Cargo Insurance for Texas Shipments

Texas distinguishes ordinary motor-carrier liability filings from cargo filings for household-goods carriers. Household movers face stated minimums of $5,000 per vehicle for total cargo and $10,000 for aggregate cargo from multiple shippers; these regulatory minimums may be far below a shipment's value.

What Is Cargo and Transit Insurance?

Cargo coverage fits a shipper protecting goods it owns or a carrier responsible for another party’s goods. The quote needs to match who bears the loss, the shipment route and storage stops. Read the national Cargo and transit guide.

Texas Cargo and Transit Insurance Requirements

RequirementDetails
Texas intrastate authorityMotor carriers operating covered commercial vehicles only within Texas need TxDMV intrastate operating authority; interstate FMCSA authority does not substitute, and a carrier doing both needs both. 2
Household-goods cargo filingTxDMV lists $5,000 for loss or damage to total cargo on one motor vehicle and $10,000 for aggregate loss or damage to multiple shippers' cargo on that vehicle for household-goods carriers. 1

What Should You Watch for With Cargo and Transit Insurance in Texas?

  • Do not extend the household-goods cargo rule to every freight load

    TxDMV identifies Form H and I cargo filings for household-goods movers. Its general intrastate filing rule is proof of insurance or financial responsibility; check the actual filing category for non-household freight rather than treating the mover-specific cargo rule as universal. 1,2

  • The household-goods minimum is not a shipment-value target

    The listed $5,000 per-vehicle and $10,000 aggregate minimums can be much lower than a high-value move. Ask for the policy limit and valuation terms, then arrange additional cargo protection if your own goods value is higher. 1

  • A policy purchase does not activate Texas authority by itself

    TxDMV says the insurer must electronically file the required form and the carrier must keep the TxMCCS insurance record active. Check the carrier's current authority and filing before dispatch, especially during an insurer change. 1,2

Which Cargo and Transit Providers Have Texas License Records?

These providers publish a national listing for Cargo and transit; the license records below name the licensed entities and roles. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Texas. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

  • Corgi

    Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28

    Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.

    Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. 11

    Corgi lists a cargo contractual liability product in its transportation offering.

Who Regulates Insurance in Texas?

Texas Department of Insurance

TDI licenses agents and insurers, reviews company rate filings, and investigates complaints against insurance companies and people it regulates. Its complaint page states limits on what it can resolve, including disputes outside its regulatory authority. 3,4,5

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Texas

Reported tax rate. 4.85% of gross premium plus 0.04% SLTX stamping fee 6,7,8

When Texas is the insured’s home state, the state tax is 4.85% of gross premium; absent a compact allocation agreement, a multistate policy can be taxed on its entire premium. Policies effective on or after Jan. 1, 2024 also carry a 0.04% stamping fee; SLTX invoices the broker and says the insured pays it, and the surplus-lines insurer is not covered by the Texas guaranty association.

Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas

Questions to Ask Before You Buy Cargo and Transit in Texas

  1. Is the carrier staying in Texas or crossing state lines, and does it hold the matching TxDMV or FMCSA authority?
  2. Is this legally a household-goods move, and what Form H/I cargo limit is filed for the vehicle?
  3. Does the filed cargo limit cover the shipment's full value, including goods from multiple shippers on one truck?

Cargo and Transit Insurance in Texas: Frequently Asked Questions

What cargo minimum does Texas list for household-goods carriers?

TxDMV lists $5,000 for total cargo on any one motor vehicle and $10,000 for aggregate loss involving multiple shippers' cargo on that vehicle. Compare the actual policy with your shipment values; the filing minimum is not a coverage recommendation. 1

Does a USDOT number let a carrier haul only within Texas?

TxDMV says a USDOT number is an identifier, not operating authority. Intrastate Texas work requires a TxDMV certificate; interstate work requires federal authority, and a carrier doing both needs both. 2

Cargo and Transit Insurance Guides for Other States

Other coverage in TexasEvery coverage guide for Texas, plus the regulator and surplus-lines details.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

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