Questions & answers · Car insurance
I caused a car accident in Texas and the other driver's bills are higher than my liability limit — am I personally responsible for the rest?
Car insuranceWho paysTexasChecked Nov 6, 2026
From K.Actuary, founded by Sangmin Kwon, ASA · sources checked 2026-11-06 · Source: Texas Department of Insurance · Auto insurance guide · Liability coverage View original ↗
In short
- You might have to pay the rest yourself if the costs pass your limit.
- Find your liability limits on your own policy papers.
- The sources give no deadline.
What this means
Texas law requires at least $30,000 for injuries per person, up to $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage [1].
The Texas Department of Insurance says that if you do not have enough liability coverage for the damages and injuries you cause, you might have to pay the rest out of your own pocket. It also says the other driver could sue you [2]. Liability coverage has a dollar limit. That is the most the company will pay, even if the cost is higher. If you do not have enough coverage, you will have to pay the difference yourself [3].
The sources do not say how a court would decide your case. They do not say what a company must do for you after the limit is used up. They do not say if any other coverage would help in your case.
Your next step
Find the liability limits on your own policy papers and write them down. Then call your insurance company to report the accident and ask what your limits cover. The sources give no deadline.
Check it yourself
Open your policy and read the liability limits. Open the Texas Department of Insurance auto guide and read the liability part. The sources do not say what happens in your case once your limit is used up — "Don't know yet".
Where this comes from (3)
[1] Texas Department of Insurance · Auto insurance guide · Liability coverage · checked 2026-11-06
Texas law requires you to have at least $30,000 of coverage for injuries per person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 of coverage for property damage.
[2] Texas Department of Insurance · Auto insurance guide · Think about buying more liability coverage · checked 2026-11-06
If you don’t have enough liability coverage to pay for the damages and injuries you cause, you might have to pay the rest out of your own pocket. The other driver could sue you.
[3] Texas Department of Insurance · Auto insurance guide · Coverage limits · checked 2026-11-06
Liability, personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist, towing and labor, and rental coverages have dollar limits. This is the most the company will pay, even if the cost is higher. If you don’t have enough coverage, you’ll have to pay the difference yourself.
How we found this
We matched your question to 3 official sources, quoted the exact lines, and re-checked each quote against its source on 2026-11-06.
What we don’t know yet
Your own plan or notice may say something different. If your letter cites another rule, send it and we will look again.
Every answer is checked against the official rule it quotes.
Information only — not legal advice. Your plan, insurer or agency decides.
This answer quotes the official sources listed above, with the date we checked them. Your own policy, notice and state rules control. We are not your lawyer or your insurer. We don’t file, argue or negotiate claims for you — you send any letter or form yourself.
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