Dallas Car Insurance Guide (Comprehensive)

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Rachel Bodine

Insurance Feature Writer

Rachel Bodine graduated from college with a BA in English. She has since worked as a Feature Writer in the insurance industry and gained a deep knowledge of state and countrywide insurance laws and rates. Her research and writing focus on helping readers understand their insurance coverage and how to find savings. Her expert advice on insurance has been featured on sites like PhotoEnforced, All...

Insurance Feature Writer

Eric Stauffer

Licensed Insurance Agent

Eric Stauffer is an insurance agent and banker-turned-consumer advocate. His priority is educating individuals and families about the different types of insurance coverage. He is passionate about helping consumers find the best coverage for their budgets and personal needs. Eric is the CEO of C Street Media, a full-service marketing firm and the co-founder of ProperCents.com, a financial educat...

Licensed Insurance Agent

UPDATED: Nov 3, 2023

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Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.

Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.

Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about car insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything car insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by car insurance experts.

DALLAS CITY STATISTICSDETAILS
City Population1,317,942
City Density3,848 people per square mile
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Dallas$5,855.07
Cheapest Car Insurance CompanyUSAA
Road/Pavement ConditionsPoor Share: 21%
Mediocre Share: 31%
Fair Share: 20%
Good Share: 28%
Vehicle Operating Costs: $609

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One of the 10 largest cities in the United States, Dallas, Texas is home to a lot more than just sports teams. Rich in culture, food, and shopping Dallas is a truly cosmopolitan city.

In total, nearly 1.5 million people call Dallas home. Whether you live in the center of its urban sprawl or in the surrounding suburbs, chances are you’ll need a car to get around. Texas is a big place, and with so many miles of roadway to explore, finding the right car insurance policy is vital.

With so many factors at play when choosing a policy, it can seem impossible to find the perfect company. We’re here to provide impartial, fact-based reporting on how to save money and get driving safely.

Read on to learn about all the information necessary to be a master of Dallas car insurance. If you want to get right to comparing quotes, go ahead and check out our free rate comparison tool above.

Table of Contents

What is the cost of car insurance in Dallas?

Wherever you find yourself driving in Dallas, Texas, car insurance is vital. Even more important? Finding an affordable policy.

Whether you’re driving to catch a Cowboys game at AT&T Stadium or on your way to the Texas State Fair to enjoy some world-famous Texas eats, making sure you and your passengers are covered in case of an accident can save you thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of dollars in the long run.

But how do you know if what you’re paying is a reasonable rate for your auto insurance policy? That depends on several factors. In these next sections, we’ll break down how companies determine auto insurance rates and which providers tend to offer the best prices for different types of drivers.

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How do gender and age play into cheap car insurance?

Gender and age play a significant role in your car insurance rates. Across the country, most cities and states follow the same general trends.

In general, men pay more for car insurance, especially younger drivers with less experience.

Insurance providers tend to assume young male drivers are more prone to risk-taking and dangerous driving, meaning a higher likelihood of filing a claim.

After drivers turn about 35, rates tend to stabilize. Insurers also take marital status into account, married couples often gaining a discount due to the idea that driving with a spouse or family member tends to make people more conscientious on the road.

We’ve broken down demographics by age, gender, and marital status across providers in the table below.

COMPANYMARRIED 35-YEAR-OLD FEMALEMARRIED 35-YEAR-OLD MALEMARRIED 60-YEAR-OLD FEMALEMARRIED 60-YEAR-OLD MALESINGLE 17-YEAR-OLD FEMALESINGLE 17-YEAR-OLD MALESINGLE 25-YEAR-OLD FEMALESINGLE 25-YEAR-OLD MALE
Allstate$4,419.08$4,454.08$4,364.72$4,364.72$11,617.73$14,008.53$5,451.72$5,668.95
American Family$3,798.52$4,238.09$3,508.73$4,035.51$10,138.75$13,345.28$5,489.27$6,279.10
Geico$2,871.14$3,104.28$2,768.23$3,146.90$6,389.64$6,635.84$3,113.71$3,109.43
Nationwide$2,645.98$2,690.80$2,333.76$2,472.39$7,598.54$9,762.63$3,117.80$3,375.48
Progressive$2,752.55$2,627.34$2,436.08$2,488.71$11,390.97$12,715.68$3,275.52$3,336.18
State Farm$2,439.66$2,439.66$2,178.06$2,178.06$5,924.37$7,562.13$2,658.19$2,735.51
USAA$1,807.25$1,806.75$1,735.89$1,710.19$5,156.30$5,579.59$2,397.23$2,544.04

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Some great news for older married women, you’ll likely have the cheapest rates in all of Dallas, depending on your personal driving history. In Dallas, it can be as low as $2,760.78 annually.

According to Data USA, the median age in Dallas is 32.4 years old, so on average, you may pay a bit more than your older, more experienced counterparts.

What are the cheapest ZIP codes in Dallas?

You might notice you have vastly different rates on your collision coverages than someone across the city. For better or worse, some neighborhoods are notorious for their likelihood of accidents, while others are known amongst insurers as being home to statistically fewer accidents.

In total, Dallas has 105 ZIP codes. In this next table, you can search for your ZIP code and find out how your rates compare to your neighbors.

