Texas
Getting a DOT number in Texas
Updated
The DOT number Texas asks for is a USDOT number from FMCSA. If you run inside Texas with a vehicle or combination over 26,000 pounds, haul placarded hazmat or move household goods for hire, you register that number as intrastate and then apply for a TxDMV number. Haul across state lines and the federal rules require a USDOT number from 10,001 pounds.
At a glance
- USDOT number fee at FMCSA
- $0
- Texas trigger
- Over 26,000 lb, placarded hazmat or household goods for hire
- Federal trigger
- 10,001 lb or more, across state lines
- TxDMV number, annual
- $100 plus $10 a vehicle
A USDOT number identifies your company, and on its own it doesn't let you haul. TxDMV adds its own certificate, the TxDMV number, for carriers that have to register in-state. In-state work that meets a Texas trigger needs that TxDMV number, and interstate for-hire freight generally needs MC authority.
Who needs a USDOT number in Texas
Two sets of rules decide it, and one carrier can fall under both.
Federal rule. If you cross state lines, you need a USDOT number once any vehicle reaches 10,001 pounds by its weight rating, combination rating or actual weight. Placardable hazmat triggers it at any weight.
The freight's whole trip counts. A Texas-only leg of a load that started or will end in another state or country is interstate, and the federal USDOT rules apply to it.
Texas rule. Every carrier that has to register with TxDMV needs a USDOT number first, registered as intrastate. TxDMV registration applies when you run any of these inside Texas:
| What you run | When it counts |
|---|---|
| A vehicle or combination | Gross weight, registered weight or weight rating over 26,000 pounds |
| Hazmat | Placarded |
| Household goods for hire | Any weight |
| A farm vehicle | 48,000 pounds or more |
| Passengers | A vehicle designed to carry more than 15 including the driver, or a commercial school bus |
TxDMV exempts farm vehicles under 48,000 pounds, government vehicles and a few special cases such as cotton vehicles. It also exempts carriers that run only interstate and are registered with UCR.
| Your operation | USDOT number | TxDMV number |
|---|---|---|
| Across state lines, 10,001 lb or more | Required | Not needed if you run only interstate and are registered with UCR |
| Inside Texas only, vehicle or combination over 26,000 lb | Required, marked intrastate | Required |
| Inside Texas only, household goods for hire | Required, marked intrastate | Required |
| Inside Texas only, placarded hazmat | Required, marked intrastate | Required |
| Inside Texas only, 26,000 lb or under by gross, registered and rated weight, general freight | Not required by TxDMV's rules | Not needed: no TxDMV trigger applies |
| Interstate loads plus in-state loads | Required | Required once an in-state vehicle meets a Texas trigger |
How to apply
- Apply in Motus. Motus is FMCSA's registration system, and FMCSA's Motus page (opens in a new tab) explains the steps. You set up a user profile through Login.gov, verify your identity, set up and verify the business account, then apply. If your company already has a USDOT number, you claim that record instead of starting over.
- Pick intrastate if you'll stay in Texas. That's how TxDMV expects the number to be registered.
- Apply for the TxDMV number if a Texas trigger applies. You apply in TxMCCS, where every user needs a new account. The Texas intrastate authority page has the steps.
- Add MC authority if you'll haul for hire across state lines. It's $300 per authority type, and it's a separate application from the USDOT number. See MC number.
FMCSA moved registration into Motus on May 19, 2026. Older guides and some FMCSA pages still describe the old portal, so follow the Motus steps.
If your USDOT number is brand new, leave time between the two applications. The TxMCCS sign-in page warns that FMCSA and Motus validation problems can block newly issued USDOT numbers and hold up TxDMV issuance, and it gives no date for a fix.
What it costs
| Item | Who charges it | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT number | FMCSA | $0 |
| TxDMV application, annual or biennial | TxDMV | $100 |
| TxDMV, each vehicle | TxDMV | $10 a year or $20 for a biennial term |
| Form E filing | TxDMV, filed by your insurer | $100 |
| MC authority, interstate for hire only | FMCSA | $300 per authority type |
Household goods movers have their own fee table and add $100 for Forms H and I.
You can file the USDOT number in Motus and the TxDMV number with TxDMV (opens in a new tab) yourself. Filing services charge for doing these steps for you, and that's their fee on top of the amounts above. Ready for Loads isn't affiliated with FMCSA or TxDMV.
If a letter or email says you owe money to keep your number, check it against the fake notices guide before you pay anyone. TxDMV warns that official-looking solicitations can pose as the government and charge for filings you can do yourself. It also says it doesn't collect traffic or toll fines or send unsolicited texts about registration violations.
Look up a USDOT or TxDMV number
Each number has its own lookup.
- USDOT and MC numbers. Enter the number in the status check below to see the carrier's FMCSA status.
- TxDMV numbers. Search TxDMV's Truck Stop lookup (opens in a new tab) without logging in. Pick how you want to search and enter at least four characters, and it lists up to 100 carriers with their insurance filing status.
Check your number. Enter your USDOT or MC number to see your FMCSA status. Check your status
Keep your Texas filing active
Your TxDMV certificate depends on your Form E. Only your insurance company can file it or cancel it, and if it stops being active in TxDMV's system, TxDMV can revoke the certificate. Tell your agent up front that you need a Texas Form E, and get confirmation that it was filed before you run in-state loads.
TxDMV has adopted a rules package dated October 8, 2026 that requires your USDOT number to stay active and match the number on your Texas application while you run under TxDMV authority. Ask TxDMV when it takes effect.
If you also hold MC authority, the federal side runs on its own filing. Your insurer files your federal liability coverage with FMCSA, and the insurance filings guide covers how that works.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Texas DOT number the same as a USDOT number?
Yes. The DOT number Texas asks for is a USDOT number from FMCSA, registered as intrastate if you'll stay in Texas. TxDMV then issues its own certificate, the TxDMV number, to carriers that meet a Texas trigger.
How much does a DOT number cost in Texas?
FMCSA charges nothing for a USDOT number. A TxDMV number adds $100 for an annual or biennial application, $10 a vehicle each year and $100 for the Form E filing.
Do I need a USDOT number for a truck under 26,000 pounds in Texas?
TxDMV's rules don't require one for in-state general freight when gross weight, registered weight and weight rating all stay at 26,000 pounds or less. Across state lines, you need one once any vehicle reaches 10,001 pounds.
Where do I look up a TxDMV number?
Search TxDMV's Truck Stop lookup. No login is needed, and four or more characters return up to 100 carriers and their insurance filing status.