Verification Test Finds Many Drivers Not Insured

The Texas Department of Insurance has estimated that between 15 percent and 20 percent of drivers in Texas are uninsured, but a pilot program testing a new auto insurance verification system — TexasSure — found that 25.5 percent of drivers in the test area carry no insurance on their vehicles.

State troopers have stopped more 5,000 vehicles in Travis County and in outlying areas of Williamson and Hays Counties during the test of the system that began June 2. The pilot program was to run for 60 days.

The Insurance Council of Texas reported the program has worked flawlessly. Department of Public Safety troopers say the data provided by insurance companies has been reliable and accurate, according to ICT. All auto insurance companies doing business in Texas are required to participate.

“The program has worked the way it’s supposed to,” said Lt. Louis Sanchez, with the Texas DPS. “There have been no surprises and our troopers have confidence in the system.”

Drivers in Texas are required to carry minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 for everyone injured in an accident, and $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25). The first ticket for non compliance is a fine up to $350. A second offense may bring a fine up to $1,000.

“We welcome the news that the insurance verification program is working well, but the numbers show that Texas has an even larger number of uninsured drivers than we had realized,” said Mark Hanna, a spokesman for the ICT. “Troopers tell us that some areas of the state may have more than half of their drivers uninsured and that’s scary news for everyone else on our roadways.”

When the verification program is given the green light, it will not be mandatory for law enforcement, but local police departments and sheriff’s offices are expected to use it.