Commercial truck insurance in Texas: state and federal rules
Commercial truck insurance in Texas follows two sets of rules. A truck running only inside Texas that is rated over 26,000 lb needs a TxDMV number and at least $500,000 of liability, filed by the insurer on Form E. A truck crossing state lines for hire falls under federal rules instead: $750,000 for general freight at 10,001 lb or more, filed with FMCSA.
Contents
The short version
- TxDMV registration is required over 26,000 lb, for placarded hazmat, for household goods movers of any weight, and for some farm and passenger vehicles.
- Texas minimums: $500,000 over 26,000 lb, $300,000 for lighter household goods trucks, $1 million or $5 million for hazmat.
- The Texas minimum applies to private as well as for-hire carriers over 26,000 lb.
- Your insurer, not you, files Form E (liability) and Forms H and I (household goods cargo) electronically.
Who needs a TxDMV number?
The TxDMV motor carrier page says you need a TxDMV number to operate intrastate in Texas if you run:
- a commercial vehicle or combination with a gross weight, registered weight or gross weight rating over 26,000 lb;
- hazardous materials in a quantity that requires placards;
- a farm vehicle rated at 48,000 lb or more;
- a vehicle designed to carry more than 15 passengers including the driver, or a commercial school bus;
- household goods for compensation, regardless of vehicle weight.
TxDMV also requires a valid USDOT number before you begin. A carrier operating only inside Texas registers with USDOT as intrastate. A semi used for hire inside Texas is therefore covered by the first line and needs both numbers.
What are the Texas minimum insurance limits?
TxDMV publishes these minimums for intrastate motor carriers:
| Operation | Texas minimum |
|---|---|
| Private or for-hire carriers over 26,000 lb (general freight) | $500,000 liability |
| Household goods carriers, 26,000 lb or less | $300,000 liability |
| Oil and other listed hazardous materials, including petroleum fuels and lubricants | $1,000,000 liability |
| Hazardous substances in cargo tanks, portable tanks or hopper vehicles, and listed high-hazard divisions | $5,000,000 liability |
| Household goods cargo | $5,000 per vehicle, $10,000 aggregate |
Two differences from the federal rules stand out. Texas sets its general-freight threshold at over 26,000 lb, while federal rules start at 10,001 lb. And the Texas $500,000 applies to private carriers hauling their own goods, not only to for-hire carriers. Federal minimums for non-hazardous property apply to for-hire carriers.
These are legal minimums for a Texas registration. Shippers, brokers and lenders can require higher limits or other coverage, such as cargo or physical damage, through their contracts.
How is the insurance filed in Texas?
TxDMV says the insurance forms must be filed electronically by your insurance company: Form E for liability, Forms H and I for household goods cargo, and Form K for a cancellation. You remain responsible for keeping your insurance record "Active" in TxMCCS, the state's motor carrier system.
- Continuous proof. Failing to maintain continuous proof of insurance may result in administrative penalties, sanctions or revocation of your certificate.
- Cancellation notice. If your insurer cancels, TxDMV says you should get an electronic notice 30 days ahead, provided your email in TxMCCS is current. Keep it current.
- Exact details. Make sure the filing carries your registered name and TxDMV number exactly as on your registration.
Registration terms and fees
TxDMV lists four registration terms, with fees paid at registration and not refundable:
| Term | Application | Per vehicle | Form E filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | $5 | $10 | $100 |
| 90 days | $25 | $10 | $100 |
| Annual | $100 | $10 | $100 |
| Biennial | $100 | $20 | $100 |
Household goods carriers on annual or biennial terms also pay $100 for Forms H and I. TxDMV adds a card surcharge of 25 cents plus 2.25 percent, and says the application fee is one-time as long as the registration stays current. Short terms do not change the insurance rule: the policy still has to be filed and kept active. Our page on short-term truck insurance covers what temporary cover can and cannot do.
When do federal rules apply instead?
