Texas windstorm insurance covers damage from high winds and hail, from a small hailstorm to a hurricane. In most of Texas it is already part of your homeowners policy. Along the coast it often isn't, and you have to buy it separately, usually from the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA), which sells wind-and-hail-only policies in 14 coastal counties and part of Harris County.[1][2] The Texas FAIR Plan Association (TFPA) is something else. It is a statewide insurer of last resort that provides basic home coverage when two insurers have turned you down, and on the coast it excludes wind and hail, so it pairs with TWIA rather than replacing it.[4][5]
This guide is for a Texas homeowner or landlord who has been told to "get TWIA" or has been sent to the FAIR Plan, and who wants to understand what each one covers, who qualifies and how both fit with a regular policy and flood insurance. Menlo Insurance Services is licensed in Texas, and like any licensed agent we can explain the options available at your address. Our homeowners insurance page outlines the parts of a standard homeowners policy.
What is the difference between TWIA and the Texas FAIR Plan?
They cover different perils in different places. TWIA insures wind and hail on the coast. The FAIR Plan insures basic property risks such as fire and theft anywhere in Texas, for owners the private market won't take. The table sets them side by side.
| TWIA | Texas FAIR Plan (TFPA) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Windstorm and hail only[2] | Limited home, dwelling, condo and tenant coverage: fire, lightning, theft, vandalism and other named perils[5] |
| Where | 14 first-tier coastal counties and Harris County east of Highway 146[2] | Statewide[5] |
| Wind and hail | Yes, that is all it covers | Included inland, excluded in the coastal catastrophe area[5] |
| Who qualifies | Turned down for wind and hail by at least 1 insurer writing it in the area[2] | Declined by at least 2 licensed insurers writing property insurance in Texas, and no valid offer of comparable coverage[4] |
| Building requirement | Certified to the windstorm building code (WPI-8, WPI-8-E or WPI-8-C), with limited exceptions[2] | Must meet underwriting standards. Vacant, condemned or damaged property can be declined[4] |
| Top dwelling limit | $1,773,000[3] | $1,000,000[5] |
| Liability | None | $100,000 or $300,000 on home, condo and tenant policies, none on the dwelling policy[5] |
| Staying on it | Eligibility can be rechecked at any time, and depopulation programs offer private-market takeouts[2][3] | Reapply in the private market every 2 years[4] |
| How to buy | Through a licensed agent[1] | Through a licensed agent authorized by TFPA[4] |
| Governing law | Texas Insurance Code Chapter 2210[2] | Texas Insurance Code Chapter 2211[4] |
What is TWIA and who qualifies?
TWIA is a not-for-profit insurer created by the Texas Legislature in 1971 to provide wind and hail coverage on the coast. It is not a state agency and doesn't receive state general revenue.[3] Every insurer licensed to write property insurance in Texas is a member of TWIA.[3] As of March 31, 2026 TWIA insured 286,251 properties, and in 2024 it held 53% of the residential market within its coverage area.[3]
To qualify, the property and the applicant must meet five conditions:[2]
- The property is in Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Galveston, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio or Willacy County, or in Harris County east of Highway 146.
- At least one insurer actively writing wind and hail in the area has turned you down.
- The structure has a certificate of compliance showing it was built to the windstorm code, with limited exceptions. TDI issues the WPI-8 for work inspected during construction and the WPI-8-E for completed work.[7]
- Property in flood zones V, VE or V1-30 that was built, altered, remodeled or enlarged on or after September 1, 2009 has flood insurance, where the NFIP offers it.
- The building is in insurable condition, in good repair with no unrepaired damage.
Timing matters too. TDI warns that you can't get a TWIA policy while a hurricane is in the Gulf of Mexico.[1]
How much can TWIA cover?
