InSure

The City of Garland was formed in 1891 from the villages of Duck Creek and Embree to resolve a dispute over which community would get a new post office.

Its name is in honor of U.S. Attorney General A.H. Garland.

Manufacturing and industry later drove the city’s expansion into a culturally rich and diverse destination that offers a variety of activities for every lifestyle.

One of the most popular ways to commute in Garland is by car. And, with this modern form of transportation that suits Texans’ spirit of freedom, you need to buy car insurance.

With all the information and providers available, the choices may add to your confusion. This complete guide to auto insurance in Garland is here to sort it all out. We’ll cover everything from rates to the best companies and local laws to help you make the right decision for your needs.

So, get ready to learn more about car insurance and how it ties into Garland city life.

And, before we start, if you’re ready to start comparison shopping, enter your zip code for a FREE quote.

The Cost of Car Insurance in Garland

Auto insurance prices keep increasing every year. The average cost of an annual full coverage car insurance premium in Garland is $6,282.37, which can be too expensive for some drivers.

You might find yourself asking how does my Garland, TX stack up against other top metro auto insurance rates? We’ve got your answer below.

The good news is that the average price might not apply to your situation. As you’ll see below, depending on your age, your gender, your driving record, and other factors, you may qualify for discounts to help you pay less.

To find out more about factors that set car insurance rates and how you can save, read on.

Male vs. Female vs. Age

According to Data USA, the average age in Garland is 35. By that age, many drivers start to pay less for their car insurance premiums because, with wisdom and experience, they tend to get into fewer accidents.

These states no longer using gender to calculate your auto insurance rates — Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. But age is still a significant factor because young drivers are often considered high-risk. Texas does use gender, so check out the average monthly auto insurance rates by age and gender in Garland, TX.

Let’s see if that line of thinking holds true. Below are the average auto insurance rates for different age groups in Garland:

Garland, TX auto insurance rates by company and age is an essential comparison because the top auto insurance company for one age group may not be the best company for another age group.

As shown above, by age 60, “seasoned” drivers pay the lowest premiums. Now, let’s see how prices differ between the sexes.

• Male Average Premium Price: $4,435
• Female Average Premium Price: $4,189

In Garland and elsewhere, women often pay less for car insurance because insurers consider them less of a risk. This form of gender bias, like it or not, is legal in Texas.

Next, we’ll explore how rates change by age group, gender, and marital status in Garland.

The price difference between car insurance customers who are charged the highest rates, 17-year-old males, and those who pay the lowest,  married, 60-year-old females, amounts to over $7,000.

So, despite our youth-oriented culture, when it comes to car insurance premiums, age and experience can work in your favor.

Cheapest ZIP Codes in Garland

In car insurance pricing, your ZIP code also matters. If you live in an area prone to natural disasters, lots of fraud claims, and other crimes, you may end up paying more for your premiums. Here’s how rates vary among Garland neighborhoods.

Check out the monthly Garland, TX auto insurance rates by ZIP Code below:

Drivers who live in 75044 save over $500 more on their car insurance than those who reside in 75042. How does your ZIP code compare?

What’s the best car insurance company in Garland?

The level of customer service a company offers, together with discounts, coverage options, and reviews, can influence which company you consider to be the best.

Which Garland, TX auto insurance company has the cheapest rates? And how do those rates compare against the average Texas auto insurance company rates? We’ve got the answers below.

Let’s look more closely at other factors that can affect your rates and help you find the right car insurance company for your needs.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates by Company

How much we pay for car insurance and other expenses affects how much we can save. This is how the top insurers in Garland compare by their car insurance rates:

State Farm and USAA, a niche provider for members of the military, offer the lowest rates.

Best Car Insurance for Commute Rates

How far you regularly drive also factors into your car insurance costs. Texans, possibly in part because of the size of the territory, drive 15,533 miles annually on average, which is more than residents in other states. How far do you drive every year?