ZIP CODEAVERAGE RATE
75201$6,982.10
75202$6,903.26
75203$7,138.85
75204$6,673.60
75205$6,526.48
75206$6,426.18
75207$7,902.34
75208$6,814.70
75209$6,674.29
75210$7,361.36
75211$7,072.08
75212$6,865.53
75214$6,546.17
75215$7,276.00
75216$7,246.53
75217$7,013.46
75218$6,492.29
75219$7,193.72
75220$6,739.91
75223$7,117.65
75224$6,961.67
75225$6,639.41
75226$6,886.67
75227$7,018.13
75228$6,889.26
75229$6,532.33
75230$6,804.12
75231$7,091.77
75232$7,021.44
75233$7,141.20
75234$6,380.75
75235$6,815.36
75236$6,620.41
75237$7,091.71
75238$6,606.33
75240$6,788.61
75241$7,209.75
75242$7,746.44
75243$6,779.35
75244$6,500.93
75246$6,894.37
75247$7,556.97
75248$6,242.93
75249$6,412.19
75251$6,848.28
75252$5,855.07
75253$6,446.93
75254$6,844.80
75260$7,598.40
75270$6,921.29
75287$5,981.60
75342$7,569.42
75398$7,509.20

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As you can see, some ZIP codes provide major savings. Both75252, the area east of the University of Texas at Dallas, and 75287, around the intersection of President Bush Turnpike and the Dallas North Tollway, offer residents great average rates. These ZIP codes are the only two with premiums averaging less than $6,000 ($5,855 and $5,981, respectively).

On the other end of the spectrum, 75242, a ZIP code in downtown Dallas, and 75207, another downtown area, including parts of the Design District, hold the highest rates. With a nearly $2,000 increase in average premiums, these two locales have annual averages of $7,902.34 and $7.746.44, respectively.

What’s the best car insurance company in Dallas?

“Best” can mean something different for every Dallas driver. But, in general, one of the most important factors is savings and the lowest rates for the most coverage. People want cheap car insurance without sacrificing essential auto coverage.

By comparing several companies’ rates across several factors (such as daily commute, coverage levels, and credit history), we’ll help you decide which companies might provide the most affordable auto insurance rates for your unique lifestyle and driving needs.

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What’s the cheapest car insurance rates by company?

Dallas residents have a range of major car insurance companies to choose from.

To make things simple, below, we’ve listed those companies, along with their average annual costs.

COMPANYAVERAGE ANNUAL RATE
Allstate$6,793.69
American Family$6,354.16
Geico$3,892.40
Nationwide$4,249.67
Progressive$5,127.88
State Farm$3,514.46
USAA$2,842.16

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From just a glance at the table, it’s obvious USAA offers the cheapest insurance rates on average Dallas drivers by a long shot, with an average rate of $2,842.16. However, as USAA only serves the U.S. military and their families, average civilians should check out their closest competitor for affordable car insurance: State Farm. Their average rates tend to be just over $3,500. This is influenced by driving record, any at-fault accidents, and more. Auto insurance companies may offer different insurance discounts to individuals. So it’s important to know these are just sample insureds.

Allstate and American Family, on the other hand, charge some of the highest rates in Dallas. Allstate claims the number-one most expensive spot with the average prices for auto insurance coverage at nearly $6,800, American Family’s average rate follows close behind at $6,354.16.

What’s the best car insurance for commute rates?

According to the U.S Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, on average, Texas residents drive 15,533 miles per year. Considering how much your average annual mileage can impact your rates, these are significant numbers to consider.

Insurance experts have found that the more miles you drive annually, the more likely it is you’ll end up in an accident.

Some good news for people who only drive occasionally: insurers typically assess much lower rates if you partake in what the Insurance Information Institute calls “pleasure use,” or only driving every so often. Your insurance quote goes down dramatically, especially if you live within just a few miles of your workplace.

For those of you who drive big stretches to work each day, there are some affordable options. After doing some digging, we discovered that some car insurance companies don’t charge more for a longer commute. Here’s a table breaking it down.

INSURANCE PROVIDER10-MILE DAILY COMMUTE/6,000 MILES ANNUALLY25-MILE DAILY COMMUTE/12,000 MILES ANNUALLYAVERAGE RATE
American Family$6,354.16$6,354.16$6,354.16
Geico$3,820.92$3,963.87$3,892.40
Nationwide$4,249.67$4,249.67$4,249.67
Progressive$5,127.88$5,127.88$5,127.88
State Farm$3,514.45$3,514.45$3,514.45
USAA$2,806.02$2,878.30$2,842.16

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If you’re a Dallas driver with a long commute, State Farm, Nationwide, Progressive, and American Family all charge the same rates whether your daily drive is 10 miles or 25 miles. Of these providers, American Family charges the highest rates, at just over $6,300.

USAA, Geico, and Allstate, on the other hand, do charge different rates depending on your commutes.

Allstate upcharges the most for higher mileages. Customers with a 25-mile commute pay, on average, $332 more than drivers with 10-mile commutes.

What’s the best car insurance for coverage level rates?

Many drivers think more coverage, it generally means paying a higher premium. While this does tend to be accurate, with some companies, the gap between low and high coverage can be incredibly small.

What’s more, by finding the right company, you can end up paying a lower annual premium for more coverage than you would with a competitor. The cheapest companies aren’t always as obvious as they may seem.

In this table, we compare average rates of Dallas drivers paying for high, medium, and low coverage:

INSURANCE PROVIDERHIGHMEDIUMLOW
Allstate$7,039.24$6,726.53$6,615.31
American Family$7,025.35$6,120.53$5,916.59
Geico$4,137.84$3,848.58$3,690.77
Nationwide$4,101.62$4,066.30$4,581.10
Progressive$5,382.64$5,104.94$4,896.06
State Farm$3,723.44$3,501.72$3,318.20
USAA$2,965.53$2,829.69$2,731.25

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For the most part, rates decrease in proportion to coverage levels. Surprisingly, Nationwide customers pay higher rates for lower coverage.