TWIA's maximum limits for 2026 depend on the type of property. They are $1,773,000 for a dwelling or individually owned townhouse, $374,000 for the contents of an apartment, condo or townhouse, $4,424,000 for a commercial structure and its contents, and $119,000 for a manufactured home.[3] Few policies reach those limits. The average residential amount of insurance is $349,754.[3]
Because a home can cost more to rebuild than TWIA's limit, and the rest of its wind coverage then has to come from elsewhere, coastal owners often compare TWIA with private wind policies.
What is the Texas FAIR Plan and who qualifies?
The FAIR Plan is the insurer of last resort for basic residential property coverage. The Legislature authorized it in 1995, and the Commissioner put it into operation in December 2002.[5] It had 124,445 policies in force on March 31, 2026, 62,098 of them in Harris County.[5]
It offers four residential policies: a homeowner policy (HO-A), a dwelling policy (TDP-1) for one- and two-family homes including rentals, a condominium policy and a tenant policy.[5] To apply, you must have been declined by at least two insurers licensed to write and actually writing property insurance in Texas, and you can't have a current policy, a renewal offer or a valid offer of comparable coverage from a Texas-licensed insurer.[4] Offers from surplus lines insurers don't count against you.[5]
FAIR Plan coverage is intentionally narrower than a standard policy. TFPA lists the perils it doesn't cover, including falling trees and objects, collapse, glass breakage, weight of ice or snow, frozen pipes, mold remediation, sewer backup and sudden discharge of water or steam, though a limited water endorsement can be added to the homeowner, tenant and condo policies.[4] Losses are paid at actual cash value unless you buy replacement cost on the HO-A, and the TDP-1 has no replacement cost option. Deductibles are 1% or 2%.[5]
How do TWIA and the FAIR Plan fit with a regular policy?
Think of three separate pieces: the home policy, the wind and hail policy and the flood policy. Where you live and who will insure you decide who provides each piece.
| Your situation | Home policy (fire, theft, liability) | Wind and hail | Flood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inland, standard insurer | Private homeowners policy | Included in the home policy[1] | Separate flood policy if you want it |
| Coast, standard insurer that excludes wind | Private homeowners policy | TWIA or a private wind policy[1] | Separate flood policy, required by TWIA in some V zones[2] |
| Coast, declined by 2 insurers | FAIR Plan HO-A, with a windstorm and hail exclusion[5] | TWIA[5] | Separate flood policy |
| Inland, declined by 2 insurers | FAIR Plan HO-A or TDP-1 | Included in the FAIR Plan policy[5] | Separate flood policy |
| Coastal rental house | Private dwelling policy, or FAIR Plan TDP-1 after 2 declines | TWIA, which writes rental dwellings[8] | Separate flood policy |
TFPA says it directly: if you live in the TWIA area and qualify for the FAIR Plan, "you may have to carry both a TFPA and TWIA policy."[4] Add flood and a coastal home can carry three policies with three deductibles.
Is windstorm insurance required in Texas?
Not by law. TDI says windstorm insurance "isn't required by law in Texas," but if you live near the coast and have a mortgage, your lender will likely require it.[1] Home insurance in general works the same way: no law requires it, but a lender will.[6]
Does TWIA or the FAIR Plan cover flood?
No. TWIA's dwelling policy tells the policyholder that it "does not include coverage for damage resulting from a flood even if hurricane winds and rain caused the flood to occur."[8] TDI's home insurance guide lists flooding among the losses most home policies don't cover.[6] Storm surge counts as flood, so on the coast the flood policy is the one that covers water coming in from outside.
How do TWIA claims work?
You have one year from the storm to file a TWIA claim.[1] TWIA has 60 days to accept or deny it, and once it has the information it needs and accepts the claim, it has 10 days to pay.[6] If you disagree with the amount, you can request appraisal within 60 days after TWIA's decision.[3] TDI's Coastal Outreach and Assistance Services Team can help with TWIA questions and complaints.[1]
Can I leave TWIA for a private policy?
