WHARTON COUNTY — Insurers declined 474 auto insurance applications and did not renew 113 policies across five Wharton County ZIP codes from April through June 2026, according to newly released state data.
The records cover ZIP codes serving Wharton, El Campo, East Bernard, Boling and Louise. They also show 2,799 cancellations during those three months, although cancellations include policies ended at the customer’s request.
The Texas Department of Insurance added auto insurance data to its public reporting tool Oct. 15, allowing residents to see how often coverage was declined, canceled or not renewed in their ZIP code.
What the local records show
Wharton’s 77488 ZIP code recorded the most rejected applications among the five areas reviewed, with 204, followed by El Campo’s 77437 ZIP code with 156.
| ZIP code area | Applications declined | Policies not renewed | Cancellations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wharton — 77488 | 204 | 44 | 1,191 |
| El Campo — 77437 | 156 | 41 | 1,144 |
| East Bernard — 77435 | 52 | 11 | 258 |
| Boling — 77420 | 41 | 8 | 133 |
| Louise — 77455 | 21 | 9 | 73 |
| Total | 474 | 113 | 2,799 |
Source: Wharton Post calculations using the Texas Department of Insurance’s actual policy-action dataset, covering April–June 2026. ZIP code areas extend beyond city limits, and these five ZIP codes do not represent all of Wharton County.
The figures count policy actions and applications, not individual drivers. A declined application does not establish that the applicant was unable to get insurance through another company. The records also do not show whether someone whose policy ended obtained replacement coverage.
Why coverage was canceled
In a separate state dataset covering notices sent during April through June, failure to pay premiums was the most frequently listed cancellation reason in each of the five ZIP codes reviewed. Other records listed cancellations requested by policyholders.
The state’s reason categories also include claims history or driving records, vehicle make and model, and credit or insurance scores considered alongside other factors.
The notice records and actual policy-action records use different date information. A notice sent during one month can concern coverage ending later, so the totals in the two datasets do not directly match. Companies may also list more than one reason for a decision.
What the numbers mean
A declination means an insurer did not approve an application. A nonrenewal means the company did not continue coverage after the policy’s expiration date. A cancellation ends a policy before its scheduled expiration.
The local figures provide an initial look at those decisions. They do not, by themselves, establish that insurance denials are increasing or that companies are withdrawing from Wharton County. The public tool groups information by ZIP code and policy type but does not identify individual insurers.
Residents can check their ZIP code
Residents can use the state’s insurance reporting tool to search policy actions and reported reasons in their area.
The reporting requirement stems from House Bill 2067, passed in 2025, which also requires insurers to provide written explanations when they decline, cancel or do not renew home or auto coverage. Reporting began April 1, 2026.
Residents with insurance questions can contact the TDI Help Line at 800-252-3439, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time.
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