As we’ve mentioned, USAA offers drivers the lowest ratesacross the board.

And again, Allstate customers pay the most on average. High coverage levels average at $7,039.24.

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What’s the best car insurance for credit history rates?

Car insurance companies take credit history very seriously. According to Nationwide, “92 percent of all insurers now consider credit when calculating auto insurance premiums.” So how does your credit score play into your rates?

Drivers with lower credit scores tend to be subject to higher premiums.

Unfortunately, insurance companies view people with bad credit as riskier drivers who are more likely to file claims. But, as always, by shopping around and finding the right provider, even those with very low scores can find companies that won’t penalize them too much.

That’s excellent news for Dallas citizens, as the Experian’s State of Credit reports Texas has one of the 10 lowest VantageScores in the USA, at 656. The national average credit score is 675.

Wherever your credit level falls on the credit score scale, certain companies might offer significant savings. Here’s a look at average rates for Dallas drivers with good, fair, and poor credit across providers:

INSURANCE PROVIDERGOODFAIRPOOR
Allstate$5,408.33$6,320.64$8,652.11
American Family$4,807.11$5,511.52$8,743.85
Geico$2,251.03$3,395.86$6,030.29
Nationwide$3,550.87$4,093.16$5,104.99
Progressive$4,609.34$4,983.24$5,791.06
State Farm$2,472.64$3,099.53$4,971.19
USAA$1,949.38$2,418.64$4,158.44

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If you have a poor credit score, American Family will charge you the highest premiums with an average rate of $8,743.85. That’s nearly $4,000 more than American Family customers with good credit.

If you’re hoping to find a company where your rates won’t affect your rates too severely, consider Progressive, who has the least amount of deviation between the credit scores.

What’s the best car insurance for driving record rates?

Getting cited for a traffic violation is bad enough. Unfortunately, a spotty driving record also makes your car insurance rates also go up. Whether you get charged for speeding, an accident, or a DUI your rates can skyrocket, especially if you have a stricter provider when it comes to driving records.

How about in Dallas? Who is the best provider for drivers with infractions, and who provides the greatest savings for a clean record?

INSURANCE PROVIDERCLEAN RECORDWITH 1 SPEEDING VIOLATIONWITH 1 ACCIDENTWITH 1 DUI
Allstate$5,269.49$5,269.49$8,155.31$8,480.47
American Family$5,781.97$5,781.97$7,390.43$6,462.26
Geico$3,296.74$4,252.66$4,381.32$3,638.87
Nationwide$3,681.67$4,162.98$3,681.67$5,472.37
Progressive$4,467.79$5,044.11$5,769.02$5,230.59
State Farm$3,113.32$3,113.32$3,583.08$4,248.08
USAA$2,109.19$2,423.18$3,138.75$3,697.50

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Unsurprisingly, drivers with a DUI on their records pay the highest rates Allstate has the highest penalties, charging drivers with a DUI annual average rates of $8,480.47.

With one accident, Progressive, Geico, and American Family charge their customers the highest rates.

USAA provides stellar rates for safe drivers, on average, $2,109.19 a year.

What are car insurance factors in Dallas?

Dallas has one of the fastest-growing economies in the U.S. Some impressive stats about this Southern city:

Below you can find several sections all with relevant factors insurance companies can look at in order to assess auto insurance rates in Dallas.

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What about Metro report growth and prosperity?

In this section, we’re going to look at Dallas’s growth and prosperity.

As the Brookings Institution states, “growth indicators measure changes in the size of a metropolitan area economy and its level of entrepreneurial activity. Growth and entrepreneurship create new opportunities for individuals and can help a metropolitan economy become more efficient.”

We’ve looked into Brookings’s 10-year Metro Monitor for Dallas and learned, that out of the nation’s 100 largest cities, Dallas ranks sixth in overall growth. 

Over the last 10 years, Dallas has seen some incredible statistical expansion. For instance:

  • Jobs in Dallas increased 20.8 percent, seventh out of the top 100
  • The city’s Gross Metropolitan Product (GMP) rose 33.6 percent, eighth out of the top 100
  • The number of jobs at young firms jumped 5.5 percent, sixth out of the top 100
Brookings defines it as “captur[ing] changes in the average wealth and income produced by an economy.”
So, where does Dallas fall? The institution ranked Dallas 15th overall in prosperity. Some related stats:
  • Productivity in the city has increased by 10.7 percent, 11th out of the top 100
  • Standard of living has gone up by 8.7 percent, 11th out of the top 100
  • The average annual wage is up 8 percent, 43rd out of the top 100

What’s the median household income?

Taking a look at the median household income in Dallas gives us a better understanding of the city’s current economy. Currently, the city’s median household income is $65,066.

In comparison to the rest of the country, Dallas is doing a little better than the national average annual income of $60,336. Dallas saw a 2.51 percent increase from the previous year. In 2016, the average median income was $61,388.

A 2017 study found you need $57,984 a year to live “comfortably” in Dallas.

What about homeownership in Dallas?

A lot more goes into buying a house than cost alone. Household income, credit history, and jobs are just a few factors. In Dallas, the median property value is $190,600.

This is 0.876 times lower than the national average, which is $217,600.

