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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.
You can register online, print cab cards and more using our
Online Credentialing (MCCS). For help with the online process, call us at (800)
299-1700, option 2, 2, or send us an
e-mail.
Registration Requirements
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 (A household goods carrier has different
application requirements.)
To register as a motor carrier, an applicant must file with TxDOT:
- An Original Texas Motor Carrier Application
(Form 1899)
[pdf, 4 pages, 744kb]
- An Additional Motor Carrier Equipment Report
(Form 1900)
[pdf, 1 page, 156kb]
- The appropriate fees
- Proof of insurance.
Registration Fees (for carriers other than HHG carriers)
|
Fee Type |
Motor Carrier Registration |
|
7-Day |
90-Day |
1-Year
Annual |
2-Year
Biennial |
|
Application |
$5 |
$25 |
$100 |
$100 |
|
Vehicle (per vehicle) |
$10 |
$10 |
$10 |
$20* |
Auto Liability Insurance
(Form E)** |
$100 |
$100 |
$100 |
$100 |
|
* 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. |
Replacement vehicle. 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 (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
|
|
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
|
Type of coverage |
Minimum
Coverage |
|
Medical expenses and coverage for at least 104 week |
$ 300,000 |
|
Accidental death and dismemberment, 70% 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. Back to top
Drug-Testing Certification
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. Back to
top Submitting the Application
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. Conditional acceptance of
incomplete application. An incomplete application that is accompanied by the
appropriate fees and proof of insurance will be accepted conditionally. The
carrier will be called, or contacted by mail, to provide the missing
information. However, if the missing information is not provided to TxDOT within
45 days of notification, the application may be dismissed and all fees will be
retained. Conditional acceptance in no way constitutes approval of an
application. Back to top
Supplemental Application A motor carrier is required to
file a supplemental application
(Form 1910)
[pdf, 1 page, 510kb] 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)
[pdf, 4 pages, 744kb] when there is a corporate merger or a change of ownership of a sole
proprietorship or partnership.
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Registration Renewal
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)
[pdf, 4 pages, 744kb] or an
Additional Motor Carrier Equipment Report
(Form 1900)
[Word, 1 page, 113kb], 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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