Up to $20,000 · 2 years to file.
Damage to your car or property caused by someone else. In Texas, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Justice Court (Justice of the Peace), where you can sue for up to $20,000.
Your deadline: Texas generally gives you 2 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $54 (Roughly $54 to file plus service costs (about $80 with citation/service); varies by county.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: Tex. Gov't Code § 27.031; deadlines: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §§ 16.003, 16.004, 16.051. Reviewed 2026-06-17.
Note on deadlines: Debt/contract 4 yrs; property damage and personal injury 2 yrs.
Suing for something else in Texas: Texas unpaid loan · Texas security deposit · Texas unpaid rent · Texas contractor dispute.
Suing for property damage in nearby states: New Mexico ($10,000, 4 years) · Oklahoma ($10,000, 2 years) · Louisiana ($5,000, 1 year) · Arkansas ($5,000, 3 years).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026