However, Dallas has seen some rapid changes that have made homeownership more difficult for folks with less disposable income. From 2016 to 2017, median property values increased from $157,100 to $190,6200, a staggering 21.3 percent increase. That’s great news for sellers, though.

As of 2017, 39.4 percent of homes in Dallas were occupied by the homeowner. Renters occupied the rest of the properties.

The number of homeowners is down from 40.8 percent in 2016. In comparison to the national average of 63.9 percent of homes occupied by homeowners, Dallas is more than 20 percent behind. That means most occupants pay a monthly rent to a landlord.

When looking over the last 10 years, these numbers become even more dramatic. The Federal Reserve Bank reports that since 2010 (when the rate was 51.8), homeownership has dropped by 4.1 percent. In 2017, the rate was 54.

Some of the factors many Dallas citizens point to making homeownership more difficult are the rise of poverty and astounding gender disparities.

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What about education in Dallas?

Dallas is a certified college town. With 105 colleges and universities either in Dallas proper or within 25 miles of Dallas, this city is one of the education hubs of the South.

Here’s a list of the top colleges that call Dallas home:

Impressively, the top two on this list are both community colleges. Mountain View College is another notable community college in Dallas.

What about wage by race and ethnicity in common jobs?

We’ve also looked at how factors like race and ethnicity impact wages. This next table shows the most recent stats from Data USA regarding wages for common Dallas jobs. We’ve also compared these numbers to the percentage of income going to car insurance for workers in each role.

EthnicityMiscellaneous ManagersPercentage of Income Going to Car InsuranceDriver/Sales Workers and Truck DriversPercentage of Income Going to Car InsuranceElementary and Middle School TeachersPercentage of Income Going to Car InsuranceRetail SalespersonsPercentage of Income Going to Car InsuranceCashiersPercentage of Income Going to Car Insurance
American Indian$111,1595.3%$35,40016.5%$46,91412.5%$26,12222.4%$11,05453%
Asian$106,5795.5%$31,55618.6%$38,66115.1%$22,27326.3%$17,98232.6%
White$103,1165.7%$43,60213.4%$43,90113.3%$29,70819.7%$14,25441.1%
Two or More Races$86,4316.8%$39,00715%$45,61812.8%$21,09227.8%$12,08048.5%
Black$69,1728.5%$43,73413.4%$45,78912.8%$27,76621%$12,68046.2%
Other$62,0989.4%$61,1359.6%$46,17712.7%$23,07825.4%$13,98041.9%

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Even within the same job, wage disparity can be enormous. Especially for entry-level jobs like cashiers, car insurance can comprise more than half of your average annual earnings.

American Indians are the highest-earning demographic in managerial roles in Dallas. On average, they pay out a little over five percent of their annual income toward auto insurance.

What about wage by gender in common jobs?

Depending on the study you consult, the breakdown of wages by gender in Texas and Dallas can look different. In general, as we’ve noted, males may pay more than females when it comes to car insurance for drivers.

But when it comes to job salary, a study in 2017 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that “some women [in Texas] get paid as low as 58.9 percent compared to what their male counterparts are making, depending on [the] occupation.”

One factor the study cited was, “male-dominated industries…disproportionately impact[ing] men’s wage total.”

“When you look at the statewide data, occasionally you have very different industry distributions of employment. Like in Texas, you have – even though it’s only 2 percent of total employment in the mining sector compared to the national, which is about half a percent – four times the number (of miners) here in Texas. And mining is a very high-paying sector, but mining is also male-dominated. So that’s going to have a disproportionate impact on male earnings.”

Data from data.io shows the average male makes more than the average female in Dallas. Men made $65,834 on average in 2017 and women made $47,183. That places males making 1.4 times more than their female counterparts.

Another study completed by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, in partnership with the Dallas Women’s Foundation, showed “women earn 92.6 percent as much as men. But women living in Dallas County make far less and hold fewer managerial and professional jobs than their counterparts in Collin and Denton counties.”

As you can see, the data here seems to differ from study to study.

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What about poverty by age and gender?

The mayor of the city of Dallas said in a meeting on May 2, 2018: “Since 2000, the number of people in poverty in the City of Dallas has increased approximately 39.1 percent, while the city’s total population increased by only about 7.6 percent.”

That’s a staggering statistic. Researchers cite the lack of affordable transportation, homeownership, and a high number of households with families and children living in poverty as the main drivers of poverty.

There is 28.8 percent of Dallas families with children living at or below poverty levels. Nationally, Dallas is rated as the second-highest child poverty rate among large U.S. cities, only behind Philadelphia.

Women ages 25-34 are the demographic most likely to be living in poverty.

In 2017, of the 1.28 million people living in Dallas, 21.8 percent lived below the poverty line. That’s considerably higher than the national average of 13.4 percent. Children ages 6-11 make up the second and third demographics living in poverty in 2017.

What about poverty by race and ethnicity?

Another factor affecting poverty is race and ethnicity.

In Dallas, white people are the most common racial/ethnic group to be in poverty (34.9 percent). Hispanic and Black people are second and third (at 33.2 percent and 22.2 percent, respectively).

What about employment by occupations?

Even though Dallas maintains high poverty rates and sometimes steep insurance costs, employment rates saw healthy growth between 2016 and 2017.

In that one year, Dallas, TX, employment increased by 1.86 percent.

That’s an addition of nearly 20 thousand workers, bringing totals from 668,000 employed people to a workforce of 680,000.