Most of the insurers listed — State Farm, American Family, Nationwide, and Progressive — don’t raise their rates for longer drives. Among those who do, USAA and Geico had the lowest price increases from ten to 25-mile commutes.

Best Car Insurance for Coverage Level Rates

The amount of car insurance you buy also affects how much you pay. If you purchase just the state-required minimum insurance, you might not be able to cover all the costs for bodily injury or property damage from an accident.

Your coverage level will play a major role in your Garland auto insurance rates. Find the cheapest Garland, TX auto insurance rates by coverage level below:

There’s also collision, which will pay you if you hit something. Comprehensive insurance covers “Acts of God,” such as fire, vandalism, hailstorms, and other incidents you can’t control.

Full coverage combines all three types of insurance into one.

Here’s how prices vary for different coverage levels among the top insurers in Garland.

Allstate and USAA have the lowest average price differences from low to high coverage, which amount to roughly $300. Depending on the carrier you choose and any discounts you may qualify for, full coverage can suit your budget.

Best Car Insurance for Credit History Rates

Your credit score also influences car insurance rates. Often, drivers with poor credit pay more than those with good credit. Let’s see how credit history affects prices for drivers in Garland.

Your credit score will play a major role in your Garland auto insurance rates unless you live in these states where discrimination based on credit is not allowed: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. Find the cheapest Garland, TX auto insurance rates by credit score below.

With many of the insurers listed above, average costs from poor to good credit range from $2,000 to $4,000, which makes credit history one of the biggest influencers of rates. Progressive had the lowest price difference from poor to good credit, of about $1,200.

Best Car Insurance for Driving Record Rates

Your driving record, whether it’s clean or full of violations, will also have an impact on your rates. Below are the major and minor driving infractions insurers look at when they factor your rates in Garland.

Your driving record will play a major role in your Garland auto insurance rates. For example, other factors aside, a Garland, TX DUI may increase your auto insurance rates 40 to 50 percent. Find the cheapest Garland, TX auto insurance rates by driving record.

For one speeding violation, Allstate, American Family, and State Farm didn’t raise rates. Among the insurers who increased rates for one speeding ticket, USAA, Progressive, and Nationwide increased them by an average of $300.

Car Insurance Factors in Garland

Together with the factors we explored earlier, the area’s economy, including employment rates, can influence car insurance rates. Among other aspects, we’ll also look at income, education, and poverty levels in Garland.

Factors affecting auto insurance rates in Garland, TX may include your commute, coverage level, tickets, DUIs, and credit. Controlling these factors will help you maintain cheap Garland, Texas auto insurance.

Metro Report – Growth & Prosperity

The Brookings Institution’s Metro Monitor shows that the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area ranks 27th out of 100 cities nationwide for economic growth and 86th out of 100 for prosperity.

The economy there is strong, but on average, productivity, wages, and the standard of living rank below the national average, which means that prosperity there is stagnant.

Let’s look more closely at the statistics:

Prosperity

Prosperity captures changes in the average wealth and income an economy produces. When worker productivity contributes to a metropolitan area’s growth, through innovation or training, for example, the value of those workers’ labor rises.

This is how the area grew from 2007 to 2017:

• Productivity: -0.7 percent (87th out of 100)
• Standard of living: -0.2 percent (87th out of 100)
• Average annual wage: +0.8 percent (59th out of 100)

Unfortunately, productivity and the standard of living showed losses over the decade. The average annual wage, however, increased, which is a sign of hope.

Growth

Growth indicators measure the change in the size of an urban area’s economy and its level of entrepreneurial activity. Growth and entrepreneurship create new opportunities for individuals and can help a metro economy become more efficient.

These figures measure growth in the gross metropolitan product, the number of jobs, and the amount of positions at young firms.

Here’s how the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area grew from 2007 to 2017:

• Jobs: +2.6 percent (17th out of 100)
• Gross metropolitan product (GMP): +1.9 percent (62nd out of 100)
• Jobs at young firms: +4.6 percent (36th out of 100)

Despite dismal prosperity figures, job growth in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area was among the highest in the nation.

