How to Start a Trucking Company in Texas (2026): LLC, USDOT & Real Costs

Short answer: forming an LLC in Texas costs $300, federal trucking filings add $300 (MC Authority) + $35 (BOC-3) + ~$46 (UCR), and all filings now go through FMCSA's new Motus system (live since May 14, 2026). Typical time from filing to active authority: 1–3 weeks.

Texas state fees and timelines (2026)

Item	Details
LLC filing fee (Articles of Organization)	$300 (Certificate of Formation, Form 205); +2.7% convenience fee при оплате кредитной картой (законодательно установленная)
Annual / recurring state fee	Annual report в SOS отсутствует. Вместо него — ежегодный Franchise Tax Report + Public Information Report в Texas Comptroller до 15 мая: $0 к уплате при выручке ниже no-tax-due порога (~$2.47M), но отчёт подавать обязательно
Processing time	Онлайн SOSDirect/SOSUpload: официально сроки плавающие; SOSDirect ~10–12 раб. дней, SOSUpload ~13–15 раб. дней (LLCU, 2026), при этом в начале 2026 фиксировались ~2–4 раб. дня (вторичные данные)
Expedite options	Texas Express (запущен 01.10.2025, официально): Standard Expedited $50/документ — 2–3 раб. дня; Next-Day $500/документ; Same-Day $750/документ (подача до 12:00 CT). Preclearance $50/документ
Federal MC Authority (FMCSA)	$300, filed through Motus
BOC-3 process agent	$35 (free with TruckerNavi's bundle)
UCR registration	~$46/year (small fleet)

Fees verified from the official state source, July 2026. Official source: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/index.shtml

Texas specifics: Filing fee $300 подтверждён официальной инструкцией Form 205 (https://www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/instructions/205.shtml) и fee schedule SOSDirect (https://direct.sos.state.tx.us/help/help-corp.asp?pg=fee). ВАЖНО: старый expedite $25 больше не действует — заменён Texas Express с 1 октября 2025. Нет налога на доход штата. Series LLC: certificate of registered series тоже $300.

The 6 steps from zero to active authority

1) Form the LLC and get an EIN → 2) Apply for USDOT + MC Authority through FMCSA Motus (Login.gov identity verification: government ID + a face scan) → 3) File BOC-3 → 4) Register for UCR → 5) Bind insurance — your insurer transmits the BMC-91/91X filing → 6) After the protest period, your authority goes ACTIVE.

🚛 We do all of this for a flat $499 — including the Texas LLC

USDOT + MC through Motus, BOC-3 free, UCR, Clearinghouse — with support in English, Russian, and Ukrainian until you're ACTIVE.

Authority Bundle — $499 →

Texas trucking startup FAQ

How much does it cost to start a trucking company in Texas?

State LLC filing: $300 (Certificate of Formation, Form 205); +2.7% convenience fee при оплате кредитной картой (законодательно установленная). Federal: $300 MC Authority + $35 BOC-3 + ~$46 UCR. First-year insurance for a new authority typically runs $12,000–22,000. TruckerNavi files everything for a flat $499.

What is the LLC filing fee in Texas?

$300 (Certificate of Formation, Form 205); +2.7% convenience fee при оплате кредитной картой (законодательно установленная)

Does Texas require an annual LLC report?

Annual report в SOS отсутствует. Вместо него — ежегодный Franchise Tax Report + Public Information Report в Texas Comptroller до 15 мая: $0 к уплате при выручке ниже no-tax-due порога (~$2.47M), но отчёт подавать обязательно

How long does LLC processing take in Texas?

Онлайн SOSDirect/SOSUpload: официально сроки плавающие; SOSDirect ~10–12 раб. дней, SOSUpload ~13–15 раб. дней (LLCU, 2026), при этом в начале 2026 фиксировались ~2–4 раб. дня (вторичные данные)

Can I expedite an LLC filing in Texas?

Texas Express (запущен 01.10.2025, официально): Standard Expedited $50/документ — 2–3 раб. дня; Next-Day $500/документ; Same-Day $750/документ (подача до 12:00 CT). Preclearance $50/документ

Do you help Russian-speaking truckers?

Yes — TruckerNavi supports clients in Russian, English, and Ukrainian: (315) 871-0833.

Planning a brokerage instead? See turnkey Broker Authority ($499) or estimate your full budget with the truck startup calculator.