Verify: Ending Vehicle Inspections in Texas Could Increase Insurance Rates
SAN ANTONIO — As technological advancements continue to enhance vehicles, experts are considering the potential impact on insurance rates. In tonight’s Verify report, we examine how the elimination of mandatory vehicle inspections in Texas could affect your insurance premiums.
THE QUESTION: Will eliminating the state’s required vehicle inspection lead to increases in insurance premiums?
THE ANSWER: TRUE.
THE SOURCES:
- Chris Schafer, Senior Editor with Insurify
- Rod Griffin, Senior Director of Consumer Education and Advocacy with Experian
- Omar Ochoa, Managing Attorney of Omar Ochoa Law Firm
WHAT WE FOUND:
Starting next year, mandatory vehicle inspections will no longer be required for many Texas drivers. Chris Schafer states that while this change won’t directly cause premiums to increase, it could indirectly lead to more accidents, and thus, higher insurance rates. “The fact that cars that are not being inspected, particularly when we’re talking about issues like brakes and tires, all of a sudden lead to more accidents which lead to higher premiums,” Schafer reported.
Omar Ochoa suggests that the absence of inspections could affect the rates. “One of the biggest examples is that a requirement of the vehicle inspection is that your tires have enough tread. A lot of people just don’t really check that on a day to day basis,” Ochoa explained.
Rod Griffin points out other factors that influence insurance rates. “They’ll look at your past claims behavior, see your driving record in the past. They will look at the type of car you drive. It is it costs more to repair. If so, your rates could be higher,” Griffin added.
In short, eliminating the state’s vehicle inspection could lead to an increase in insurance costs. Experian offers an insurance marketplace to help consumers find competitive rates.