Now, let’s see how the economy drives Garland residents’ incomes, occupations, and levels of homeownership.

Median Household Income

Data USA 2017 figures show that the median household income in Garland is $55,637, which is about $5,000 less than the U.S. average annual income. Annual incomes rose by nearly 5 percent in Garland from the previous year.

How does this relate to car insurance? On average, 11.3 percent of Garland residents’ incomes go to car insurance premiums. But this is just an average, and your experience may vary.

Want to see how much of your income pays for car insurance? Try our free calculator below.

Homeownership in Garland

Homeownership shows that a driver may be more reliable and able to pay car insurance premiums. If you own a home, you could pay less for car insurance than if you rent. To save more, homeowners can also bundle their car and home insurance.

Data USA reports that in 2017, 62 percent of Garland residents owned a home, which is two percentage points lower than the national average.

The median home value in Garland is $132,600 — that’s lower than most Texas homes. But the value of Garland homes has risen from $121,400 in 2016.

Education in Garland

Data USA found that in 2016, universities in Garland awarded 910 degrees.

The largest universities in Garland by the number of degrees awarded are Remington College-Dallas Campus (477 and 52 percent), Amberton University (410 and 45 percent), and International Beauty College (23 and 3 percent).

The most popular majors in Garland are Medical Assistant (212 and 23 percent), General Business Administration & Management (147 and 16 percent), and Counseling Psychology (129 and 14 percent).

Community colleges, which offer degrees and certificates in a broad range of fields, are also a lower-cost alternative to traditional schools. Richland College has a campus in Garland and offers several certificates and degree programs in popular occupations in Garland.

Wage by Race & Ethnicity in Common Jobs

In 2017, the highest paid race/ethnicity of Texas workers was Asian. Data USA reports that they earned 1.25 times more than white workers.

The table below highlights the highest-paid races/ethnicities in Texas and how much of their incomes go to car insurance based on the cost of an average annual premium in Garland.

As the highest paid race/ethnicity, nearly 6 percent of Asians’ incomes went to car insurance. Generally, the more a worker earns, the less of their income pays for car insurance.

Keep in mind that the cost of the premium listed is an average and might not reflect your experience.

Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

As shown below, according to Data USA, as of 2017, large wage gaps exist between male and female workers in the Lone Star State.

• Male Average Salary: $64,953
• Female Average Salary: $45,959

Full-time male employees in Texas made nearly 1.5 times more than female employees. The big difference in salaries means that a higher percentage of females’ earnings pay for car insurance — nearly 14 percent.

By comparison, males in Texas pay 10 percent of their incomes to car insurance.

Despite the earning gaps, as we mentioned earlier, on average, females often pay less for their premiums because they tend to get into fewer accidents than males.

Poverty by Age & Gender

Data USA numbers reveal that more adult females than adult males in Garland live in poverty. The largest demographic living in poverty are females age 25-34. Sixteen percent of Garland residents live below the poverty line, which is higher than the national average of 13 percent.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family’s total income falls below their thresholds, the Census Bureau classifies that family and every family member as living in poverty.

Poverty by Race & Ethnicity

Per Data USA figures, the poorest race or ethnicity in Garland is Hispanics (20,967 people), followed by whites (18,744 people).

Employment by Occupations

Certain fields in Garland employ more residents than others. According to Data USA, the most common jobs there are in office and administrative support (16,392 people), sales and related occupations (12,516 people), and construction and extraction jobs (9,704 people).

Driving in Garland

You may know all of the routes and the shortcuts in Garland, but they’re not without their annoyances. On the road, you may face traffic jams, accidents, potholes, and other potential problems.

In this section, we’ll cover the major roadways in the city, pavement conditions, popular road trips, and traffic laws.

Keep reading to be prepared before you get behind the wheel in Garland.

Roads in Garland

First, we’ll explore the major roadways in Garland that many drivers take there regularly.

