What percent of Texas drivers are uninsured?

Approximately 14% (or roughly 1 in 7) of drivers in Texas are uninsured.

Key Details

• Statewide Average: Estimates generally place the uninsured rate right around 13.8% to 14.5%, though some regional or state estimates suggest it could be as high as 20% depending on the specific methodology or local area (such as Harris County).
• National Ranking: Texas ranks around 22nd in the nation for the percentage of uninsured motorists.
• Primary Cause: Surging auto insurance premiums—driven by inflation, higher vehicle repair costs, and severe weather or accident claims—have pushed more drivers to drop coverage when facing affordability pressures.
• Legal Requirements: Texas law requires all drivers to carry minimum liability coverage (commonly 30/60/25 limits). Driving without insurance results in steep fines, potential vehicle impoundment, and personal liability for crash damages.
• Consumer Protection: Because of the high number of uninsured motorists, insurance experts strongly recommend carrying optional Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your own policy. Users on Reddit generally agree that UM/UIM coverage is essential in Texas because pursuing lawsuits against uninsured, at-fault drivers rarely yields financial recovery.

Mississippi has the highest rate of uninsured drivers in the United States, with approximately 28.2% of motorists carrying no auto insurance.

Top States with Uninsured Drivers

Data from the Insurance Research Council (IRC) and the Insurance Information Institute highlight the jurisdictions with the largest percentage of uninsured motorists:

• Mississippi: 28.2%
• New Mexico: 24.1%
• Washington, D.C.: 23.1%
• Michigan: 22.3%
• Tennessee: 21.3%

According to U.S. News & World Report, the national average for uninsured drivers sits at roughly 15.4%, meaning about one in seven drivers nationwide lacks basic coverage.

Approximately 16.7% of Texans lack health insurance, giving Texas the highest uninsured rate in the United States.

Key Statistics

• Total Uninsured: Over 5.1 million residents have no health coverage.
• Working-Age Adults (19–64): About 21.6% are uninsured.
• Children (Under 19): About 13.6% are uninsured, which is more than double the national average.
• Comparison: The Texas rate is more than double the national average.

Core Factors

• Medicaid Policy: Texas is one of the states that has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
• Demographics: Rates are highest among low-income families, Hispanic residents, young adults, and non-citizens.
• You can read more about state data through Texas 2036 or see updates from Texans Care for Children.

Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the nation because the state has not expanded Medicaid, many jobs do not offer affordable health plans, and many residents do not realize they qualify for free or low-cost options.

Main Reasons for High Uninsured Rates

• No Medicaid Expansion: Texas is one of the few states that chose not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This leaves many low-income adults in a "coverage gap" where they earn too much for traditional Medicaid but too little for marketplace subsidies.
• Job-Based Gaps: According to the Texas Medical Association, low- and moderate-wage workers are much less likely to get health insurance through their jobs. Small businesses in Texas also often charge very high prices for family coverage.
• Lack of Awareness: Research shows that over a million uninsured Texans actually qualify for free or heavily subsidized health plans through the ACA marketplace. Many people simply do not know these free options exist or assume they cannot afford them.
• Demographics and Work Status: Nearly 70% of uninsured adults in Texas live in a working family. Young adults, Hispanic residents, and undocumented immigrants (who cannot buy plans on the ACA marketplace) also face much higher rates of being uninsured.
• Medicaid Unwinding: Recent state reviews of Medicaid eligibility after the pandemic ended caused thousands of children and adults to lose public coverage because of paperwork and renewal rules.

As the Texas Comptroller notes, this high uninsured rate drives up local medical costs and increases unpaid emergency room bills for everyone else.

About one in seven drivers (15.4%) in the United States were completely uninsured in recent Insurance Research Council data. When including underinsured motorists—drivers who carry too little insurance to cover a major accident—that number jumps to one in three drivers nationwide.

High and Low Rate States

Uninsured driver rates change a lot depending on the state you live in.

• Highest rates: More than 20% of drivers lack insurance in places like U.S. News featured areas including Washington D.C., New Mexico, Mississippi, Tennessee, Michigan, Missouri, Florida, and California.
• Lowest rates: States like Maine and Idaho report uninsured rates closer to 6%.

Why Rates Are Rising

• Cost pressures: Rising car insurance costs, vehicle repair bills, and general inflation make coverage harder to afford for some households.
• Loopholes: Some drivers buy a temporary policy just to register a vehicle and then cancel it for the rest of the year.
• Financial impact: Uninsured drivers cost the system billions of dollars, pushing higher premium costs onto law-abiding drivers who buy Insurance Information Institute recommended uninsured motorist protection.