Texas draws a clear line that surprises box truck owners. For general freight, TxDMV registration starts above 26,000 pounds, so many Dallas and Houston delivery trucks do not need a TxDMV number at all. Moving is different. Haul household goods for pay and you need the number at any weight, with $300,000 in liability under 26,000 pounds plus cargo coverage of $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 aggregate, filed on Forms H and I. So two identical 26-foot trucks can have completely different paperwork depending on what is in the box. If a delivery network or furniture store hires you, its contract may set the limits. And an out-of-state run at 10,001 pounds GVWR or more brings the federal $750,000.
Box trucks are straight trucks with an enclosed body, used for final-mile delivery, furniture and appliances, moving, and local LTL. Many run under 26,000 pounds, so no CDL is needed for non-placarded loads, but that does not mean no rules. City streets, tight docks, lift gates and frequent stops drive the claims. Whether you move your own goods, freight for hire, or household goods can change the filings and limits.
What it costs
Across 6 policies Protec sold in 2026, commercial auto liability for this type of truck ran about $9,400 to $16,400 per truck per year, with a middle of $11,700. That's before taxes and fees, mostly from new and small Texas carriers, so your state and record can move it. It isn't a quote.
Filings in Texas
Staying inside Texas? Your state authority is the TxDMV number, a certificate of registration from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Motor Carrier Division. You need it when a vehicle or combination exceeds 26,000 pounds by gross weight, registered weight or weight rating. You also need it to haul household goods for pay at any weight, or to haul placarded hazmat. Get your USDOT number first, then apply through TxDMV.
Minimum liability: $500,000 for private or for-hire carriers over 26,000 pounds. Household goods movers under 26,000 pounds need $300,000 plus cargo coverage. Placarded hazmat needs $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 depending on the material.
Who files: your insurance company files the Form E electronically with TxDMV. Forms H and I prove household goods cargo coverage, and Form K reports a cancellation.
If you cross state lines, the federal rules apply. A for-hire carrier of general freight in interstate commerce with vehicles of 10,001 pounds GVWR or more needs at least $750,000 under 49 CFR 387.9. The policy carries the MCS-90 endorsement, and your insurance company, not you, files the BMC-91 or BMC-91X with FMCSA. Hazmat limits run higher.
Coverages to ask about
- Commercial auto liability
- Motor truck cargo
- Physical damage on the truck and any lift gate
- General liability, especially for inside delivery or moving
- Workers' compensation for drivers and helpers
What underwriters look at
- GVWR and body type
- What you haul: own goods, freight for hire, or household goods
- Radius and city driving
- Whether you work under a delivery network's contract and its insurance requirements
- Number of stops and helpers on the truck
- Driver records and loss runs
Other trucks in Texas
- Dump truck insurance in Texas
- Dry van insurance in Texas
- Flatbed insurance in Texas
- Hot shot insurance in Texas
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Protec Consulting Group is a licensed insurance agency in Texas.
Sources: TxDMV, TxDMV Number requirements · TxDMV, Tips for Compliant Operations as a Texas Intrastate Motor Carrier · 43 Tex. Admin. Code 218.16 (Cornell LII) · 49 CFR 387.9, schedule of limits (Cornell LII) · 49 CFR 390.5, definition of interstate commerce (Cornell LII) · FMCSA, Insurance Filing Requirements · USGS, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Sand and Gravel (Construction) · Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Border Crossing Data Annual Release 2025 · Port Houston, Port Statistics · Port Houston, 2024 Annual Report · Railroad Commission of Texas, Permian Basin release · 43 Tex. Admin. Code 219.11, oversize and overweight permits (Cornell LII) · TxDOT, aggregate supply contract plans, Harrison County (legal-load and delivery notes). Reviewed: 2026-11-03.