Major Highways in Garland

The state of Texas has 25 active routes that span 3,500 miles of roadway. The map below shows the major interstates and state highways that run through Garland.

• I-635 (LBJ Freeway) provides access to Dallas and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Airport to the southwest.
• I-30 stretches through the south side of Garland and connects with Mesquite and Dallas to the west and Rockwall to the east.
• SH-66 runs east-west and ends at a Highway 78 junction in downtown Garland.
• SH-78 (Garland Road, Lavon Drive) cuts through the city and into the downtown area.
• President George Bush Turnpike is a toll road that loops around Dallas County and runs through northern Garland to connect with Richardson and Plano to the west and Rowlett to the east.
• Belt Line Loop — some parts are known as First Street and Broadway Blvd. — leads around the Dallas suburbs.

Texas has considered adding more toll lanes to I-635 on the section of the highway near Garland.

If you’re a frequent traveler, you may want to get the North Texas Tollway Authority’s TollTag. The TollTag toll rate is an average of 19 cents per mile, effective July 1, 2019.

The ZipCash, pay-by-mail price is 50 percent more than the TollTag rate.

The TollTag pays for tolls electronically from a prepaid account through a convenient transponder sticker mounted on your vehicle’s windshield. Each time you pass through a toll lane, the toll is deducted directly from your prepaid account (paid with cash or a credit or debit card).

When the account reaches $10, you’ll receive a notice (cash-backed accounts), or $40 will be deducted from your credit or debit card account.

Customers can monitor their account usage and add funds at any time via the Tollmate mobile app or through the online account management site.

Popular Road Trips/Sites

Garland offers plenty of fun for everyone. Among the main attractions are the Landmark Museum at Heritage Crossing, the Garland Public Art Walking Tour, and the Hawaiian Falls Waterpark.

You’ll also find family-friendly activities, fun places to go, and even 266 free and cheap things to do.

For more exciting ideas, watch the travel video below:

Road Conditions in Garland

Below are pavement conditions and vehicle operating costs in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area from TRIP, a national transportation research group:

Most roads there are in mediocre and good shape, which means you may not always experience smooth travels, so it helps to be aware of road safety conditions.

Vehicle Operating Costs (VOC) can include repairs from driving over potholes or road debris along the highway.

Does Garland use speeding or red light cameras?

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Garland doesn’t use speeding or red-light cameras. In June 2019, Governor Abbott signed a bill that bans red-light cameras in the Lone Star State.

Red light violations can ultimately increase your car insurance rates, so it makes sense to obey the law wherever you drive.

Vehicles in Garland

Below, we’ll cover the most popular cars owned in the area, car ownership, and crime rates (including vehicle thefts).

Most Popular Vehicles Owned

YourMechanic tracks the types of cars it services nationwide and breaks down the information by each major city to show Americans’ car preferences.

According to their survey, 47 percent of the cars they repair in Dallas-Fort Worth are American-made. Pickup trucks are among the most popular vehicles in Texas, but YourMechanic has found that drivers’ favorite car in Dallas-Fort Worth is the Dodge Charger.

The U.S. News and World Report consider the 2019 sedan “a good large car. Performance enthusiasts will appreciate its robust engine options and relatively agile handling for a car of its size. This Dodge sedan is spacious in both rows, and its infotainment system is easy to operate.”

They gave the car an overall rating of 7.3 (out of 10), with an 8.4 for safety, and a 7.5 for performance, and ranked it #7 on their list of Large Cars.

This CarGurus video gives a good spin on the vehicle:

How Many Cars Per Household

Data USA has determined that most households in Garland own two cars, followed by three vehicles, which matches the national average.

Households Without a Car

The table below reveals how many Garland households on average own and don’t own cars.

From 2015 to 2016, the number of households without cars decreased, while the number of vehicles owned increased slightly.