In Dallas, the top three fields of employment are:

  • Management Occupations (Except Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers) — 34,514 individuals
  • Building Cleaning and Pest Control Workers — 24,658 individuals
  • Construction Trades Workers (Except Carpenters, Electricians, Painters, Plumbers, and Construction Laborers) — 20,006 individuals

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How is driving in Dallas?

Driving in Dallas presents so many options, and can seem intimidating. You can cruise across seven major interstates and countless city roads. In this section, we’ll provide some critical information to help you stay informed when braving even the busiest routes.

Knowing about tolls and congestion doesn’t have to be a mystery. Keep reading, and you’ll be versed in all the ins and outs of driving through your city in no time.

What about the roads in Dallas?

With well over one million residents and tons of neighborhoods and urban sprawl to explore, using interstates at some point during your travels is inevitable. But just how many highways can you expect to encounter?

What about the major highways in Dallas?

According to the Interstate Guide, across the state of Texas, there are 25 active routes spanning over 3,500 miles.

In Dallas, you can find seven stretches of those interstates  —  I-20,  I-30, I-35, I-35E, I-45, I-345, and I-635. Let’s take a look at each of them:

  • Interstate 30 begins in Forth Worth and connects the DFW metroplex with Arkansas.

  • Interstate 35 begins in Laredo, Texas, heads through Dallas, and spans all the way north to Minnesota.
  • Interstate 35E serves an extension of I-35 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
  • Interstate 45 connects the Dallas-Fort Worth area with Houston and the state’s Gulf Coast.
  • Interstate 345, a shorter route, begins and ends in Dallas
  • Interstate 635 is also known as the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway and connects the northern and eastern sides of the city.

With such a wide array of interstate roads, Dallas residents will probably encounter toll roads. Here’s a list specific to Dallas, according to the TxTag website:

  • I-30 Managed Lanes
  • I-635 East HOV/Express Lanes
  • I-35 TEXpress Lanes
  • Midtown Express
  • DFW Connector

Depending on the road, base toll rates vary. Some stretches of road cost as little as 20 cents, while others may charge you a couple of dollars. The price depends on the distance driven, the time drive, and in some cases, the type of vehicle you drive.

To learn more about rates and obtaining a prepaid TxTag for your vehicle, you can click here.

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What are popular road trips/sites?

Dallas hosts nearly 25 million visitors every year. Some of the most popular attractions include:

If you’re considering a trip around Dallas, check out this Expedia Travel Guide video for inspiration:

 

What are road conditions in Dallas?

Is there anything worse than your vehicle falling victim to faulty infrastructures like potholes, cracks in the road, or uneven surfaces? Not only can this put a huge damper on your day, but it can also end up costing a good chunk to fix.

To help you learn more about Dallas roads, we consulted TRIP, a national transportation research group, and its 2018 Urban Roads Report. Based on their findings, Dallas’s roads are pretty evenly divided in terms of their conditions. Here’s a look:

  • Poor Condition — 21%
  • Mediocre Condition — 31%
  • Fair Condition — 20%
  • Good Condition — 28%
  • Vehicle Operating Costs (V0C) — $609

As you can see, the numbers are pretty even, with mediocre and good conditions just edging above fair and poor roads.

Does Dallas use speeding or red light cameras?

Some positive news for drivers concerned with red-light cameras: on June 2, 2019, Texas Governor Greg Abbot signed legislation banning the use of red-light cameras in the state.

However, some communities are permitted to keep their cameras up through the end of their contracts. In the city of Dallas, though, red light camera enforcement has been terminated following the governor’s legislation.

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What about vehicles in Dallas?

Though Texans have a reputation for loving their big trucks, Dallas looks a bit different than common conceptions. In this section, we’ll look at the most popular vehicles in the state, along with key stats around vehicle theft and crime.

What are the most popular vehicles owned?

According to YourMechanic, a website that collects the most popular vehicles around the country, the most popular car in Dallas, Texas, is the Dodge Challenger.

This car is famous for its high-performance engine and signature design. But how does it fare in terms of safety and fuel economy?

  • The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2019 Dodge Challenger predominantly high marks across the board, though it received some “poor” scores on its driver’s side safety tests.
  • FuelEconomy.gov (of the U.S. Department of Energy) reports the fuel economy of Dodge Challengers to range from 16-23 miles per gallon (combined city and highway), depending on size and engine type.

How many cars are there per household?

According to DataUSA, Dallas mirrors the rest of the nation in terms of average cars per household. That means that most families own two cars.
The vast majority of Americans across cities and states follow this same trend.

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How many households are without a car?

In 2016, 9.1 percent of all households had no vehicles. That’s a decrease from the previous year’s rate of 10.2 percent.

These numbers may come down to the use of public transportation and the necessity of having a car to navigate Dallas. Household income also comes into play here.

Are there speed traps in Dallas?

The National Motorists Association maintains a database of speed traps at Speedtrap.org. This database relies heavily on driver feedback and submissions.

On its list of the 10 Worst Texas Speed Trap Cities, Dallas placed ninth, with seven speed traps.

Surprisingly, a suburb of Dallas, the community of Palmer, ranked even higher than the metropolitan area with seven speed traps.

What about vehicle theft in Dallas?

According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, when it comes to vehicle theft, Dallas ranks second in the state of Texas.

In 2013, the city had 7,300 vehicles reported stolen. Dallas trails behind Houston, which saw 13,595 vehicle thefts the same year.

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What about Dallas traffic?

