Question 1

What kind of home insurance do I need for Texas weather?

Accepted Answer

A standard Texas HO-3 policy covers most perils — fire, theft, and wind/hail in most of the state — but you'll want to review three add-ons: (1) a separate windstorm policy through TWIA if you live in a Tier 1 coastal county, (2) flood insurance through the NFIP or a private carrier (flood is never covered by a standard home policy), and (3) a roof-surface endorsement, since many Texas carriers now pay actual cash value (depreciated) on roofs instead of full replacement cost. Heritage Texas shops multiple A-rated carriers to build a package that matches your ZIP code's actual risk profile.

Question 2

Does homeowners insurance cover hail damage in Texas?

Accepted Answer

Yes — hail is a covered peril under a standard Texas HO-3 policy, but the payout depends on your roof-loss settlement type. Replacement Cost Value (RCV) pays to replace the roof with materials of like kind and quality. Actual Cash Value (ACV) pays replacement cost minus depreciation, which on a 15-year-old roof can mean thousands out of pocket. Many Texas carriers have quietly moved to ACV or scheduled roof endorsements — we'll tell you exactly what yours says before the next storm.

Question 3

Do I need separate flood insurance in Texas?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Homeowners policies exclude flood damage in every state, and roughly 25% of Texas flood claims come from properties outside high-risk FEMA zones. Coverage is available through the NFIP (up to $250K dwelling / $100K contents) or private flood carriers that often offer higher limits and faster underwriting. We can quote both.

Question 4

What's the difference between windstorm insurance and homeowners insurance in Texas?

Accepted Answer

In most of Texas, wind and hail are included in your standard homeowners policy. But in the 14 Tier 1 coastal counties (Galveston, Brazoria, Nueces, and others), private carriers typically exclude wind and hail, and you'll need a separate policy through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) or a private wind carrier. If you're near the coast, we'll structure both policies so there are no coverage gaps.

Question 5

How much homeowners insurance do I need?

Accepted Answer

Insure your home for its full replacement cost — what it would cost to rebuild today, not the market value or purchase price. In Texas, rebuild costs have risen sharply since 2020 due to labor and material inflation, so a policy written five years ago may be significantly under-insured. We run a replacement cost estimate as part of every home quote.

Question 6

What are the minimum auto insurance requirements in Texas?

Accepted Answer

Texas requires 30/60/25 liability coverage: $30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage. These are minimums — not recommendations. A single serious injury claim can exceed $30K in medical bills alone, leaving you personally liable for the rest. Most of our clients carry 100/300/100 or higher, plus uninsured motorist coverage since roughly 1 in 8 Texas drivers is uninsured.

Question 7

How do I file an auto insurance claim in Texas?

Accepted Answer

1) Make sure everyone is safe and call 911 if there are injuries. 2) Exchange information with the other driver — name, phone, license plate, insurance carrier, and policy number. 3) Take photos of all vehicles, license plates, the scene, and any visible damage. 4) File a Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report (CR-3) if damage exceeds $1,000 or there are injuries. 5) Call your carrier's claims hotline or call us at 832-296-7880 and we'll open the claim and advocate on your behalf.

Question 8

Do I need uninsured motorist coverage in Texas?

Accepted Answer

Strongly recommended. Texas has one of the highest uninsured-driver rates in the country — around 12–14%. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage pays for your injuries and vehicle damage when an at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough. It's typically inexpensive to add and Texas requires carriers to offer it in writing on every auto quote.

Question 9

Should I bundle my home and auto insurance in Texas?

Accepted Answer

Usually yes — bundling with the same carrier typically saves 10–25% on the combined premium and simplifies claims when a single event (like a hailstorm) damages both your roof and vehicles. But not every carrier's bundle is competitive. Because we're independent, we run bundled and unbundled scenarios across multiple carriers and show you the true side-by-side numbers.

Question 10

Does auto insurance cover hail damage?

Accepted Answer

Only if you carry comprehensive (also called "other than collision") coverage. Liability-only policies do not pay for hail damage to your own vehicle. In hail-prone Texas metros — Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin — comprehensive is almost always worth the modest premium, and most policies waive the deductible for glass-only claims.

Question 11

How long do I have to file an insurance claim in Texas?

Accepted Answer

Under Texas Insurance Code §542A, you generally have up to two years from the date of loss to file a first-party property claim, but you should notify your carrier as soon as reasonably possible — most policies require "prompt notice." Delayed reporting is one of the most common reasons claims get reduced or denied. Call us as soon as you have damage and we'll walk you through the timeline.

Question 12

What should I do immediately after storm damage to my home?

Accepted Answer

1) Document everything — photos and video of every affected room, the exterior, the roof (from the ground), and any damaged contents. 2) Make temporary repairs to prevent further damage (tarp the roof, board broken windows) and keep all receipts. 3) Do not throw away damaged items until the adjuster has inspected them. 4) Call your carrier's claim line and Heritage Texas at 832-296-7880 — we'll help you open the claim and coordinate with a reputable local contractor.

Question 13

Will filing a claim raise my insurance rates?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the claim type, your claim history, and your carrier. Weather-related claims (hail, wind, hurricane) generally have less rate impact than at-fault liability claims, but multiple claims within a three-to-five year window will raise premiums or affect renewal with most carriers. We can walk you through the likely rate impact before you file — sometimes paying out-of-pocket for a small loss is the cheaper long-term move.

Question 14

What is a public adjuster and do I need one?

Accepted Answer

A public adjuster is a licensed professional you hire to negotiate your claim with the insurance company on your behalf — typically for a percentage of the settlement (often 10–15%). For most residential claims where we're your agent, you don't need one — that's what we do for free as part of our client advocacy. For complex commercial losses or disputed catastrophic claims, a public adjuster can be worth the fee. We'll give you an honest recommendation.

Question 15

What does an insurance deductible mean and how do I choose one?

Accepted Answer

Your deductible is what you pay out-of-pocket before the insurance company pays the rest. Texas homeowners policies often use percentage deductibles for wind and hail (typically 1%–5% of the dwelling limit) and flat-dollar deductibles for other losses. A higher deductible lowers your premium but raises your out-of-pocket cost at claim time. We usually recommend choosing the highest deductible you could comfortably pay tomorrow without financial strain.

Texas Insurance, Explained

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Auto Insurance

Claims & Coverage

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