insurance report

This Texas neighborhood drives in with the state's highest car insurance rates

Auto insurance rates around the state are higher than the national average.

Photo courtesy of ABC13

Austin drivers are actually unlocking lower-than-average car insurance bills, a new study shows.

For its fifth annual national study, TheZebra.com explored 83 million car insurance premiums across every ZIP code in the U.S. as impacted by common variables such as driver age, gender, driving record, financial behaviors, and the cars themselves.

At $1,465, insurance rates in Austin are lower than the state average of $1,498. San Antonio also fellow below the state average, coming in at $1,477.

While auto insurance rates have fallen nationally for the first time since 2013, most other Texas drivers haven't been so lucky. Texas is one of the few states where rates have actually increased year-over-year for 2021. One town has been hit particularly hard — more on that in a minute.

In Dallas-Fort Worth, the average annual cost for car insurance is $1,506. Houston is a even higher, at $1,598. Aldine, just north of Houston, has the highest car insurance rates in the state, averaging $1,852 per year.

"Despite a drop in driving with COVID-19 related lockdowns, Houston car insurance rates defied the trend and rose more than five percent," says Nicole Beck, licensed insurance agent and head of communications at The Zebra. "Flash flooding and an increase in risky driving behavior could be the culprit. An increase in claims in Houston means an increase in insurance rates for all. Drivers should continue to be safe behind the wheel and protect their vehicles from snow and other hazards to prevent individual rates from rising."

Elsewhere in the Lone Star State, Langtry, Texas, which sits near where the Pecos River meets the Rio Grande, has the lowest rate, just $1,281 annually. Other low-cost areas for insurance include Kenney, Edna, Port O'Connor, Alleyton, and Chappell Hill, all cities that are east of Austin.

Texas is near the top when it comes to annual car insurance costs though the state average of $1,498 is not nearly as high as it is in the three most expensive states for car insurance: Louisiana ($2,304), Florida ($2,324), and Michigan ($2,535).

---

This article originally appeared on our sister site AutomotiveMap.

transportation trends lists

Hit the Road

Austin City Council passes resolution over MoPac expansion concerns

Photo courtesy of KVUE

The City Council has taken issue with some environmental concerns and planning that may be outdated.

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) has been looking to make improvements on MoPac Expressway South from Cesar Chavez Street to Slaughter Lane to try to improve traffic. It is looking to add up to four express toll lanes.

But the Austin City Council recently passed a resolution over its concerns with the project.

“[The resolution] tells the city manager to work with the CTRMA on the MoPac South Project. When you see state money being spent on projects that affect the local community, we want to make sure we are holding the highest standard possible," Councilmember Paige Ellis said.

Some of the concerns listed in the resolution include that it's been more than 11 years since CTRMA held its original scoping meeting; that the Recommended Build Alternative has not changed substantially since 2015; and that fine particulate matter in the air in Travis County already exceeds healthy metrics; plus others.

Ellis said she has some environmental concerns.

"The environment is protected for species like the golden cheeked warbler and salamanders, so we want to make we are sure limiting impervious cover," Ellis said.

The CTRMA said its environmental study evaluates potential harms and mitigations to things like water quality and endangered species. The CTRMA added that it has "worked extensively with the city of Austin throughout the study."

Read the full story, including information on how to submit feedback, and watch the video at KVUE.com. CultureMap has added a paragraph to this excerpt listing some details from the City Council document.