One in Six Gregg County Drivers Uninsured

LONGVIEW — If you’re driving through Gregg County, look around. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report that one in every six vehicles you see in the county is driven by someone who is uninsured — the highest rate in Northeast Texas. Farmers Insurance Agent Tony Glanton in Marshall said he’s seen his share of liability claims resulting from clients who are hit by uninsured drivers. “One out of every five liability claims I process deals with an accident involving an uninsured driver,” Glanton said.

The Texas Department of Insurance estimates Texans pay almost $1 billion in extra costs in insurance premiums every year to protect themselves against the millions of drivers who don’t have insurance or who are underinsured. Alex Ryan, also a Farmers Insurance Agent in Marshall, said depending on driving record and vehicle, a driver could pay up to $25 more a month for uninsured motorist coverage.

Longview police spokeswoman Kristie Brian said the department processes wrecks involving uninsured motorists every day. The penalty for not having liability insurance in Texas is a citation for a first offense, Brian said. An uninsured driver will have his vehicle towed and impounded for subsequent offenses with no insurance.