Speed Traps in Garland

Speedtrap.org keeps track of speed traps all across the U.S., as ranked by its users. Among the Garland roads visitors have debated are truly speed traps, the following received the most votes:

• George Bush eastbound as it ends at Highway 78
• State Highway 190 — George W. Bush Highway near Levon and 78 Crossing
• President George Bush Turnpike — top of North Garland Road

Whether or not you’re in those areas, obey speed limits to avoid worrying about speed traps and potential penalties. And, best of all, you’ll help keep yourself and others safe.

Vehicle Theft in Garland

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reports that in 2017, 810 vehicle thefts occurred in Garland.

Neighborhood Scout also tracks crime statistics for U.S. cities. The safest districts in Garland include the neighborhood of Naaman.

The site gives Garland a Crime Index of 15, which means it’s 15 percent safer than other U.S. cities. In Garland, your chances of being a victim of a violent crime are one in 367. Statewide, however, they increase to one in 243. Your chances of becoming a victim of a property crime in Garland are one in 37 and in Texas, they decrease to one in 42.

Per square mile, 27 crimes occur in Garland yearly versus 24 statewide and nationally.

For a closer look at the crimes that occur in Garland, below is a chart showing figures from 2017:

As shown above, property crimes occurred 10 times more often in Garland than violent crimes.

Traffic

Car insurers also explore traffic patterns in an area to see how congested they are — the more cars on the road, the more accidents will happen.

Below, we’ll cover traffic congestion in Garland, the busiest highways, and the safety of its streets and roads.

Traffic Congestion in Garland

According to Inrix, in 2018, Dallas, the nearest major city to Garland, ranked 122nd worldwide for its levels of traffic congestion. It ranked 21st in the U.S.

Dallas drivers lost 76 hours in traffic jams that year, which cost each driver $1,065 in related expenses (gasoline, car repairs, etc.).

During peak traffic in the morning and evening, drivers’ average speed was 33 miles per hour. Outside of “rush hour” commute times, the speed increased to 50 mph, and in free-flowing traffic, it rose to 55 mph.

So, if you commute to Dallas, you’ll want to be aware of delays that can affect your ability to arrive on time.

Transportation

Data USA numbers reveal that the average Garland resident has a commute time of 27.6 minutes, which is higher than the U.S. average (25.1 minutes).

But that pales in comparison to other drivers’ commute times — nearly 2 percent of Garland commuters face “super commutes” longer than 90 minutes.

In 2017, most commuters in Garland drove alone (79 percent), followed by those who carpooled (13 percent).

Busiest Highways

This map shows current local traffic conditions and which highways are the busiest. Interstate 635, for instance, appears as one of the most congested roadways in the area. According to the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, State Highways 66 and 78 are also among the busiest in Garland.

I-635 is so busy that a “sound wall” was built to decrease traffic noise between Centerville Road and La Prada Drive.

How safe are Garland streets & roads?

In this section, you’ll find out how many fatal accidents happened in Dallas, Collin, and Rockwall Counties in 2017, courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). We’ll cover everything from the total fatalities by county to vehicle and railroad accidents.

Garland is mostly in Dallas County, with a small portion in Collin County and Rockwall County; hence, we’ve included data for more than one county.

Below are the total crash deaths by county in 2017:

Dallas County, the more populated of the three counties, had the most accident fatalities.

The table below shows deaths by crash type in Collin County:

Most of the crashes involved speeding and roadway departures. These are the 2017 accident fatality statistics for Dallas County:

A majority of the crashes there involved single vehicles. Let’s see what Rockwall County accident fatalities reveal:

Like the other counties, most of the crashes involved single vehicles and/or roadway departures. The biggest factor, however, in Rockwall, were crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers.

Now, let’s look at statistics for all three counties regarding crashes by person type.

Among the three counties, most of the crashes involved passenger car occupants. In Dallas County, the second-highest number of crashes affected pedestrians.

Further, these figures show the fatalities by road type and function class in Texas.

Most of the crashes occurred on arterial and other roads. An arterial road is a high-capacity urban road. Depending on the amount of traffic, the arterial road may be classified as a highway or a minor arterial road. A collector road gathers traffic from local roads and takes drivers to arterial roads.