We’ve made it through some of the most important information about driving in Dallas, but we’re aren’t done yet. Below, we’ll break down stats on traffic congestion, transportation, the busiest highways, and more.

On we go!

What about traffic congestion in Dallas?

When it comes to studying traffic congestion around the globe, INRIX is the leading authority. We reviewed its annual Global Traffic Scorecard and found that Dallas, along with a few other Texas cities, made the list of most congested cities.

Here’s a breakdown of Dallas’s ranking, estimated time lost in congestion, and the estimated cost of congestion for drivers:

RANK IN CONGESTIONHOURS LOST PER DRIVERCOST OF CONGESTION
12276$1,065

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Dallas’s rank remained steady from 2017 to 2018, though the number of hours drivers spent in congestion went down significantly jumping from 153 hours down to 76 hours. Other Texas cities made the list, too; Houston and Austin are ranked 77th and 84th, respectively.

 

How is the transportation?

Dallasites seem to spend a bit more time stuck in traffic compared to the rest of the nation. An average Dallas resident spends 26.6 minutes of their time commuting to and from work. That’s just a minute over the U.S. average of 25.5 minutes.

Only 2.01 percent of the Dallas workforce have what’s referred to as “super-commutes” (commutes that are 90 minutes or more each way). That means only a tiny chunk of folks have to sit in traffic for a total of three hours per workday.

Also, in line with national averages, most Dallas workers drive to work alone (75.9 percent). Only 11.7 percent carpool.

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What are the busiest highways?

Texas A&M’s Transportation Institute published a report on the eight most congested roadways in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

  • Woodall Rodgers Freeway from U.S. 75/North Central Expressway to North Beckley Avenue
  • Stemmons Freeway/I-35 East from John Carpenter Freeway to Interstate 30
  • U.S. 75 from LBJ Freeway to Woodall Rodgers
  • U.S. 75 from President George Bush Turnpike to LBJ
  • I-35 East from Texas 121 to LBJ
  • LBJ from U.S. 75 to Texas 78
  • I-345/U.S. 75 from U.S. 75 to U.S. 175
  • I-35 West from Texas 183 to I-30

For additional details, you can check out the Institute’s annual list of Texas’ Most Congested Roadways 2018.

How safe are Dallas streets and roads?

There are several stats worth noting when it comes to analyzing how safe Dallas’s streets and roadways are. Looking once again to data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), we can better understand how frequently road-related fatalities occur throughout Dallas County:

The following table below shows data from 2017.

CRASH TYPENUMBER OF FATALITIES
All Crashes282
DUI114
Single Vehicle Crashes147
Speeding102
Roadway Departure101
Crashes Involving an Intersection64
Passenger Car Occupant Fatalities100
Pedestrian Fatalities73
Pedalcyclist Fatalities1

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Single-vehicle crashes are most likely to result in traffic fatalities. Pedalcyclists, on the other hand, have the lowest rates of fatal accidents.

Regarding Dallas highways, 2017 saw 282 fatalities on these busy roads. That number is down 10 percent from 2016, when 315 people lost their lives on Dallas highways. When it comes to railroad crashes, from 2012-2016 there were 83 incidents in Dallas.

What does Allstate America’s best drivers report say about Dallas?

How do Dallas drivers rank in comparison to other parts of the country?

Though every time you hit the roads, you’re bound to run into some great (and not so great) drivers, is there a way to objectively rank a city’s drivers?

Allstate thinks so. Each year, they release the “America’s Best Driver’s” Report. Here are Dallas’ results:

ALLSTATE AMERICA'S BEST
DRIVERS REPORT® 2019
STATS
2019 Best Drivers Report
Ranking
172
Average Years Between
Collisions
7.22
2018 Best Drivers Report
Ranking
178
Change from 20186
Relative Collision Likelihood46.5%
Drivewise® HardBraking
Events per 1,000 Miles
n/a

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Dallas has jumped up six rankings in just a year. However, the not-so-good news is the city still ranks good 172nd out of 200. So be careful and stay aware of your fellow drivers to avoid accidents and the need to file a claim.

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What about ridesharing?

With the use of ridesharing growing each year in Dallas, some new companies have begun to take root in the city.

RideGuru reports on ridesharing across the nation. According to their data, Dallas citizens have access to:

  • Uber
  • Lyft
  • Traditional Taxi Services

By reviewing the data, we found that rates for Uber, Lyft, and traditional taxis are often comparable. To save the most money, consider downloading multiple apps and checking prices ahead of time. Pool services within the rideshare apps can also provide additional savings.

 

Are there any E-star repair shops?

Accidents happen, sometimes because of other drivers, a mistake on your part, or an act of nature. If you’re dealing with repairing damages in Dallas, where should you go for repairs?

The Esurance E-star Direct Repair Program is a national database Dallas drivers can search for vetted repair shops and stellar service.

