The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) provides windstorm and hail insurance for homeowners who can’t secure coverage through the private market. To purchase a TWIA policy, your home must be located in a designated catastrophe area, and you must have been denied coverage (or had your policy nonrenewed) by at least one Texas insurance company.
What is the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association and who needs TWIA coverage?
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association was created in 1971 after severe hurricanes in Texas left coastal homeowners unable to find private wind and hail coverage. It serves as an insurer of last resort for homeowners in high-risk areas who cannot find Texas windstorm insurance elsewhere. You must be denied windstorm coverage or have your policy nonrenewed by a private insurer before you can buy a TWIA policy.
While there is no state law that says you must have windstorm insurance, lenders frequently require it as a condition of your home loan — especially if you live in an area at risk for hurricanes. If you can’t get coverage, either bundled in with your standard home insurance or through a standalone policy, you may face obstacles when trying to buy a home or refinance your mortgage.
If you’re denied for windstorm coverage because you live in a high-risk coastal area, the TWIA offers you a path forward. But keep in mind, TWIA only covers wind and hail, and you still need standard home insurance to protect against other types of property losses.
Where is TWIA coverage available?
TWIA coverage is only available for insurable properties — both residential and commercial — in designated catastrophe areas where the state’s insurance commissioner has concluded that windstorm and hail insurance is not widely available. Counties are grouped into rated tiers based on risk, with Tier 1 considered the most vulnerable due to lack of available coverage.
The following Texas counties are eligible for TWIA coverage:
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Tier 1 counties: Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Galveston, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, and Willacy
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Tier 2 counties: Portions of Harris County east of Highway 146 and within the city limits of La Porte, Morgan’s Point, Pasadena, Seabrook, and Shore Acres
What are the core eligibility requirements for a TWIA policy?
To purchase TWIA coverage in Texas, your property must:
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Be located in a designated catastrophe area
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Have been denied windstorm and hail insurance by at least one authorized insurer that currently offers coverage in your area, either through refusal of new policy or nonrenewal
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Meet building code requirements, as confirmed with a Certificate of Compliance (WPI-8, WPI-8-E, or WPI-8-C) on file with the state
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Meet all TWIA eligibility requirements and be in good condition, with no unrepaired damages or dangerous hazards
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Have Texas flood coverage if located in a high-risk flood zone (Zones V, VE, or V1-30) and if the home was built, altered, renovated, or enlarged on or after Sept. 1, 2009
How do you apply for a TWIA policy?
Follow these steps to apply for a TWIA policy:
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Secure a coverage declination: You can only qualify for TWIA if a licensed insurer offering windstorm and hail insurance in your area denies you for coverage or declines to renew your policy.
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Contact a licensed insurance agent registered with TWIA: Many home insurance agents in coastal Texas are registered with TWIA, so ask any local agent whether they can write TWIA policies before you apply. Once you've found one, they can help you determine how much coverage you need and walk you through your payment options.
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Provide information and documentation: The agent will gather information about your property, including the address, the age of the home, the type of roof, and other details. The insurer might also request proof of declination, a written statement documenting an insurer’s refusal to issue windstorm coverage, and a Certificate of Compliance to confirm your property meets local building codes.
Frequently asked questions
Is TWIA required in Texas?
Even if you can’t buy windstorm coverage on the private market, TWIA is not legally required in Texas. However, your mortgage lender may require wind and hail insurance as a condition of your home loan. Either way, it’s a good idea to secure a TWIA policy when you can’t get wind coverage elsewhere, as it financially protects you against wind-related losses.
Which counties in Texas are considered Tier 2 wind counties?
Tier 2 coastal counties are not eligible for TWIA coverage (except for parts of Harris County). These counties include Bee, Brooks, Fort Bend, Goliad, Hardin, Harris, Hidalgo, Jackson, Jim Wells, Liberty, Live Oak, Orange, Victoria, and Wharton.
How does TWIA insurance work?
TWIA is a not-for-profit insurance market established by state law and is not a state agency. Its funding comes from the premiums policyholders pay to the TWIA, the Catastrophe Reserve Trust Fund, state financing arrangements, member company assessments, and reinsurance or alternative risk finance.
How do I get a windstorm certificate in Texas?
Before you can buy a TWIA policy, you must have a Windstorm Certificate of Compliance that verifies your property is built to local building codes. You can check if your home has an existing Certificate of Compliance and request copies of it using the Texas Department of Insurance online database. For certificates issued by the TWIA between Jan. 1, 2017 and May 31, 2020, check the TWIA’s Windstorm Certificate lookup tool.
You must obtain a new Certificate of Compliance when you build a new structure, enlarge or make an addition to your home, replace openings like windows, doors, or garage doors, add patio covers, build a deck, replace or repair a large portion of your roof, or re-side a large portion of your exterior wall. You can learn more about the certification process from the Texas Department of Insurance.