Per U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) data, the table below shows the number of railroad and highway crash incidents that happened in Garland from 2012 to 2016:

In those five years, fortunately, few rail/car incidents occurred in Garland.

These statistics highlight the importance of driving safely and how risky behavior can eventually lead to penalties that increase insurance rates, or even worse, deaths.

Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report

Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report tracks the numbers of accident claims drivers make nationwide. According to Allstate claims data, the average driver in the U.S. will experience a collision once every 10.57 years.

In 2019, Garland ranked 175th out of 200 major cities on the report, up from 181st the prior year. The chart below shows residents’ insurance claim statistics.

Drivers in Garland went an average of seven years between accident claims, and they were nearly 50 percent more likely to file a claim compared to the national average.

Compared to other cities nationwide, Garland drivers file more claims more often, and that shows in the city’s ranking on the report.

Ridesharing

Below are the ridesharing services available in Garland beyond regular taxi rides.

• Blacklane — Blacklane luxury vehicles seat one to five people.
• Lyft — This lowest cost Lyft service will grant you a request for a regular four-seat car.
• Lyft Lux — A premium black car service limited to only the most luxurious makes and models.
• Lyft Plus — This is the best Lyft option for larger groups. A Lyft Plus car can seat six or more passengers. Fare prices tend to run higher than a regular Lyft ride to compensate van and SUV drivers for their higher vehicle running costs.
• Lyft Lux SUV — A premium black SUV service with space for up to six passengers.
• Lyft Premier — Lyft’s luxury service. A request for a Lyft Premier will grant you a high-end four-seat car.
• Lyft XL — This is the best Lyft option for larger groups. A Lyft Plus car can seat six or more passengers. Fare prices tend to run higher than a regular Lyft ride to compensate van and SUV drivers for their higher vehicle running costs.
• Uber Black — Uber’s original luxury service. When you select an Uber Black car, a high-end sedan with seating for up to four people will arrive to pick you up.
• Uber Select — This service is similar to Uber Black, but the car with four leather seats doesn’t have to be black. It’s a step above UberX, and costs slightly less than Uber Black.
• Uber SUV — This is Uber’s luxury option for larger groups. When you choose an Uber SUV, a high-end SUV with seating for up to six people will arrive to pick you up.
• Uber X — This budget service gives riders a regular-size car that seats four.
• Uber XL — Uber’s service for larger groups will seat up to six passengers.

E-star Repair Shops

A program from Esurance, E-star, helps drivers find the best repair shops in their areas. According to E-star, these are the top 10 repair shops in and around Garland:

When your car needs repair, check out E-star shops to ensure you get quality service.

Weather

U.S. Climate Data reveals that temperatures in the Garland area range from hot to cold throughout the year, with average highs of 95 and lows of 35 degrees. The area gets a fair amount of rain and even occasional snowfall.

City-Data shows that Dallas County averages 19 natural disasters yearly, which is higher than the U.S. average of 13. Every year, an average of 10 natural disasters lead to emergency declarations, and nine are presidential declarations.

Below is a breakdown of the causes of disasters. Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category.

• Storms: 7
• Hurricane: 6
• Floods: 5
• Fires: 4
• Winds: 2
• Winter Storm: 1
• Flash Flood: 1
• Other: 1

Dallas County experiences several dangerous storms, including hurricanes, annually. These can lead to heavy rains and flooding.

Given the risks involved, it makes sense to buy comprehensive car insurance for protection from floods, storms, and other hazards that can damage your vehicle.

Public Transit

The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system offers local and express bus service and the Blue Line rail service in the Garland and Dallas-Fort Worth areas.

With over 130 routes, DART buses generally run every 30 minutes in peak hours and every 60 minutes at off-peak times. A variety of local and regional passes are available to riders.

Fares are available at local, regional, and reduced rates. For a local bus rider, a single ride costs $2.50. Day, AM/PM, mid-day, and monthly passes are also available. Fare pricing information is available at the DART website.