Once you haul for hire across state lines, you are an interstate motor carrier. FMCSA requires a USDOT number for interstate commercial vehicles of 10,001 lb or more, and for-hire carriers of regulated freight also need operating authority (an MC number). The federal liability minimum under 49 CFR 387.9 is $750,000 for for-hire general freight at 10,001 lb or more, with $1 million or $5 million for hazardous materials, and your insurer files the proof with FMCSA.
| Texas intrastate | Interstate, for hire | |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | TxDMV number, USDOT (intrastate) | USDOT, MC number |
| Weight threshold, general freight | Over 26,000 lb | 10,001 lb or more |
| Minimum liability, general freight | $500,000 | $750,000 |
| Filing | Form E with TxDMV | BMC-91 or BMC-91X with FMCSA, MCS-90 endorsement |
| Applies to private carriers | Yes, over 26,000 lb | Federal $750,000 tier is for for-hire carriers |
A Texas owner-operator who runs both intrastate and interstate loads needs limits that satisfy the higher requirement and both filings. The federal side in full, including the MCS-90 and filing forms, is on our page about trucking insurance requirements. If you are starting your first interstate authority, see insurance for a new authority.
What else to know about buying truck insurance in Texas
Surplus lines insurers
If standard insurers decline your file, an agent may offer a surplus lines policy. The Texas Department of Insurance says agents selling surplus lines insurance in Texas must hold a TDI license and must first try to find a Texas-licensed company, and that surplus lines companies are not members of a guaranty association. TDI suggests calling its Help Line at 800-252-3439 to check that a company can legally sell insurance in Texas. Our page on high-risk truck insurance explains when this market is used.
Cost
No Texas agency publishes average trucking premiums, and the per-mile insurance figures reported from ATRI's cost study are given by region, not by state. Use national benchmarks only as a rough frame and get quotes on your own operation. Our guide to semi truck insurance cost sets out the published figures and the factors behind a price, and the planner on our home page lists the coverage lines that apply to your set-up.
Farm trucks
Farm vehicles rated at 48,000 lb or more also need a TxDMV number. The differences between farm and commercial use are covered in our page on farm truck insurance.
Sources
- TxDMV Number, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, undated, consulted October 20, 2026.
- 49 CFR 387.9, Financial responsibility, minimum levels, eCFR, current as of October 16, 2026, consulted October 20, 2026.
- Do I Need a USDOT Number?, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, last updated September 3, 2025, consulted October 20, 2026.
- Surplus lines insurance guide, Texas Department of Insurance, last updated April 25, 2025, consulted October 20, 2026.
FAQ
How much is semi truck insurance in Texas?
No Texas agency publishes an average premium. The broadest public marker is national: Progressive says its 2025 national average for its own for-hire customers ranged from $734 to $926 a month per truck, for liability and physical damage with no driver violations. Your Texas price depends on radius, cargo, garaging location, truck and record, so only a quote on your file tells you.
Do I need a TxDMV number if I already have a USDOT number?
If you operate intrastate in Texas with a vehicle over 26,000 lb (or in another listed category), yes: TxDMV requires its own registration, and a valid USDOT number is required before you begin. Carriers running only inside Texas register with USDOT as intrastate.
Can my Texas policy cover both intrastate and interstate trips?
A single policy can, as long as its limits meet the higher of the requirements and the insurer makes both filings: the Texas Form E with TxDMV and the federal BMC-91 or BMC-91X with FMCSA if you hold interstate authority. Ask the insurer to confirm both filings in writing.
What happens if my Texas insurance is cancelled?
The insurer files a cancellation (Form K) with TxDMV. TxDMV says you should receive an electronic notice 30 days ahead if a current email is on file in TxMCCS, and that failing to keep continuous proof of insurance may lead to administrative penalties, sanctions or revocation of your certificate.
Related
- Semi truck insurance costSemi truck insurance cost from Progressive's 2025 averages and ATRI's cents-per-mile data, the factors behind your price, and a worked per-mile example.
- RequirementsMotor carrier insurance requirements: the full 49 CFR 387.9 table, limits for authorized carriers, FMCSA filings, the MCS-90 and TX, CA and FL rules.
- High-risk truck insuranceHigh risk truck insurance for one truck: what puts you in that market, how surplus lines insurers work and differ, and a plan to return to standard rates.
Updated October 20, 2026