TDI approves consumer Auto Bill of Rights updates to include mandatory right to appraisal

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) has approved amendments to its Consumer Bill of Rights for Personal Automobile Insurance (Auto Bill of Rights) that include mandates from four bills signed into law last year.

TDI proposed the amendments in May.

The Consumer Bill of Rights, whether for auto or homeowner insurance, states to Texas policyholders that it’s “a basic outline of important rights you have under Texas law. Insurance companies must give you this Bill of Rights with your policy. It is important to read and understand your policy.”

However, it notes that the bill of rights isn’t a complete list of all consumer/policyholder rights, part of insurance policies, or lists everything consumers/policyholders are responsible for.

It goes on to explain to consumers where they can get information about their insurance companies, declarations pages, TDI, and insurance shopping resources. It outlines as well what consumers should know when filing a claim, including that they get to choose their repair shops and replacement parts, and claims processing/payments deadlines insurance companies must meet.

The Office of Public Insurance Council (OPIC) petitioned TDI in August 2025 to adopt updates to the bill of rights that reflect multiple changes made by the four new laws.

Those bills include SB 458, which became the state’s mandatory right to appraisal law, effective Sept. 1 of this year, following nearly a decade of advocacy from collision repair professionals. The law ensures all Texas insurance policies “must contain an appraisal provision” and that the appraisal provision “is intended to provide a type of dispute resolution process solely to determine the amount of loss when that amount is in dispute between the policyholder and the insurer.”

Other amendments stem from the passage of HB 2067, SB 1238, and SB1644.

In addition to the right to request appraisal, TDI now requires insurers to include in the consumer bill of rights the following:

• • “The right to a written explanation for a cancelation or nonrenewal of an insurance policy (HB 2067).
  • “How insurers must use updated credit information and the right to request an insurer to re-underwrite and re-rate the policy based on current credit information (SB 1644).
  • “The right to not be discriminated against following a spousal death (SB 1238). These amendments will ensure that the Auto Bill of Rights is consistent with the law and that consumers are informed of their rights related to their personal automobile insurance policies.”

TDI states that the amendments will “ensure that the Auto Bill of Rights is consistent with the law and that consumers are informed of their rights related to their personal automobile insurance policies.”

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