Operators of commercial vehicles in Texas must register with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
Having a Texas DOT number can be the difference between operating a commercial motor vehicle lawfully or unlawfully in Texas. A Texas DOT number is a unique identifying number for commercial vehicles issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. The number provides authorization to operate on Texas roads and highways. According to the Texas Transportation Code, Chapter 643, all motor carriers transporting passengers or cargo commercially in Texas, unless exempted by statute, must be registered with the state and must have a Texas DOT number.
Instructions
Get a Texas DOT Number
1. Determine if registering with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and obtaining a Texas DOT (or TXDOT) number is required. As published in the Texas Transportation Code, Chapter 643, Section 643.002, vehicles properly registered under the provisions of the federal Unified Carrier Registration Act and certain other commercial vehicles are exempt from registration.
2. Register with the U.S. Department of Transportation as a commercial intrastate motor carrier and obtain a USDOT number before registering for a TXDOT number. A USDOT number is a federal identifier for intrastate commercial motor carriers properly registered under federal law. Since 2009, Texas has required that intrastate commercial carriers have an active USDOT number before a TXDOT number will be issued.
3. Obtain and complete the original Texas motor carrier application, Form 1899, for submission to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. According to the department's website, you can complete the application online if you contact the department at 888-368-4689 and request access to the online system. Paper applications may be submitted by mail or fax.
4. Submit the completed Form 1899 to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles along with proof of required amounts of liability insurance and the registration fee. As of 2010, the total application and annual registration fees for issuance of a TXDOT number were $210 per commercial vehicle. Liability insurance requirements vary by type of commercial vehicle, ranging from $500,000 to $5 million. Detailed information on fees and liability insurance requirements is available at the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles website.
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