Does Texas set its own trucking insurance minimums?

The stored record marks state and federal minimums as different. Review the operation-specific rows and source notes; the difference does not establish one amount for every carrier.

Do federal insurance minimums still apply to a Texas carrier?

Federal insurance requirements depend on the vehicle, commodity and operation. Review the federal table and its cited regulation alongside the applicable state requirements; state location alone does not settle coverage or filing scope.

What insurance does a new Texas carrier line up first?

Review the liability, cargo and filing requirements for your operation before comparing coverage. The source notes identify the stored state and federal scope; insurer and contractual requirements need their own check.

Where do these figures come from?

The tables show stored amounts with their recorded sources. A field marked "Not confirmed" is a verification gap. Review its note; that label does not establish that the agency publishes no amount or that no requirement applies.

Texas Trucking Insurance Requirements (2026)

By Haul Handbook editorial team· Updated Jul 18, 2026

What Texas requires

These are the state-level rules attached to Texas intrastate operating authority. A field reading "Not confirmed" means this guide has not confirmed that value. The note explains the gap; unknown is not evidence of absence.

Liability minimum: $500,000 liability for general freight trucks over 26,000 lb; the operation-type table below lists each class
Cargo minimum: Cargo insurance is required only for household goods movers: $5,000 per vehicle for loss to a single shipper and $10,000 aggregate for loss to multiple shippers on one vehicle, filed on Forms H and I.
Differs from federal: Yes

Minimum liability by operation type

Review the operation-specific scope and source notes before relying on a coverage amount.

Texas minimum liability coverage by operation type
Operation type	Minimum liability
General freight, vehicles over 26,000 lb	$500,000
Household goods movers, vehicles under 26,000 lb	$300,000
Hazardous materials, oil, lubricants, and other listed materials	$1,000,000
Hazardous materials, high-risk classes including Division 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3	$5,000,000
Commercial school bus	$500,000
Passenger vehicles, 16 to 26 passengers	$500,000
Passenger vehicles, 27 or more passengers	$5,000,000

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Who files the proof of insurance

The rows identify stored proof-of-coverage filings. Confirm which filing applies to your authority and who submits it before requesting a form.

Liability proof: Form E
Household goods cargo: Forms H and I
Cancellation: Form K

Filings are made by the insurance company; the state charges a $100 insurance filing fee.

The federal minimums, for contrast

Federal financial-responsibility requirements depend on the operation, vehicle and commodity. Review the rows and exclusions in 49 CFR Part 387 (property carriers 387.303, brokers and freight forwarders 387.307, endorsements 387.15), as displayed on FMCSA's insurance filing requirements page; the filing mechanics live in our BMC-91 and BMC-34 insurance filings guide.

Federal minimum public liability levels by operation (49 CFR Part 387)
Operation	Vehicle	Liability minimum
For-hire property carrier, non-hazardous	GVWR under 10,001 lb	$300,000
For-hire property carrier, non-hazardous (general freight)	GVWR 10,001 lb or more	$750,000
For-hire carrier of certain hazardous materials	Any	$1,000,000
For-hire and private carriers of explosives, poison gas, or radioactive materials	Any	$5,000,000
For-hire carrier of household goods	GVWR 10,001 lb or more	$750,000
For-hire carrier of passengers	15 or fewer passengers	$1,500,000
For-hire carrier of passengers	16 or more passengers	$5,000,000
Broker of property or household goods	None	None
Freight forwarder of property	None	None
Freight forwarder of household goods	None	None

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Where insurance fits in the Texas launch

Coverage sits early in the sequence: the federal filing sequence needs your insurer's proof of coverage on file before authority activates, and the state rules above attach to the credential covered on the Texas intrastate authority page. For the full order of operations, work through start a trucking company in Texas.