Here are some of the E-star options in Dallas:

SHOP NAMEADDRESSCONTACT
CALIBER - DALLAS3201 MANOR WAY
DALLAS TX 75235
email: [email protected]
P: (214) 352-4041
F: (972) 906-7164
CALIBER - DUNCANVILLE978 NORTH HWY 67
CEDAR HILL TX 75104
email: [email protected]
P: (972) 298-9942
F: (972) 906-7164
CALIBER COLLISION
CENTERS TRAINING
2941 LAKE VISTA DRIVE
LEWISVILLE TX 75067
P: (949) 224-0300
SERVICE KING
DUNCANVILLE
8653 S HAMPTON RD
DALLAS TX 75232
email: [email protected]
P: (972) 572-5227
F: (800) 214-2373
SERVICE KING
EAST MESQUITE
1215 US HIGHWAY 80
MESQUITE TX 75150
email: [email protected]
P: (972) 285-3480
SERVICE KING
NORTH DALLAS
10720 N CENTRAL EXPY
DALLAS TX 75231
email: [email protected]
P: (214) 210-0968
F: (214) 210-0974
SERVICE KING
NORTH EAST DALLAS
10841 ESTATE LANE
DALLAS TX 75238
email: [email protected]
P: (214) 553-4554
F: (800) 214-2373
SERVICE KING
NORTH WEST DALLAS
11565 REEDER RD.
DALLAS TX 75229
email: [email protected]
P: (972) 247-1212
F: (800) 214-2373
SERVICE KING
OAK CLIFF
3504 MARVIN D. LOVE
DALLAS TX 75224
email: [email protected]
P: (214) 371-4495
F: (800) 214-2373
TROPHY NISSAN
COLLISION CENTER_CF
4930 N GALLOWAY AVE
MESQUITE TX 75150
email: [email protected]
P: (972) 681-0859
F: (817) 887-4167

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How is the weather in Dallas?

When most people think of Texas, scorching heat and desert weather come to mind. Though summer heat is a norm Texans and Dallasites deal with every year, the rest of the year is generally very pleasant weather-wise.

Heres a table of the average Dallas climate according to U.S. Climate Data:

DALLAS, TXCLIMATE AVERAGES
Annual High Temperature77.1°F
Annual Low Temperature51.5°F
Average Temperature64.3°F
Average Annual Precipitation - Rainfall40.97 inches
Average Annual
Precipitation - Snow
n/a

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Shocking to some out-of-towners may be the amount of rainfall the city sees each year. Plus, if you’re new to the area and think Dallas never sees snow think again! Here’s a news report on one of the North Texas city occasional snowstorms:

Dallas citizens also have to contend with natural disasters. According to City-Data, Dallas County has had 19 recorded natural disasters — these include storms, hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes.

With that knowledge in mind, we strongly recommend considering purchasing comprehensive car insurance coverage for your car (which protects against damage caused by the weather).

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What is public transit like in Dallas?

For Dallasites hoping to lower their carbon emissions and hop on public transport, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) offers a range of ways to ride:

DART fares vary depending on your destination, but here’s an overview:

  • Day Passes can be used for an unlimited number of rides on the day purchased through 3 a.m. the next day. They can be purchased on buses, Ticket Vending Machines (TVM), and from the GoPass app. Rates are as follows:
    • Local: $6
    • Regional: $12
    • Reduced: $3
  • Single Ride can only be used on DART buses. Rates are cash only and for one-way travel. Rates are as follows:
    • Local: $2.50
    • Reduced: $1.25
  • Monthly Passes are available for purchase through the GoPass app. Rates are as follows:
    • Local: $96
    • Regional: $192
    • Reduced: $48

For more information about fares or downloading the GoPass app, visit the DART page.

What is the cost of alternate transportation in Dallas?

Another transportation option in Dallas is to scooter or bike.

Popular nationwidebike and scooter rental programs Lime and Bird are available throughout Dallas.

Rental rates tend to begin with a $1 unlocking fee and a small per-minute fee afterward. To take advantage of either service, download their respective apps to locate available vehicles in your city.

What about parking in Dallas?

Parking in a populous city like Dallas can be a challenge (to say the least). Learning the best ways to park and how to avoid tickets is critical to keep from paying costly fines.

Luckily, Dallas has some high-tech means of paying for the city’s 4,500+ parking meters. Drivers can use Parkmobile by downloading an app to pay for parking right from their phones.

According to Parkopedia, downtown Dallas parking meters are enforced Monday-Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Prices range from $0.50-$2/hour.

If you want to find available parking spots, check out the ParkMe site, powered by INRIX.

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How’s the air quality in Dallas?

To understand air quality in Dallas, we consulted the Union of Concerned Scientists. Experts report that “transportation emits more than half of nitrogen oxides in our air” and that vehicles are a “major source of global warming emissions in the U.S.”

In short, cars play a significant role in your city’s air quality.

So, how about in Dallas? Here are some stats from the United States Environmental Protection Agency:

AIR QUALITY IN DALLAS FORT WORTH-ARLINGTON, TX201820172016
Days with Air Quality Index365365365
Good Days186 192217
Moderate Days143149131
Days Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups272417
Days Unhealthy9-1
Days Very Unhealthy---

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The data reveals some fascinating trends:

  • The total of “Good Days” decreased since 2016.
  • From 2017 to 2018, the number of days considered “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” increased.
  • However, the number of moderate days decreased in the same period.
  • Dallas has experienced zero “Very Unhealthy Days.”
  • The number of “Unhealthy Days” jumped from zero in 2017 to nine in 2018.

What if I am in the military or a veteran?

If you’re a member or veteran of the military, you and your family face some unique living arrangements and challenges. Ensuring you’re adequately insured means you have one less thing to worry about.

The good news is, Dallasites with military ties have some great options in terms of car insurance. Read on to learn more.

How many veterans are in Dallas by service period?

Texas ranks second in the nation when it comes to the number of total active duty and reserve members of the military per state.

Data also reveals that in terms of Dallas veterans, the majority of military personnel served in Vietnam, followed by the Gulf War.

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How many military bases are within an hour of Dallas?

