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Texas garage liability for motor vehicle dealers

Texas ties metal dealer plates to vehicle types included in the dealership’s license, so a car-and-light-truck dealer cannot use those plates on motorcycles or trailers. Dealers must also record each metal plate’s vehicle and the person controlling it, making accurate policy and plate schedules especially important. 1,2

What Is Garage Liability?

Garage liability can address injury and property-damage claims from auto repair and related garage operations. If you run a repair or service shop, check separately whether customer cars in your care need garagekeepers coverage for vehicle damage. Read the national Garage liability guide.

What to Watch for in Texas

  • Match Plates To Licensed Vehicle Types

    TxDMV says a dealer may use metal plates only on vehicles of a type included in its license. Ask the broker to confirm the garage policy’s covered autos match the categories your Texas license authorizes. 1,2

  • Keep Vehicle And Driver Assignments Current

    Texas requires dealers to record the plate number, vehicle year and make, VIN, and person in control for each assigned metal plate. Update plate and vehicle schedules as inventory moves so an audit and a claim file show the same assignment. 1

  • Separate Inventory Use From Service Trips

    Texas dealer plates can be used for demonstrations, test drives, limited repair transport, and certain customer loaners, but not for carrying a load or performing dealer services such as carrying parts or operating as a rental unit. Ask about separate coverage for service or rental vehicles that fall outside those plate uses. 1

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

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

Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas

Providers With Documented State Licenses

No provider in Spot’s research documents both a state license record and this coverage line. This does not establish that providers are unlicensed. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm availability with a provider when requesting a quote.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy in Texas

  1. Does our Texas garage-liability policy cover only the vehicle types listed on our GDN and franchise license?
  2. Who updates the insurer’s vehicle schedule when we assign a plate to a different inventory vehicle?
  3. Are parts delivery, rental, and service vehicles covered under a separate auto policy rather than relying on dealer plates?

Garage Liability in Texas: FAQ

Can a Texas dealer use a car dealer plate on a motorcycle? 1

No. TxDMV says metal dealer plates may be used only on vehicle types included in the dealer’s license. 1

What records must a Texas dealer keep for metal plates? 1,2

The dealer must record the assigned plate number, vehicle year and make, VIN, and name of the person in control of the vehicle. 1,2

Garage Liability in Other States

Other Coverage in Texas

Sources

  1. Dealer License Plates. Texas Department of Motor Vehicles; Standard metal dealer plate uses, exclusions, and dealer plate log requirements. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  2. Texas Transportation Code, Chapter 503. Texas Legislature; §§ 503.061 and 503.066, dealer plate type tied to dealer authorization and plate applications. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  3. texas insurance regulator. State insurance regulator; TDI regulator page outlines licensing, financial oversight, compliance/enforcement, and rate review. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  4. How to Find a Licensed Insurance Agent or Adjuster. State insurance regulator; TDI says search by agent name or license number and links to the state license search. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  5. Get Help with an Insurance Complaint. State insurance regulator; Direct complaint page explains covered entities, exclusions and online filing; Help Line 800-252-3439. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  6. Texas Insurance Code §§225.002–225.004. Texas Legislature; §225.002 limits chapter to Texas-home-state insured; §225.004(a) 4.85%; (a-1) NRRA home-state limitation; (c) entire premium where Texas is home state and no compact agreement. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  7. Stamping Fees & Taxes. Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas; Current policy-date table lists 0.04% for inception 1/1/2024 and after; stamping fee invoices go to brokers; site says fee is paid by insured. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  8. Texas Surplus Lines Companies. Texas Department of Insurance; TDI says surplus-lines insurers are not licensed in Texas and its guaranty association member; eligibility/disclaimer and broker financial-responsibility details. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  9. Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
  10. Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
  11. Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  12. About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  13. Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  14. About Risklytics. Risklytics; What we do; Who we insure; Licensing; Agency licenses table dated 2026-09-10. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  15. Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  16. Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

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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