Alternate Transportation

Major bike and scooter rental companies, such as Lime and Bird, don’t currently operate in Garland. Together with Garland-based VBikes, these companies have expanded into nearby Dallas, so there’s a chance that they will come to the city in the future.

Parking in Metro Areas

Several parking lots and garages are available throughout Garland, along with street-level parking.

ChargeHub lists the most popular electric car charging stations within 10 miles of Garland. Some of them are free. Most of them are Level 2; however, some Level 3 charging stations are also available. The main charging networks are ChargePoint and Tesla.

Air Quality in Garland

Pollution from vehicle exhaust has been linked to health issues and even to climate change. The pollution not only goes directly into the earth’s atmosphere, but it also reacts with other pollutants, which make the situation worse.

Children and people with chronic illnesses can be most sensitive to the effects.

Below are the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air quality statistics for Dallas County from 2016 to 2018. Garland is located mainly in Dallas County; therefore, we’ve excluded Rockwall and Collin Counties, where only part of Garland resides.

From 2016 to 2018, Dallas County experienced fewer “moderate” days of air quality and more days unhealthy for sensitive groups.

The Texas Department of Public Safety requires most vehicles in designated counties (including Dallas, Rockwall, and Collin) to undergo an annual emissions test as part of an inspection. Vehicles two through 24 years old or that have an expired initial inspection sticker must have an emissions test.

Diesel-powered vehicles and motorcycles are exempt but must still have an annual safety inspection.

Military/Veterans

Veterans and active military have worked hard to protect and serve their fellow citizens in times of war and peace. Despite their efforts, they don’t always receive the respect they deserve for their service.

Even among car insurance companies, it’s not always easy to find military discounts.

Fortunately, several insurers do honor veterans and active military through discounts. Below, we’ve gathered information about those discounts, together with facts about when local veterans served and nearby military bases.

Read on to find out more about Garland’s active military and veterans and the car insurance savings available to them.

– Veterans by Service Period

According to Data USA, most Garland veterans served in Vietnam, more than two times greater than any other conflict. The next most common service period for veterans has been the Gulf Wars.

– Military Bases Within an Hour

A joint defense facility, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, plays a crucial role in the training and equipping of aircrews and aviation ground support personnel.

The base employs more than 11,000 active, reserve, and civilian personnel and contributes $1.3 billion annually to the North Central Texas economy.

– Military Discount by Providers

If you are or were in the U.S. military, most car insurance companies will want to give back by serving you. Many of them offer military discounts.

Below is a list of known providers who give military discounts. We excluded those who offer military discounts only to certain states.

*USAA gives a 15 percent military garage discount for garaging cars on a military base.  

– USAA Available in Texas

USAA provides car insurance only to U.S. military personnel and their families. The company’s insurance premiums tend to cost less than those of standard insurers.

Below, you will see how USAA’s and other insurers’ rates compare to the cost of average annual full coverage premiums in Texas.

USAA remains the insurer in Texas who offers the lowest rates to active military and veterans, at roughly 40 percent less than the state annual average.

Unique City Laws

Like in school, sometimes there seem to be too many rules. Laws help maintain order in society, and each city has different regulations. If you don’t pay close enough attention, you could end up breaking the law.

To help you remain a law-abiding citizen, in this section, we’ll cover laws unique to Garland, such as food trucks and parking regulations.

Keep reading to stay current with local laws.

– Hands-Free Laws

The City of Garland doesn’t have specific hands-free or cell phone laws, but statewide, texting is banned for all drivers. Texas laws also prohibit drivers younger than 18 from using cellphones. Drivers generally can use hands-free devices except in school crossing zones and on public school property when the reduced speed limits there apply.

– Food Truck Laws

If you want to run a food truck in Garland, you will need to make sure you have all the right food permits.

Garland has different levels of standards for food preparation, such as vendors who sell prepackaged food versus those who prepare food on-site. Depending on how you handle food, your truck may also need to undergo a health or safety inspection.

