Texas Overweight Permit Bond ($15,000, Form 1753)
Hauling loads over legal axle or gross weight on Texas county roads? Before TxDMV will issue your Annual Over Axle/Over Gross Weight Tolerance Permit, it needs a $15,000 bond on Form 1753 payable to the counties of this state, or an FDIC-insured irrevocable letter of credit. The original must be on file; TxDMV does not accept an electronic copy. Tell us your counties and commodity and we'll quote it. The quote is free, and you pay only when your bond is issued.
Free quote. Pay only when your bond is issued.
Rules as of 2026-09-30. See sources below.
- Who requires it: The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, under Transportation Code §623.012. TxDMV needs the original on file and does not accept an electronic copy.
- Amount: $15,000, filed as one blanket bond rather than a separate bond for each county.
- Typical cost (estimate): about ~1% ($150/yr) with excellent credit (720+), up to 3–5% ($450–$750/yr) for challenged credit (below 640). The surety sets the final price.
- Timing: Same-day submission; most quotes within one business day.
How much is the Texas overweight permit bond?
- Amount: $15,000, per TxDMV and Tex. Transp. Code § 623.012.
- Form 1753, payable to the counties of this state.
- Alternative: an irrevocable letter of credit from an FDIC-insured institution.
- Original required. TxDMV says an electronic copy will not be accepted.
The statute words it as a bond of $15,000 “payable to the counties of this state,” and lets the applicant file a blanket bond. That is why one bond covers the permit however many counties you select; your permit fee, not the bond, changes with county count.
Which Texas permit bonds are different?
TxDMV uses more than one bond for its oversize and overweight permits. This page covers the $15,000 Form 1753 bond. Section 623.012 has no exemption for this permit, so every applicant for it files the bond or a letter of credit.
Texas permit bonds at a glance
Different permit, different bond
| Permit | Bond | Who needs it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Over Axle/Over Gross Weight Tolerance Permit | $15,000 (Form 1753) or irrevocable letter of credit | Every applicant for this permit | TxDMV; Transp. Code §623.012 |
| Superheavy or Oversize Permit | $10,000 (Form 439, MCD-439) | Entities not requiring TxDMV Motor Carrier Registration or UCR; TxDMV lists annual renewal by August 31 | TxDMV permit surety bonds page |
Rules as of 2026-09-30. Table compares the bond only; permit fees and weight limits are set separately by TxDMV. Other Texas annual permits may have their own bond rules; check with TxDMV.
This page covers the $15,000 Form 1753 bond. Need the $10,000 Form 439 superheavy/oversize bond? Request a quote above and tell us it's the Form 439 bond, or start a quote here.
Need the bond filed before your TxDMV application?
TxDMV needs the original Form 1753 on file, and it will not accept an electronic copy. Free quote, and you pay only when your bond is issued.
What § 623.012 says
“Security for Permit” is a short section, and the obligee is the detail that surprises most first-time filers:
Official Texas Requirements
"The applicant shall file with the department a bond in the amount of $15,000 payable to the counties of this state, conditioned that the applicant will pay a county for any damage to a road or bridge of the county caused by the operation of the vehicle at a weight in excess of that authorized under this chapter or in violation of Section 623.323. The applicant shall file a blanket bond or an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a financial institution the deposits of which are guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation."Texas Transportation Code • Tex. Transp. Code § 623.012 (Security for Permit)
The bond is filed with the department but is payable to the counties of this state, and the statute provides for a blanket bond. Official text: Texas Statutes, Transportation Code Chapter 623, Section 623.012.
The tolerance the permit buys
Per TxDMV's permit page (Transp. Code § 623.011 and 43 TAC § 219.30), vehicles alone or in combination may exceed the allowable axle weight by a tolerance of 10 percent and the gross weight by a tolerance of 5 percent. They may travel on county roads and state-maintained roadways, excluding the Interstate Highway System. Rules as of 2026-09-30.
10% over axle weight
The axle tolerance TxDMV lists for this permit.
5% over gross weight
The gross weight tolerance TxDMV lists for this permit.
One $15,000 bond, but the permit fee scales with counties
Don't confuse the bond with TxDMV's permit fee, which is paid to TxDMV and is separate from your bond premium. TxDMV lists a $90 base fee plus a $5 administration fee plus a county fee based on the number of counties you select:
| Counties selected | County fee | Base + admin + county |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 5 | $175 | $270 |
| 6 – 20 | $250 | $345 |
| 21 – 40 | $450 | $545 |
| 41 – 60 | $625 | $720 |
| 61 – 80 | $800 | $895 |
| 81 – 100 | $900 | $995 |
| 101 – 254 | $1,000 | $1,095 |
Source: TxDMV, Annual Over Axle/Over Gross Weight Tolerance Permit page, fetched 2026-09-30. Rules as of 2026-09-30. Fees can change; confirm with TxDMV before you apply.
