TWIA insurance in Texas: the book hit $127.1 billion in Q1 2026. Here's what a policy involves.
TWIA insurance is wind and hail coverage from the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. It is for homes in TWIA's 14-county coastal catastrophe area when the private market won't write that coverage. Eligibility rules, a hard dwelling cap, and the fact that it covers only one peril all shape what you get. Here's how it works, and the order to work through it in.
One policy for wind. A second one for everything else.
TWIA isn't sold direct-to-consumer, and it only ever covers one peril — wind and hail. Plan for the companion policy from the start, not as an afterthought.
Go through a Texas-licensed agent and get your declination documented
Any Texas-licensed property and casualty agent can submit a TWIA application — TWIA doesn't specify a special certification beyond standard licensing. You'll need proof that one authorized private insurer declined to write wind and hail coverage on the property, recorded on TWIA's own Proof of Declination form. A windstorm-exclusion endorsement on an existing policy does not count as proof on its own.
- Renewals need a fresh declination every three years, not just at initial application.
- Confirm the property has a current WPI-8 (or WPI-8-E) building-code compliance certificate from the Texas Department of Insurance — TWIA generally requires it, with limited exceptions.
Bring your own replacement-cost number
TWIA doesn't estimate your home's replacement value for you — you or your agent bring that number to the application. Underpricing this is one of the most common reasons homeowners end up underinsured after a storm, and it's the number that determines whether you're anywhere near TWIA's coverage caps.
Apply for the companion policy in the same window, not afterward
TWIA covers wind and hail only. For fire, theft, liability, and every other peril, you need a separate policy — either the private market, or the Texas FAIR Plan (TFPA) (estimate its premium) if the private market says no there too.
Wind and hail damage only, for dwellings, manufactured homes, and commercial property in the 14 coastal counties plus part of Harris County
Fire, theft, liability, flood, and every other peril — always. A separate private or TFPA policy is required for those
$1,773,000 dwellings / $119,000 manufactured homes / $4,424,000 commercial — ask an independent agent about a separate excess policy above those limits
Sequence matters here too.
Running the two applications in parallel, with the right documentation from the start, is faster than discovering halfway through that TFPA needs a second declination TWIA never asked for.
Get your declination in writing from an authorized private insurer, using TWIA's Proof of Declination form — just one is required for new coverage.
Confirm the WPI-8 building-code certificate is on file with TDI. A property without one generally isn't eligible, with limited exceptions. Windstorm certificates (WPI-8) explained →
Submit the TWIA application through your agent with your replacement-cost estimate and declination proof.
In the same window, apply for your other-perils policy — a private carrier, or TFPA if you need a second declination there too.
Confirm lender acceptance of both policies bound together before you consider this done.
What people ask before they call an agent.
How much does TWIA insurance cost?
There's no published flat rate table — TWIA's own FAQ cites an average residential premium of about $2,000 as of mid-2023. Aggregate 2025 figures from TWIA's fact book (total premiums divided by total policies) work out to roughly $2,880 per policy on average, suggesting real growth over that stretch. Actual pricing depends on amount of insurance, construction type, and deductible. Get a real number from a licensed agent.
Do I need an agent to get TWIA coverage, or can I apply directly?
You need a Texas-licensed property and casualty agent. TWIA doesn't specify a special certification beyond standard P&C licensing — if you don't already have an agent, TWIA's own site can help you find one operating in the coastal catastrophe area.
What does TWIA require for eligibility?
Just one declination from an authorized private insurer for new coverage, documented on TWIA's Proof of Declination form — a windstorm-exclusion endorsement alone doesn't count as proof. Renewals need a fresh declination every three years. The property also needs a WPI-8 (or WPI-8-E) building-code compliance certificate issued by the Texas Department of Insurance, with limited exceptions.
What happens if my home's replacement cost is above TWIA's coverage caps?
TWIA's maximum dwelling coverage is $1,773,000. Above that, ask an independent agent about layering a separate excess or umbrella policy on top — the same pattern homeowners in other states use above their own FAIR plan's cap.
Is TWIA growing?
Yes, sharply. TWIA's total insured value reached $127.1 billion by Q1 2026, up from $113.7 billion in 2024 — an 11.3% jump in exposure in two years, alongside a 4.5% rise in policy count and an 8.2% rise in written premiums. TWIA now funds a $4.3 billion catastrophe program for 2026 to back that growing book.