Texas requires its own intrastate registration with clear, published minimums and is the notable voluntary-workers-comp state. Here is a plain-language overview, with the official sources to confirm it.
State operating authority
Intrastate motor carriers in Texas must register with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), Motor Carrier Division, and obtain a TxDMV Number before operating, with a valid USDOT number registered as intrastate. Registration is generally required for vehicles or combinations over 26,000 pounds, placardable hazmat, larger farm and passenger vehicles, and household goods movers of any weight. Verify your trigger with the TxDMV.
State insurance minimums
Texas publishes its intrastate minimums: generally $500,000 for general freight carriers over 26,000 pounds, $300,000 for household goods movers under 26,000 pounds (plus cargo limits), $1,000,000 for petroleum and most non-bulk hazmat, and $5,000,000 for high-hazard hazmat, with bus tiers as well. The insurer files the proof electronically, and you must keep the filing active. Confirm current figures with the TxDMV.
Keeping the filing active
The TxDMV Number is maintained with a continuously active insurance filing, and a lapse can bring administrative penalties or revocation. The carrier is responsible for keeping the filing active even though the insurer submits it. Texas has no weight-distance tax.
Workers compensation (largely voluntary)
Texas is the notable exception: workers comp is generally voluntary for private employers. A trucking employer that declines coverage is a non-subscriber and must file an annual notice with the Department of Insurance, post notices, and tell employees in writing, and it gives up key legal defenses if an employee is injured. Government contracts require coverage. So opting out is a real decision, not a free pass. Verify with the Division of Workers' Compensation.
Federal rules still apply
Most trucking compliance is federal. Your USDOT number, interstate authority, the BMC-91 filing, the MCS-90, BOC-3, and UCR all still apply alongside the TxDMV Number. We help line up the coverage behind both. Verify federal requirements with the FMCSA.
Verify before you rely on this
Texas requires a TxDMV Number with published intrastate minimums and is the notable state where workers comp is largely voluntary. This page is general information for Texas carriers, not legal or FMCSA advice, and most trucking compliance is federal while state rules change. Confirm current requirements with the FMCSA and the Texas state agencies below before you rely on this.
Last verified June 2026 by Vantage Point Risk.
