Commercial truck insurance in Texas, matched to how you haul
A Texas-only carrier running trucks over 26,000 pounds needs at least $500,000 in liability insurance on file with TxDMV, and a for-hire carrier hauling general freight across state lines needs at least $750,000 under federal rules. Hazardous loads need more, and cargo and physical damage depend on what you haul.
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What insurance does Texas require for commercial trucks?
Texas sets its own minimums for carriers that run inside the state, and federal rules apply once you haul for hire across state lines. For most Texas-only fleets, the floor is $500,000 in combined single limit liability on every truck over 26,000 pounds, filed with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV).
You must register with TxDMV if you run intrastate with a vehicle over 26,000 pounds, haul placarded hazardous materials, or move household goods for pay in a vehicle of any size. Carriers operating only in interstate commerce are exempt under Transportation Code chapter 643. If you do both kinds of work, you need both TxDMV and federal authority.
| Operation | Set by | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Intrastate, private or for-hire, over 26,000 lb | TxDMV | $500,000 |
| Intrastate household goods mover, under 26,000 lb | TxDMV | $300,000 |
| Intrastate oil, hazardous waste, and hazardous materials not in the $5 million group | TxDMV | $1,000,000 |
| Intrastate bulk hazardous substances, explosives, and other listed high-hazard loads | TxDMV | $5,000,000 |
| Interstate for-hire general freight, 10,001 lb or more | FMCSA (49 CFR 387.9) | $750,000 |
| Interstate for-hire general freight, under 10,001 lb | FMCSA | $300,000 |
| Interstate oil and hazardous materials, for-hire or private | FMCSA (49 CFR 387.9) | $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 |
| Any other vehicle on Texas roads | Transportation Code 601 | $30,000 / $60,000 / $25,000 |
Household goods movers also need cargo insurance: $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 in the aggregate, under both TxDMV and FMCSA rules.
Does Texas require UM and PIP on a truck policy?
An auto liability policy issued in Texas must include uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) and personal injury protection (PIP) coverage unless the named insured rejects them in writing, under Insurance Code chapter 1952. The required PIP amount is $2,500 per person. A written rejection carries into renewals with the same insurer until you ask for the coverage back in writing.
The workers’ comp rule for Texas for-hire carriers
Most Texas employers can choose whether to carry workers’ compensation, under Labor Code 406.002. A registered for-hire carrier whose main business is hauling between two or more cities does not get that choice: Transportation Code 643.106 requires workers’ compensation for its employees or an approved accident policy with at least:
- $300,000 for medical expenses, for at least 104 weeks
- $100,000 for accidental death and dismemberment
- 70% of the employee’s pre-injury income, for at least 104 weeks
- A maximum weekly benefit of at least $500
What coverage does Texas freight actually need?
More than the minimum, in most cases. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) reports that the median commercial auto liability limit in Texas has stayed at $1 million, and about 83% of premium for trucks, tractors, and trailers comes from policies at that limit.
What you haul decides the rest. TxDOT describes Texas as the largest energy-producing state and the top U.S. exporter for 23 years running, and that freight mix shapes the policies Texas fleets carry:
- Oil, fuel, and chemicals: hazardous loads move you into the $1 million or $5 million rows above, whether you run intrastate or interstate.
- Port and intermodal freight: Port Houston handled a record 4,303,345 TEUs in 2025. If you pull chassis or trailers you don’t own, ask about UIIA and trailer interchange coverage, which we place. Drayage fleets should also see our Houston commercial truck insurance page.
- Cross-border freight: Port Laredo reports $354 billion in trade in 2025, about 39% of all U.S.-Mexico trade. When trailers change hands at the border, the symbols on your policy decide which ones are covered; our guide to commercial auto symbols explains how.
- General freight and reefer: neither Texas nor FMCSA requires cargo insurance for general freight, but brokers and shippers can require it by contract. Motor truck cargo coverage protects the load, with reefer breakdown options for refrigerated freight.
Beyond the load, most operations add physical damage for their own tractors and trailers, non-trucking liability for owner-operators leased to a carrier, general liability, and occupational accident coverage. Our commercial truck insurance page lists every line we place. Based in North Texas? See commercial truck insurance in Dallas.
What drives the cost of truck insurance in Texas?
Your own operation drives most of the price: radius, cargo, equipment, driver records, and loss history. TDI describes how insurers rate trucks, including zone rating for heavier vehicles that regularly run beyond 200 miles; we cover those factors and 2026 benchmarks in how much commercial truck insurance costs.
The Texas market adds pressure you can’t control. In TDI’s latest biennial report, the state’s commercial auto combined ratio averaged 116% since 2011, meaning insurers paid out more in claims than they collected in premium.
Your safety record is the part you can move. Roadside inspections and crashes feed the CSA scores underwriters read; see how CSA scores affect truck insurance premiums.
What if standard insurers turn you down?
Texas has no state fallback plan for truckers: TDI notes they are ineligible for the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association. Texas law does allow a commercial vehicle’s required insurance to come from an eligible surplus lines insurer (Transportation Code 643.101). Our guide to high-risk commercial truck insurance covers that path.
How do Texas insurance filings work?
