As a commercial motor vehicle operator, you may be required to register
your vehicle as a motor carrier. Read the information below for more
details.
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Registration Requirements |
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Registration required. Operators of commercial motor
vehicles that meet the following criteria must register with TxDOT
as motor carriers:
- Vehicle (or combination of vehicles) with a gross weight,
registered weight, or gross weight rating exceeding 26,000
pounds, that is designed or used for transportation of cargo in
furtherance of any commercial enterprise
- For-hire vehicle used to transport household goods,
regardless of gross weight rating
- Vehicle, including a bus, designed or used to transport more
than 15 passengers, including the driver
- Vehicle used to transport hazardous materials in a quantity
requiring placarding under the regulations issued under the
Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 USC,
?5101-5127)
- Vehicle defined by 49 CFR ?390.5,
owned or controlled by someone domiciled in, or a citizen of, a
country other than the United States
Registration not required. For motor carrier
registration purposes, operators of the following types of
vehicles are not required to register with TxDOT:
- Farm vehicle with a gross weight, registered weight, and
gross weight rating of less than 48,000 pounds
- Cotton vehicle registered under Texas Transportation Code (TRC),
?502.277
- Vehicle registered with the Texas Railroad Commission under
Texas Natural Resources Code, ?113.131
and ?116.072
- Vehicle used to transport liquor under a private carrier
permit issued under Alcoholic Beverage Code, Chapter 42
- Vehicle used to transport passengers and operated by an
entity whose primary function is not to transport passengers,
such as a vehicle operated by a hotel, day-care center, nursing
home, etc.
- Vehicle operated by a governmental entity.
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Preparing the Application |
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Household goods carriers have different application requirements.
To register as a motor carrier, an applicant must file with TxDOT:
- An Original Texas Motor Carrier Application (Form
1899)
- An Additional Motor Carrier Equipment Report (Form
1900)
- The appropriate fees
- Proof of insurance.
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Registration Fees |
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Fee Type |
Motor Carrier Registration |
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7-Day |
90-Day |
1-Year
Annual |
2-Year
Biennial |
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Application |
$5 |
$25 |
$100 |
$100 |
| Vehicle
(per vehicle) |
$10 |
$10 |
$10 |
$20* |
Auto
Liability Insurance
(Form E)** |
$100 |
$100 |
$100 |
$100 |
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* Additional vehicle (biennial registration). The fee
to add a vehicle is $20 per vehicle during the first year
and $10 per vehicle during the second year. **
These fees are to be paid by the carrier.
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Replacement Vehicle |
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A motor carrier is not required to pay the $10 registration fee
for a vehicle used to replace another vehicle whose registration
is current. The motor carrier must give TxDOT the identities of
the vehicle taken out of service and the replacement vehicle
before the replacement vehicle is put into operation.
Fees may be paid by:
- Personal, business, or cashier's check or money order made
out to Texas Department of Transportation
- MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and VISA (A $1
service charge is applied to each credit card transaction)
- FirstPay (only when using online registration)
- Electronic funds transfer
- MCD pre-established
escrow
account.
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Proof of Insurance |
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A household goods carrier has different insurance coverage
requirements.A motor carrier must file proof of insurance for
each vehicle required to be registered.
A motor carrier's insurance company maintains proof of
insurance with TxDOT by filing the appropriate insurance form(s)
on behalf of the motor carrier.
The motor carrier is ultimately responsible for making sure the
proper form(s) are filed with TxDOT on a timely basis.
Automobile Liability Insurance Requirements
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Vehicle Type |
Minimum Coverage |
| 1 |
Bus -
designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers
(including driver), but less than 26 (excluding driver) |
$500,000 |
| 2 |
Bus -
seating capacity of 15 passengers or less (including driver)
operated by a foreign motor carrier and foreign motor
private carrier defined in 49 USC ?13102 |
$1,500,000 |
| 3 |
Bus -
designed or used to transport 26 passengers or more
(excluding driver) |
$5,000,000 |
| 4 |
Bus -
seating capacity of 16 passengers or more (including driver)
operated by a foreign motor or private carrier defined in
49 USC ?13102 |
$5,000,000 |
| 5 |
Farm truck
- gross vehicle weight 48,000 pounds or more |
$500,000 |
| 6 |
Commercial
motor vehicles (gross vehicle weight in excess of 26,000
lbs) |
$500,000 |
| 7 |
Commercial
motor vehicle - defined in 49 CFR ?390.5,
operated by a foreign motor or private carrier defined in
49 USC ?13102 |
$750,000 |
| 8 |
Commercial
motor vehicle - oil listed in 49 CFR ?172.101;
hazardous waste, materials, and substances defined in 49
CFR ?171.8 and listed in 49
CFR ?172.101, but not
mentioned in item #10 below |
$1,000,000 |
| 9 |
Commercial
motor vehicle - hazardous substances, as defined in 49
CFR ?171.8, transported in
cargo tanks, portable tanks, or hopper-type vehicles with
capacities in excess of 3,500 water gallons; or any quantity
of Division 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 materials, any quantity of
Division 2.3, Hazard Zone A material; in bulk Division 2.1
of 2.2; or highway route controlled quantities of a Class 7
material, as defined in 49 CFR ?173.403. |
$5,000,000 |
Workers' Compensation or accidental insurance. A motor
carrier whose primary business is transportation for compensation
or hire and who operates between two or more incorporated cities,
towns, or villages is required to provide for all of its employees
either Workers' Compensation insurance or accidental insurance.
