently protected today!