Texas runs a two-tier system for commercial truck insurance. Every truck on a Texas road must meet the state’s general minimum. A truck used commercially above certain weight limits must meet a higher federal minimum instead.
The exact minimum coverage amount depends on the truck’s weight, its cargo, and whether the trip crosses state lines. A low minimum does not cap what an injured person can recover. That minimum only sets the floor.
What Insurance Does a Commercial Truck Need in Texas?
A commercial truck operating in Texas must carry liability insurance, and how much depends on the truck itself:
- Every motor vehicle: Texas’s financial responsibility law requires every vehicle on the road to carry proof of insurance, which most drivers meet with a standard liability policy.
- Registered motor carriers: A truck registered as a Texas motor carrier must carry at least $500,000 in liability coverage for general freight over 26,000 pounds, set by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). Interstate carriers instead follow the higher federal figures below.
- Interstate for-hire trucks: Once a truck is used for hire in interstate commerce at 10,001 pounds or more gross vehicle weight, federal rules set an even higher minimum than the state figures above.
How Much Truck Liability Coverage Is Required Under Federal Law?
Federal law sets three tiers of minimum coverage depending on what the truck carries:
| Cargo and weight class | Federal minimum liability coverage |
| General freight, non-hazardous, 10,001+ lbs GVWR, interstate for-hire | $750,000 |
| Oil, hazardous waste, or other listed hazardous materials | $1,000,000 |
| Hazardous substances transported in bulk, or bulk explosives | $5,000,000 |
These figures set a floor, not a cap. A truck hauling ordinary freight under the 10,001-pound threshold falls outside this federal table, though it may still need coverage under the state rules above.
Does a Box Truck Need Commercial Insurance Coverage in Texas?
Box truck insurance coverage becomes required once the truck is used to haul goods for hire, and the minimum jumps once the truck reaches 10,001 pounds.
Below that weight, a box truck usually falls outside the federal table, unless it hauls hazardous materials. Once it registers as a Texas motor carrier, the state sets the coverage amount based on the truck’s class, size, and cargo.
What Does “Full Coverage” Mean for a Texas Commercial Truck Policy?
Texas full coverage insurance requirements are not a defined legal term. “Full coverage” is industry shorthand for a policy that adds optional protection, such as cargo coverage or physical damage coverage, on top of the required minimum.
Texas’s baseline policy minimum for a standard vehicle is $30,000 per person, $60,000 per collision, and $25,000 for property damage, but a truck registered as a commercial motor carrier must instead carry the $500,000 TxDMV minimum described above.
What If the Trucking Company’s Insurance Isn’t Enough to Cover Your Injuries?
A serious truck crash can cause damages well beyond a truck’s required minimum. When that happens, the shortfall does not release the insurer from paying more under the policy’s actual limits.
That minimum is a floor, not the outer limit of what a claim is worth. Texas trucking accident claims often turn on one question: is that minimum the only coverage available, or does more exist? The same coverage-gap questions come up in commercial vehicle and 18-wheeler crashes too.
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Insurance Claims
Can I See the Trucking Company’s Insurance Policy Before Filing a Claim?
Not usually before you file. Once a claim or lawsuit is underway, your attorney can typically obtain the policy declarations page through discovery, which shows the actual coverage limits rather than the minimum required by law.
Does the Driver’s Personal Insurance Ever Apply in a Commercial Truck Accident?
Sometimes. If the driver was not working under the motor carrier’s authority at the time of the crash, such as while running a personal errand in the truck, the commercial policy may not apply, and the driver’s personal coverage could come into play instead.
Talk to a Texas Truck Accident Attorney About Your Coverage Options
If a commercial truck’s insurance looks too thin to cover what happened to you, Mokaram Injury Lawyers can help. We offer a free case review to look at the coverage and your options together.
- No fees unless we win: We represent injury clients on contingency. Case expenses such as filing fees, expert costs, and medical record fees are generally advanced by our firm and repaid from your settlement or award.
- 24/7 live support: Our team answers calls around the clock, and after-hours calls are often the easiest time to reach people soon after a crash.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Houston for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident in Houston, Texas, our team is ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact our experienced personal injury attorneys at Mokaram Injury Lawyers and request your free, no-obligation consultation today.
We proudly serve Harris County and its surrounding areas:
Mokaram Injury Lawyers
Address: 2500 W Loop S #450, Houston, TX 77027
Phone: 281-222-2222
Hours: Open 24/7
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