Texas requires a state authorization to run driverless vehicles commercially, with no fee, no expiry and no crash history asked
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles now requires any company running automated vehicles commercially on Texas roads to hold an authorization, under Senate Bill 2807. The requirement became enforceable on May 28th, 2026, after the department's rules took effect on February 27th, 2026. An applicant acknowledges a written statement about the vehicle and certifies that it gave the Department of Public Safety a plan for how first responders should deal with the vehicle. There is no fee, and an authorization does not expire until the department revokes it. The department treats an operation as endangering the public when it has resulted, or is likely to result, in serious bodily injury. Below that standard it says administrative enforcement action is unlikely. The City of Dallas asked the department to require crash history and to make approved operators public. The department answered that the statute does not allow it to require crash history.
How to take part
A concern about an automated vehicle that could cause serious bodily injury or death can be sent to the department's Enforcement Division. It goes through the motor carrier credentialing site, where law enforcement can also verify whether a vehicle or operator holds an authorization.
Where
Statewide. This decision applies across Texas rather than to a named county.
Timeline
- effective
The department's automated vehicle rules take effect
- effective
The authorization requirement becomes enforceable
- Today
How this decision moved
One dated line per check, oldest first. A line that says nothing changed means somebody looked and it had not.
- 2026-09-26
Admitted to the record. The authorization requirement has been enforceable since May 28th, and Kodiak and Aurora have each announced plans for driverless freight on the lane between Dallas and Houston.
The evidence
Every fact above rests on one of these. The words are the source's own.
All companies operating automated vehicles commercially on or after May 28, 2026, are required to maintain an active authorization with TxDMV.Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Automated Vehicles Regulatory Program Primary source, official · txdmv.gov
The department and DPS both proposed and adopted administrative rules related to the new programs, the latest of which become effective on February 27, 2026.Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Automated Vehicles Regulatory Program Primary source, official · txdmv.gov
No fees are required for an authorization to operate automated vehicles. Authorizations do not expire and are valid until revoked by the department.Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Automated Vehicles Regulatory Program Primary source, official · txdmv.gov
The operation of an automated motor vehicle is considered to endanger the public when the operation has resulted, or is likely to result, in serious bodily injury as defined by Section 1.07, Texas Penal Code.Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Automated Vehicles Regulatory Program Primary source, official · txdmv.gov
The department is unlikely to take administrative enforcement action in cases that do not meet this standard as defined by Texas Penal Code, Section 1.07.Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Automated Vehicles Regulatory Program Primary source, official · txdmv.gov
The applicant must also certify that the Texas Department of Public Safety has been provided a copy of the plan specifying how a person who provides firefighting, law enforcement, ambulance, medical, or other emergency services should interact with the automated motor vehicle during the provision of those servicesTexas Department of Motor Vehicles, Automated Vehicles Regulatory Program Primary source, official · txdmv.gov
The City of Dallas encourages the department to require robust safety documentation, including crash history and proof of community stakeholder coordination, and to make information about approved operators publicly accessible.Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, adopted 43 TAC Chapter 220, Automated Motor Vehicles Primary source, official · txdmv.gov
Transportation Code, § 545.453 and § 545.456 do not allow the department to require authorization holders to submit crash history or proof of community stakeholder coordinationTexas Department of Motor Vehicles, adopted 43 TAC Chapter 220, Automated Motor Vehicles Primary source, official · txdmv.gov
The 89th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 2807 (89R) in 2025 creating a required authorization for the commercial operation of automated vehicles on Texas roads.Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Automated Vehicles Regulatory Program Primary source, official · txdmv.gov
Questions about this decision
Answered from the record itself. Every answer is assembled from stored fields, so an answer the record has no basis for is left out rather than guessed.
What is this decision?
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles now requires any company running automated vehicles commercially on Texas roads to hold an authorization, under Senate Bill 2807. The requirement became enforceable on May 28th, 2026, after the department's rules took effect on February 27th, 2026. An applicant acknowledges a written statement about the vehicle and certifies that it gave the Department of Public Safety a plan for how first responders should deal with the vehicle. There is no fee, and an authorization does not expire until the department revokes it. The department treats an operation as endangering the public when it has resulted, or is likely to result, in serious bodily injury. Below that standard it says administrative enforcement action is unlikely. The City of Dallas asked the department to require crash history and to make approved operators public. The department answered that the statute does not allow it to require crash history.
Who decides it?
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles decides. The record names the deciding body for every entry it carries.
Can the public take part?
A concern about an automated vehicle that could cause serious bodily injury or death can be sent to the department's Enforcement Division. It goes through the motor carrier credentialing site, where law enforcement can also verify whether a vehicle or operator holds an authorization. No dated public window is on the record. The deciding body is named and reachable.
Where in Texas does it apply?
It applies statewide.
Has it been decided?
It has been decided. The dates on the item page carry when.
What happens next?
No future date is on the record. The last dated step on it was effective on May 28th.
When did it start?
The earliest date on its record is February 27th, 2026.
What kind of decision is it?
It is filed under state policy.
What sources back it?
Two sources back it. Two of them are primary.
When was it last checked?
Every fact on it was last verified against its source on September 26th, 2026.
Cite this
Texas AI Docket, Texas requires a state authorization to run driverless vehicles commercially, with no fee, no expiry and no crash history asked. Tracked since February 27th, 2026. Last verified September 26th, 2026. https://texasaidocket.com/item/tx-2026-0188/. Reuse permitted under CC BY 4.0 with attribution. The same entry is in the docket JSON as item tx-2026-0188.
Beat
Filed under State policy, with every other decision on that beat.