🇺🇸 United States · All states

Driving in Texas

The rules foreign visitors most often get wrong — with the official source for every fact. Always verify directly before you drive.

Key rules

Max rural interstate speed
85 mph [1]

SH-130 Segs 5–6 only; statutory max is 75 on most rural interstates

Right turn on red
Permitted after full stop (unless signed otherwise) [1]
Seatbelt enforcement (front)
Primary enforcement [2]

Front and back seats

Handheld phone
Banned for novice drivers / in specific zones [3]

Full handheld ban only in school zones; texting banned statewide

Texting while driving
Banned [3] (as of 2017-09-01)
Min liability — bodily injury per person
$30,000 [4]
Min liability — bodily injury per accident
$60,000 [4]
Min liability — property damage
$25,000 [4]
Motorcycle helmet
Required for some riders (see notes) [5]

Under 21 required; 21+ exempt with safety course or $10K medical insurance

Move-over law
Yes — required to move over / slow for emergency vehicles [6]
Studded tires
Prohibited (limited emergency exceptions) [7]

Texas Transp. Code §547.612 — studded tires prohibited

Marijuana in vehicle
Open container / consumption in vehicle illegal [8]

Recreational illegal in Texas; possession criminal

Primary resources for Texas

Sources

Every claim above links to its numbered source here. If a link is broken, or you believe a fact is outdated, please let us know.

  1. [1] TxDOT — Speed Limits (up to 85 mph on SH-130 Segs 5–6) — TxDOT · accessed 2026-04-23
  2. [2] TxDOT — Seat Belt & Car Seat Laws — TxDOT · accessed 2026-04-23
  3. [3] TxDOT — Texting / Cellphone Laws — TxDOT · accessed 2026-04-23

    HB 62 statewide texting ban eff. 2017-09-01; no statewide full handheld ban

  4. [4] Texas Dept. of Insurance — Auto Insurance Guide — TDI · accessed 2026-04-23
  5. [5] TxDOT — Motorcycle Safety — TxDOT · accessed 2026-04-23
  6. [6] NHTSA — Move Over, It's the Law — NHTSA · accessed 2026-04-23
  7. [7] Texas Transp. Code §547.612 — Studded Tires Prohibited — Texas Legislature · accessed 2026-04-23
  8. [8] Texas State Law Library — Cannabis / Recreational Use — Texas State Law Library · accessed 2026-04-23