Texas (TX) Teen Auto Insurance Laws, Rates & Requirements

With a population of 23,507,783, the state of Texas has the second largest population in the country. California is the heaviest populated state in the nation, but Texas has just as many drivers. Although teen drivers make up only a small percentage of the millions of driver on Texas’s roads, they are involved in fatal car crashes more often than any other group. The good news is, Texas has managed to reduce the number of teen crashes over the past 7 years through its Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program. Between 2002 and 2009, the state saw a 32.5% drop in fatal teen car crashes.

Continue reading to learn more about Texas teen driving laws and the consequences for violating them.

Texas Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) and Driver License Requirements

Texas’s Graduated Driver Licensing system has two steps to full licensing:

•    Instruction permit
•    Provisional License

To obtain your instruction permit, you must be 15 years of age. Before applying, you must complete a state approved driver education course. In addition you must:

•    Fill out an application and have your parent sign it
•    Provide a birth certificate
•    Provide a social security card
•    Provide verification of school enrollment
•    Pass a vision screening
•    Pass a written exam

You must hold the instruction permit for at least 6 months before applying for a provisional license. The instruction permit is valid until the permit holders next birthday, plus one year. You should use the additional time wisely. Although not required, 50 hours of practice driving can help you pass the road test the first time and it can help keep you safe in the long run.

Once you have satisfied all of the requirements of the instruction permit, you may apply for a provisional license. You must be 16 years of age to apply. To obtain your provisional license you will be required to provide identification and you will have to take a written, vision, and road test.

Texas Teen Driving Laws and Enforcement

Instruction permit holders may not drive alone under any circumstances. They must drive with a licensed adult age 21 or older. The licensed adult must have at least one year of driving experience. The supervising driver must sit in the front passenger seat at all times.

Provisional license holders under the age of 18 are restricted from transporting more than one passenger under the age of 21 that is not an immediate family member. Provisional license holders may not drive between the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 a.m. Exceptions will be made for employment purposes, school activities, and medical emergencies. The restrictions will last for 6 months. If you do not violate any of the conditions of provisional license, the restrictions will lift automatically.

If you violate any of the conditions of the instruction permit phase or the provisional license phase, your licensing will be delayed. In some cases, your licensing may be delayed until your 18th birthday.

Texas Cell Phone Use/Texting While Driving Laws

In the state of Texas it is against the law for restricted license holders under the age of 17 to use wireless communication devices while driving. Instruction permit holders are also prohibited from using handheld cell phones during the first 6 months of driving. All teens are prohibited from using cell phones in designated school zones. The fine for violating Texas’s cell phone law is $200.

Texas Teen DUI Laws

The state of Texas does not tolerate underage drinking and driving. It is a crime for anyone under the age of 21 to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration level (BAC) of 0.02% or higher. This means that the state of Texas has a zero tolerance policy for underage drinking and driving. A BAC of 0.02% is as little as one beer, one glass of wine or one mixed drink for most people. It can be even less for some. Proof of a BAC of 0.02% is all that is needed to convict a Texas teen of DUI. If you get caught driving with a BAC of 0.02% or higher, you face the same harsh penalties as an adult. You may have to pay fines up to $2,000 and you might even have to spend time in jail. You will likely lose your driving privileges as well.

Texas Teen Auto Insurance Requirements

Whether you are an adult or a teen, in the state of Texas you must carry minimum auto liability insurance coverage in the amount of 25/50/25. This is equal to $25,000 for bodily injury or death to one person per accident, $50,000 for bodily injury or death to two or more persons per accident, and $25,000 for damage or destruction to other property in an accident.

Because the risk of an auto collision is significantly higher during a teen’s first year behind the wheel, Texas auto insurance companies recommend purchasing higher amounts of coverage than the legal limits. If you plan to add a teen driver to your policy, keep in mind that your annual rate will increase anywhere from $1,200 to $4,900 a year. The average increase is around $2,171 a year.