So, before you set up shop, make sure you file all the proper permits and follow the rules for your food preparation level.

– Tiny Homes

These small dwellings appeal to people who want to simplify their lives. Before you abandon standard housing, you should be aware that tiny homes have specific regulations.

A tiny house is usually considered a mobile home and must follow the same laws. If you are on a plot of land, you will need access to a septic tank, water, and other utilities before you can be approved to live on the land legally.

In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, essentially, wherever you can park a travel trailer, you can park a tiny house. The Dallas-Fort Worth metro has many R.V. parks. You can also lease or buy a parcel of land outside of city incorporated areas. Unincorporated land is often available within an hour’s drive from major business centers.

– Parking Laws

In Garland, drivers should park politely, please. That means that they must avoid parking in the following areas or they will get a ticket:

• In front of postal service mailboxes
• On sidewalks
• In intersections
• In crosswalks
• In front of a public/private driveway
• Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant
• Within 20 feet of a crosswalk
• Within 30 feet of a stop sign

The city video below goes into more detail about its “Park Politely, Please” program:

Garland Car Insurance FAQs

Despite all of the details we’ve covered, we understand that you may still want to know even more.

Below, we’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Garland and car insurance available there.

To find out more, read on.

Is Garland, Texas safe?

Neighborhood Scout, which has gathered data from the FBI, reports that Garland’s crime rate is similar to cities of the same size.

But compared to all Texas cities (regardless of size), Garland has a higher crime rate (at 86 percent). So, in Garland, your chances of becoming a victim of a crime are slightly above average.

How far is Garland, Texas, from Houston?

The total driving distance from Garland to Houston is 252 miles or 406 kilometers.

What is Garland, Texas, known for?

Located close to Dallas, Garland is known for its vibrancy and diversity, with many enjoyable aspects of Texas culture, including fun attractions and beautiful scenery.

How much car insurance should I buy in Garland?

Drivers in Texas must carry minimum amounts of liability insurance coverage to pay for damages and medical bills from an accident. As part of the Lone Star State’s system of assigning fault to drivers, they’re required to have insurance as proof of their ability to pay for those losses.

As such, the state has set minimum amounts of liability coverage each driver must buy:

• $30,000 in bodily injury liability per person injured in an accident you cause
• $60,000 for total bodily injury liability when two or more people are injured in an accident you cause
• $25,000 in property damage per accident you cause

But, sometimes, despite the minimum requirements, your insurance might not cover all the costs, especially if more than a few vehicles are involved. That’s why we recommend you buy more than the minimum required.

For more information about Texas’s liability car insurance requirements, watch the video below:

What are the penalties for driving without car insurance in Garland?

In Texas, you must show proof of insurance in the following situations:

• Whenever a police officer asks for it
• If you get into a car accident
• When you register or renew your car’s registration
• When you apply for or renew your driver’s license
• When your vehicle undergoes an inspection

Several government agencies, including local police and sheriff departments, use the online TexasSure program to verify whether drivers have car insurance.

If the system shows a driver is uninsured or there is inconsistent information regarding their insurance, they may receive the following notices:

• Unmatched notice – Drivers will get this notice if they’re on record as having car insurance, but the coverage doesn’t match the car registration.
• Uninsured notice – Drivers will get this notice if they’ve registered a vehicle without car insurance.

The table below details the penalties for driving without car insurance:

In Texas, the penalties for driving while uninsured are pretty strict, which is why you shouldn’t leave home without car insurance.

How do I lower my auto insurance costs in Garland?

Above, we covered the major risk factors insurers consider when they set their rates. If you can keep your driving record clean, have a good credit score, own a home, and live in a relatively safe neighborhood, you’re on your way to getting lower rates.

Did we cover everything you needed to know? We hope you found this complete guide to car insurance in Garland helpful. If you’re ready to compare rates, enter your zip code in our FREE quote tool.

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07.10.2020 / auto insurance in garland tx / car insurance in garland tx