Currently, Dallas is not home to any military bases, since the Naval Air Station (NAS) Dallas was decommissioned in September 1998. NAS Fort Worth and Joint Reserve Base (JRB) at Carswell are the nearest military bases.

What are military discounts by provider?

Several car insurance providers offer discounts to military personnel living in Texas. To find savings check out:

  • Geico
  • USAA
  • Liberty Mutual
  • Allstate
  • Farmers
  • MetLife
  • Safeco

Is USAA available in Texas?

As we’ve mentioned throughout this post, USAA has some of the best rates in the state of Texas.

USAA is the car insurance provider most members of the military and veterans turn to, and for a good reason. The service and rates are superior. Here’s a comparison of USAA’s average rates in comparison to the top providers in Texas:

INSURANCE PROVIDERAVERAGE ANNUAL PREMIUMHIGHER/LOWER THAN STATE AVERAGEPERCENTAGE HIGHER/LOWER THAN STATE AVERAGE
Allstate$5,485.44$1,442.16+35.67%
American Family$4,848.72$805.44+19.92%
Geico$3,263.28-$780.00-19.29%
Nationwide$3,867.55-$175.73-4.35%
Progressive$4,664.69$621.41+15.37%
State Farm$2,879.94-$1,163.34-28.77%
USAA$2,487.89-$1,555.39-38.47%

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USAA not only has the lowest average rates but also provides rates the furthest below the state average — costing about $1,500 (or 38.47 percent) less.

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What are unique city laws?

Each city has the authority to set up some unique laws within its municipality. Knowing if your city has any different laws will keep you safe and avoid any violations.

But trying to sort through all the legalese and technical terms, on top of staying up to date with new laws, isn’t easy. That’s what this next section is for.

Are there hands-free laws?

In the state of Texas, it’s illegal to text and drive. Further, it’s illegal to use handheld devices if you are driving in a school zone — a law that Dallas was one of the first cities in the state to implement.

Here are some additional restrictions, according to the Texas Department of Transportation:

  • Drivers with learner’s permits cannot use handheld cell phones in the first six months of driving.
  • Drivers under the age of 18 cannot use wireless communications devices.
  • School bus operators cannot use cell phones while driving if children are present.

What about food trucks?

Food trucks are on a meteoric rise in popularity across the nation. In Dallas, if you want to operate a food truck, you’ll need to follow a specific set of rules.

Before a food truck can hit the road in Dallas, owners must meet with the city’s Consumer Health Division and submit for a mobile food unit plan review or an application for a new health permit. To schedule an appointment, call them by phone at (214)-670-8083.

For new truck owners, there are some additional requirements, including a current driver’s license, proof of six months’ liability insurance, two sets of blueprints, and fees. To see the full, detailed list, click here.

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What about tiny homes?

Another rising trend in Dallas is the tiny home. Take Lake Dallas Tiny Home Village, for instance. This new community broke ground in February 2019, but not without encountering its share of permit roadblocks:

What should I know about the parking laws?

Though we’ve gone over some of the fees for parking, it’s important to know parking laws, too.

According to Dallas police:

  • All cars must be parked on what’s called “an improved surface” — meaning concrete, asphalt, or six inches of gravel with a border.
  • To elaborate, cars can be parked in a driveway, on the street (if permitted), or on a yard surface that’s been transformed into an “improved surface” (as previously mentioned).
  • It is not legal to park in a yard or on the grass.

Here’s another warning —

  • Vehicles parked in the city’s public right of way that have outstanding violations are subject to being immobilized.
  • Any car parked on the street for more than 24 hours, is causing a traffic safety hazard, or that’s been booted for unpaid fines, is subject to being towed and impounded.

What are the Dallas car insurance FAQs?

We’ve made it through most of our data collection review! This last section will cover some frequently asked questions about driving and living and Dallas.

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How do I get a driver’s license in Dallas?

The process for getting a license in Dallas varies depending on whether you are a new resident from out of state or if you’re a new resident from another Texas city.

If you’re new to Texas altogether, state law says that you “can legally drive with a valid, unexpired driver license from another U.S. state, U.S. territory, Canadian province, or qualifying country for up to 90 days after moving to Texas.”

Before those 90 days finish, you need to apply for a Texas license in person at any driver’s license office. At that time, you must surrender your out-of-state license. You’ll also need to bring along several documents verifying your identity. To learn more about the process, click here. 

If you’re a Texan only new to Dallas, you’ll need to change the address on your license within 30 days of moving. This process can be completed online, in person, or by mail. Learn more here.

How much car insurance do I need in Dallas?

According to the Texas Department of Insurance, the state requires 30/60/25 coverage. In other words:

  • $30,000 in Bodily Injury liability per person
  • $60,000 liability per accident
  • $25,000 Property Damage liability

Is living in Dallas expensive?

Payscale is a great resource if you’re curious about how expensive it is to live throughout the USA. According to the site, an average Dallasite salary is $60,338. In addition:

  • The cost of living in Dallas is 2 percent higher than the national average.
  • Housing expenses are 5 percent higher than the national average.
  • Utility prices are 4 percent higher than the national average.

In comparison to the rest of the country, Dallas is a bit more expensive on average, but only slightly.

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Are there airports in Dallas?

Yes. Dallas has two major airports — DFW International and Dallas Love Field.

And that’s it! Congrats on learning everything you’ll need to drive safely and find the best car insurance in Dallas.

Now its time to start shopping around for coverage and getting onto the roads! To begin comparing (and saving), go ahead and click here to enter your ZIP code and try out our free comparison tool.

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