Your insurer files proof of coverage electronically; buying the policy is not enough. For intrastate authority, TxDMV will not issue your certificate until your Form E is on file in TxMCCS, the system that replaced MCCS and eLINC.
| Filing | Filed with | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Form E | TxDMV (TxMCCS) | Intrastate liability insurance |
| Forms H and I | TxDMV (TxMCCS) | Household goods cargo insurance |
| Form K | TxDMV (TxMCCS) | Cancellation of liability insurance |
| BMC-91 or BMC-91X | FMCSA | Interstate liability insurance |
| BMC-34 or BMC-83 | FMCSA | Interstate household goods cargo insurance |
| MCS-90 | Kept at your principal place of business | The federal public liability endorsement on your policy |
How do you keep a TxDMV filing active?
- TxDMV holds you, not your insurer, responsible for keeping the filing active.
- An insurer must give TxDMV 30 days’ notice before terminating coverage. Interstate policies require 35 days’ written notice under 49 CFR 387.7.
- When you switch insurers, have the new Form E filed before the old one expires.
- Parking the truck does not pause the rule. You can be fined for holding a certificate without insurance, so cancel the certificate in TxMCCS before you cancel the policy.
- Keep the current insurance cab card, paper or electronic, in every truck. An officer can detain or impound a commercial vehicle operating without liability insurance until coverage is filed.
Anyone can check a Texas carrier’s filings on TxDMV’s Truck Stop lookup, including brokers and shippers.
How to get commercial truck insurance in Texas
Five steps take you from a USDOT number to a truck that can legally run in Texas.
Step 1: Decide where you will run
Texas-only, interstate, or both. You need a USDOT number first; intrastate work adds a TxDMV certificate, and interstate for-hire work adds FMCSA operating authority.
Step 2: Gather what underwriters ask for
Your DOT number, driver list with motor vehicle records, unit schedule with VINs, commodities, radius, garaging address, and three to five years of loss runs if you have them.
Step 3: Set limits for your contracts, not just the law
Start from your minimum in the table above, then check what your brokers, shippers, and lender require.
Step 4: Bind and confirm every filing
Before you dispatch, confirm your Form E shows active in TxMCCS and any federal filing appears on your FMCSA record.
Step 5: Request your quote
Tell us what you haul and where. A licensed agent follows up with real options, and our Texas offices in Houston and Richardson also handle DOT compliance and permits. We recommend reviewing the policy every year as your operation changes.
Sources
The rules and figures on this page come from these official sources, checked on September 25, 2026.
- TxDMV — TxDMV Number: Who must register, the intrastate insurance minimums, household goods cargo limits, Forms E, H and I, and K, fees, TxMCCS, and cab cards.
- TxDMV — Becoming a Texas Motor Carrier (Intrastate): USDOT number first, when you need both intrastate and interstate authority, and the carrier’s duty to keep insurance filed.
- Texas Transportation Code, chapter 643: TxDMV registration, the interstate-only exemption, insurance filings, 30-day termination notice, surplus lines insurers, and the workers’ comp or accident insurance rule.
- Texas Insurance Code, chapter 1952: UM/UIM and PIP required in Texas auto liability policies unless rejected in writing, and the $2,500 PIP amount.
- eCFR — 49 CFR 387.9: Federal minimum public liability: $750,000, $1 million, and $5 million.
- FMCSA — Insurance Filing Requirements: Federal filings (BMC-91/91X, BMC-34/83), the $300,000 small-vehicle minimum, and no cargo requirement for general freight.
- Texas Department of Insurance — Commercial Auto Biennial Report (PDF): The 30/60/25 floor, policy types, the $1 million median limit, rating factors, the 116% combined ratio, and trucker ineligibility for TAIPA.
- TxDOT — Texas Freight Mobility Plan: Texas as the largest energy-producing state and top U.S. exporter, and the 2027 plan update.
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Frequently asked questions
How much commercial truck insurance is required in Texas?+
A Texas-only carrier running trucks over 26,000 pounds needs at least $500,000 in liability coverage on file with TxDMV, or $1 million to $5 million for hazardous materials. A for-hire carrier hauling general freight across state lines needs at least $750,000 under 49 CFR 387.9.
Is cargo insurance required for trucks in Texas?+
Only for household goods movers, who need $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 in the aggregate. Neither TxDMV nor FMCSA requires cargo insurance for general freight, though brokers and shippers can require it in their contracts.
What insurance does an 18-wheeler need in Texas?+
A tractor-trailer is well over 26,000 pounds, so a Texas-only carrier needs at least $500,000 in liability on file with TxDMV, and an interstate for-hire carrier needs at least $750,000. Physical damage and cargo coverage are not required by law, but they are what protect the truck and the load.
Is commercial auto insurance the same as truck insurance in Texas?+
Truck insurance is a type of commercial auto insurance. The Texas Department of Insurance describes business auto policies for most commercial vehicles and motor carrier policies for truckers, which can include cargo coverage.
Do I need a TxDMV number if I only haul interstate?+
No. Carriers operating only in interstate commerce are exempt from TxDMV registration, but if you also haul loads that start and end in Texas, you need both a TxDMV certificate and federal authority.
What is a Form E in Texas?+
Form E is the proof of liability insurance your insurer files electronically with TxDMV. The filing fee is $100, and the filing must stay active in TxMCCS for as long as you hold a certificate.
Does Texas require PIP and uninsured motorist coverage on commercial trucks?+
An auto liability policy issued in Texas must include PIP and UM/UIM coverage unless the named insured rejects them in writing. The required PIP amount is $2,500 per person.
Other services
Simplex Group is a full-service trucking partner — insurance is one piece of a much larger toolkit.