Accidental insurance requirements are described on the following
table.
Accidental Insurance Requirements
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Type of coverage |
Minimum
Coverage |
| Medical
expenses and coverage for at least 104 week |
$
300,000 |
| Accidental
death and dismemberment, 70 percent of employee's pre-injury
income for not less than 104 weeks when compensating for
loss of income |
$100,000 |
| Maximum
weekly benefit |
$500 |
Proof of Workers' Compensation or accidental insurance is not
filed with TxDOT.
Self-insurance. To qualify as self-insured, a motor
carrier must file with TxDOT an "Application for Qualification as
a Self-Insurer" containing a true and accurate statement of the
motor carrier's financial condition and other evidence that
establishes its ability to satisfy obligations for bodily injury
and property damage liability without affecting the stability or
permanency of its business. To obtain an application, call (800)
299-1700 (option 3, then 1).
TxDOT may accept United States Department of Transportation
evidence of the motor carrier's qualifications as a self-insured.
Contact TxDOT at (800) 299-1700 (option 3, then 1) for
additional criteria needed to qualify as self-insured.
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Drug-Testing Certification |
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All motor carriers registered with TxDOT must certify as part of
the application process that they are in compliance with the
drug-testing requirements of 49 CFR Part 382.Motor carriers
that belong to a drug-testing consortium, as defined by49 CFR Part
382, must also provide the names of the persons operating the
consortium.
Motor carriers must report a valid positive controlled
substance test result to the Department of Public Safety (DPS), in
the manner required by the DPS, when performed as part of the
carrier's drug-testing program on an employee of the carrier who
holds a commercial driver's license under Transportation Code,
Chapter 522. The term "employee" as used in this paragraph
includes all employees as defined in Title 49, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 40.3.
For further information about this requirement, call DPS at
(512) 424-2052.
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Submitting the Application |
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Submit your application by mail to the address on the form or by
fax to (512) 465-3521. Faxed applications must include payment
information.An improperly filed application. An
application that contains any misrepresentation, mis-statement, or
omission of required information, or that is not accompanied by
the appropriate fees and proof of insurance will not be processed
until all requirements are fulfilled.
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Supplemental Application |
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A motor carrier is required to file a supplemental application (Form
1910) with TxDOT:
- To change cargo type
- To change motor carrier name, address, and/or legal agent
for service of process
- To change drug-testing consortium status
- To change principal officers or titles within a corporation
- After successful conversion of corporate structure
(registered corporations must have the conversion approved by
the Texas Secretary of State before filing a supplemental
application with TxDOT)
- To retain a revoked or suspended certificate of registration
number instead of filing an original application (the carrier
must submit a motor carrier equipment report, pay insurance
filing fee, pay all vehicle fees, and satisfactorily address the
reasons for suspension or revocation under 43 Texas
Administrative Code (TAC) ?18.72.
Change of ownership. A carrier must file an Original
Texas Motor Carrier Application (Form
1899) when there is a corporate merger or a change of
ownership of a sole proprietorship or partnership.
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Registration Renewal |
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Renewal notice. TxDOT mails a renewal notice to a
registered motor carrier's last-known address approximately 60
days before the expiration date. If you do not receive the renewal
notice, you are still responsible for renewing your registration
before its expiration date.
Seven-day and 90-day certificates of registration cannot be
renewed.
Return the renewal notice to TxDOT at least 15 days before the
expiration date. When returning the renewal notice, supply any new
information that has not been supplied to TxDOT, along with:
- $10 for each vehicle being registered for one year
- $20 for each vehicle being registered for two years
Expired registration. To renew a registration that has
expired, submit the vehicle(s) on a Motor Carrier Equipment Report
(Form
1899) or an Additional Motor Carrier Equipment Report
(Form 1900), pay all appropriate fees, and meet all insurance
requirements.
Online Motor Carrier Registration
At
MCCS online, motor carriers can self-register and access motor
carrier operating credentials 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Online motor carrier registration helps eliminate telephone
hold time, filling out forms, and possible delays in receiving
your motor carrier certificate and insurance cab card.
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125 East 11th Street . Austin, Texas 78701 