What the bond itself costs to buy
TxDMV sets the $15,000 bond amount; the surety sets the premium. It is typically a small percentage of the bond amount per year, and the carrier sets the final price. See our surety bond cost guide for how pricing works. The ranges below are estimates; your quote depends on underwriting.
Texas $15,000 Over Axle/Over Gross Weight Tolerance Permit Bond: estimated annual premium by credit
Based on a $15,000 bond amount
- Excellent (720+)Rate: ~1%$150/yr
- Good (680–719)Rate: 1–1.5%$150–$225/yr
- Fair (640–679)Rate: 1.5–3%$225–$450/yr
- Challenged (below 640)Rate: 3–5%$450–$750/yr
Estimates only; your quote depends on underwriting. Actual rate depends on personal credit and business history.
The letter-of-credit alternative
§ 623.012 lets you file an irrevocable letter of credit instead of the bond, issued by a financial institution whose deposits are FDIC-insured. A surety bond is the other route, and we quote the bond.
Filing the Form 1753 bond before you apply for the permit
Get the $15,000 Form 1753 bond
Apply for the bond through us. The carrier underwrites on credit and business history and issues the bond.
File the original with TxDMV
TxDMV says an original must be on file and an electronic copy will not be accepted.
Apply for the permit
TxDMV lists two ways to apply: online through TxPROS, or by mail with the Over Axle and Over Gross Weight Tolerance Permit Application (MCD-1751). Pick your counties on the application; this sets the permit fee, not the bond amount.
Provide your USDOT number
TxDMV says you must provide your USDOT number and checks it against FMCSA.
Source: TxDMV permit page below. Rules as of 2026-09-30.
Other Texas bonds a trucking or ag operation carries
Carriers running county-road permits in Texas usually hold one or more of these too:
Form 1753 and § 623.012 questions, answered
How much is the Texas overweight permit bond?
It is $15,000, filed on TxDMV Form 1753 for the Annual Over Axle/Over Gross Weight Tolerance Permit. Texas Transportation Code §623.012 calls for a bond of $15,000 payable to the counties of this state, or an irrevocable letter of credit from an FDIC-insured institution. TxDMV says an original must be on file and an electronic copy will not be accepted.
Who is exempt from the $15,000 Texas overweight permit bond?
Section 623.012 has no exemption for the Over Axle/Over Gross Weight Tolerance Permit, so every applicant for that permit files the bond or a letter of credit. TxDMV lists a different bond, Form 439 for $10,000, for its superheavy or oversize permits; that one applies to entities that do not need TxDMV Motor Carrier Registration or UCR. It is a different permit and a different bond.
Is this a blanket bond or do I need one per county?
One bond. Section 623.012 sets the bond at $15,000 payable to the counties of this state and lets the applicant file a blanket bond, rather than a separate bond for each county. Permit fees are separate and set by TxDMV.
What does the Texas overweight permit bond cover, and which counties can collect on it?
The bond is payable to the counties of this state, and it is conditioned on the applicant paying a county for damage to a road or bridge of the county caused by operating the vehicle at a weight above what the chapter authorizes, or in violation of Section 623.323. TxDMV issues the permit; the bond runs to the counties.
What are the axle and gross weight tolerances this permit buys?
Per TxDMV, vehicles under this permit may exceed the allowable axle weight by a tolerance of 10 percent and the gross weight by a tolerance of 5 percent. They may travel on county roads and state-maintained roadways, excluding the Interstate Highway System. Rules as of 2026-09-30; confirm current terms with TxDMV and 43 TAC §219.30.
Can I use a letter of credit instead?
Yes. Section 623.012 allows an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a financial institution whose deposits are FDIC-insured, instead of a bond. A surety bond is the other route, and we quote the bond.
Do you charge a fee for the quote?
No. Quotes are free, and you pay only when your bond is issued. We shop multiple Treasury-listed surety carriers.
Sources and rules-as-of
Pages fetched 2026-09-30. Rules as of 2026-09-30.
- TxDMV, Annual Over Axle/Over Gross Weight Tolerance Permit (Form 1753, $15,000, original required, fees, tolerances, MCD-1751, TxPROS, USDOT number).
- TxDMV, Permit Surety Bonds (Form 439 / MCD-439, $10,000).
- Texas Transportation Code Chapter 623, §§ 623.011 and 623.012 (Texas Statutes).
- 43 Texas Administrative Code § 219.30, as cited on the TxDMV permit page.
All content is researched from official state and federal sources (.gov). BuySuretyBonds.com works with Treasury-listed surety carriers.
General information, not legal or underwriting advice. Permit types, bond amounts, fees, and tolerances are set by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and the Texas Transportation Code and can change. Confirm your current requirement with TxDMV and request a quote for your specific permit and bond.
Get your $15,000 Form 1753 bond quote
Tell us your counties and commodity. The quote is free, there is no obligation, and you pay only when your bond is issued. We shop multiple Treasury-listed surety carriers.
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