Yes, when a private insurer will write the wind. TWIA runs two depopulation programs. The voluntary program lets participating insurers make offers one policy at a time at renewal, and 4,536 policies have been bound through it.[3] The assumption program moved more than 16,000 policies from TWIA to private insurers from 2016 to 2023, and no rounds have run since 2023 because of a lack of insurer interest.[3] Before you switch, compare the wind deductible, how each policy settles a roof claim and whether the private policy's wind limit is higher than TWIA's.
California has a FAIR Plan too, but it works differently. Its dwelling policy is built around fire, lightning, internal explosion and smoke, and most owners pair it with a difference in conditions policy. Our California FAIR Plan guide explains that system.
Frequently asked questions
Is TWIA the only windstorm insurance in Texas?
No. Inland, wind and hail are normally part of the homeowners policy. On the coast, TWIA is the market of last resort, and you must be turned down by at least one private insurer before it will write you.[1][2] TDI's advice is to ask your agent about your options before assuming TWIA is the only one.[1]
Which counties are in TWIA's area?
Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Galveston, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio and Willacy, plus the part of Harris County east of Highway 146.[2]
Is the Texas FAIR Plan good insurance?
It is limited insurance by design. It exists for owners two insurers have declined, it leaves out perils such as falling trees, frozen pipes and water discharge, and it pays actual cash value unless you add replacement cost on the homeowner policy.[4][5] Use it as a bridge and reapply in the private market, which TFPA requires every two years.[4]
Can I buy TWIA directly?
Does the FAIR Plan cover a rental house?
Yes, on its dwelling policy, the TDP-1, for one- and two-family rental dwellings. The TDP-1 has no liability or theft coverage.[5] Our Texas landlord insurance guide covers rentals in more detail.
This guide is for educational purposes. It summarizes TDI consumer guidance and TDI's Texas FAIR Plan overview of June 2026, TWIA's eligibility rules, fact book and dwelling policy, and TFPA's eligibility page, all read in September 2026. Limits and rules change each year, and your policy's terms, conditions and endorsements control. Menlo Insurance Services is a licensed property and casualty broker in Texas and California that may earn a commission on a placement. Nothing here guarantees that any coverage or price will be available.
The Bottom Line
Inland Texas homes usually have wind and hail inside the homeowners policy. On the coast, wind and hail often come from TWIA, which needs one private decline and a windstorm certificate, while the Texas FAIR Plan provides the basic home coverage for owners two insurers have declined and excludes wind there.[1][2][5] Flood is always a separate policy, so a coastal home can need all three.
References
- 1.Texas Department of Insurance. “What is windstorm insurance?.” Accessed 2026-09-29. https://www.tdi.texas.gov/tips/what-is-windstorm-insurance.html ↩
- 2.Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. “Coverage & Eligibility.” Accessed 2026-09-29. https://www.twia.org/coverage-eligibility/ ↩
- 3.Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. “Fact Book, Data & Information as of Q1 2026.” 2026. https://www.twia.org/wp-content/uploads/Q1-2026-TWIA-Fact-Book.pdf ↩
- 4.Texas FAIR Plan Association. “Coverage & Eligibility.” Accessed 2026-09-29. https://www.texasfairplan.org/about-us/coverage-eligibility/ ↩
- 5.Texas Department of Insurance. “Texas FAIR Plan Association Overview, for quarter ending March 31, 2026.” 2026. https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/pc/fair-overview.pdf ↩
- 6.Texas Department of Insurance. “Home insurance guide.” Accessed 2026-09-29. https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb025.html ↩
- 7.Texas Department of Insurance. “What you need to know about windstorm inspections.” Accessed 2026-09-29. https://www.tdi.texas.gov/tips/need-windstorm-inspection.html ↩
- 8.Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. “TWIA Dwelling Policy, Windstorm and Hail (Form TWDP, edition August 31, 2023).” 2023. https://www.twia.org/wp-content/uploads/TWIA-Dwelling-Policy-HB-3208.pdf ↩