Texas Windstorm Insurance
Key takeaways
- Windstorm insurance is not usually included in home insurance in coastal Texas.
- You can still get separate Texas windstorm insurance from a private company or state government program.
- Texas windstorm insurance isn’t required by law, but it’s highly recommended.
Windstorm insurance helps cover your home and property against damage from wind and hail. But it’s not usually included in home insurance policies along the Texas coast because wind damage is so common there.
Instead, you can find windstorm coverage separately from a property insurance company. And if you can’t get private windstorm insurance, you may still qualify for coverage through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) or the Texas FAIR Plan.
How does Texas windstorm insurance work?
If your house is damaged from wind or hail, windstorm insurance will pay for any repairs beyond your deductible, up to your policy limit.
It will not pay for other damage from the same storm, so you would still need a standard Texas home insurance policy and additional coverage for any risks not in your policy, like flood insurance.
Because of the heavy risk from hurricanes and other wind damage along the Gulf Coast of Texas, windstorm coverage is not usually included in insurance for homes in this area. As a result, you will need to buy a separate windstorm insurance policy.
Do I need windstorm insurance in Texas?
Texas law doesn’t require you to carry windstorm insurance. But if your home is financed, your lender will probably make you carry windstorm insurance until your mortgage is paid off.
Even if you fully own your home, windstorm insurance is a small investment compared to the financial ruin it can prevent.
In 2024 alone, Texas suffered 150 tornadoes, resulting in over $40 million in property damage. Sadly, many homeowners across the country aren’t well insured against natural disasters.
What does windstorm insurance in Texas cover?
Windstorm insurance covers wind and hail damage to the structure of your home, including the roof, siding, windows and exterior walls.
It also covers your personal property including clothes, furniture and electronics if, say, a storm-blown window results in damage to these. (But very valuable items, like jewelry, might not be covered to their full value.)
Your windstorm policy will pay you, up to your policy limit, in one of two ways:
- Replacement cost pays the cost for a brand new replacement
- Actual cash value pays the value of what what damaged, taking into account the depreciation and age of the house
For example, say your roof’s estimated value when it was new seven years ago was $20,000, but now it’s valued at $12,000.
If it’s damaged, a replacement cost policy would pay whatever it takes to restore the roof to new (up to your limit), but an actual cash value policy would base the cash payout on the current $12,000 value.
How much does Texas windstorm insurance cost?
The cost of windstorm insurance from a public insurance company will be based on many different factors, including:
- Which insurance company you choose
- Construction materials of your home
- How close you are to the Texas coast
- Your ZIP code
- The age of your home
- Your claim history
- Your chosen policy limit and deductible
Windstorm insurance coverage is similar from company to company, but the rates may vary because each insurer weighs risks differently.
This is why comparing quotes from several companies is an important way to make sure you’re getting the best combination of cost and coverage available for your situation.
How do I get windstorm insurance?
To get a windstorm insurance policy, check to see if your current home insurance company offers it. Many major insurers in Texas offer wind insurance, including:
- Allstate
- Chubb
- Liberty Mutual
- Nationwide
- Progressive
- Texas Farm Bureau
- Travelers
- USAA*
- State Farm
If you can’t get a windstorm insurance policy through a private company, you can turn to the TWIA. You may qualify for TWIA coverage if:
- Your home is in one of the 14 “tier 1” coastal counties, or certain parts of Harris County
- You have been denied coverage by at least one windstorm insurance company in your area
- Your home is certified for building code compliance by the Texas Department of Insurance or the TWIA
- Your home meets all other TWIA conditions, including structure maintenance
Also, if you live in flood zones V,VE or V1-30 and constructed, altered or remodeled your home after September 9, 2009, then you will need proof of flood insurance.
Any private insurance company in Texas that sells property insurance can underwrite a TWIA-backed windstorm policy.
If TWIA coverage is unavailable to you, check to see if Texas FAIR Plan coverage is available to you. FAIR windstorm coverage covers less than a standard windstorm policy, and it often costs more, but it may be better than no wind insurance at all.