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Driving in Texas

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

Texas is the largest US state by drivable area — and the only US state with a posted speed limit above 80 mph (SH-130 between Austin and San Antonio is 85 mph). The state's rental geography is dominated by the four major metros (Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin) and the I-10 + I-35 + I-45 + I-20 grid that connects them.

Texas has more toll roads than any other US state, concentrated in Houston (managed by HCTRA), Dallas/Fort Worth (NTTA), and Austin (CTRMA, including SH-130). Cash payment was eliminated on most facilities; toll-tag or plate-billing is the default.

No statewide handheld-phone ban — texting is banned, but talking on a held phone is legal outside school zones (where it is prohibited).

The headline rule

SH-130 is 85 mph — the highest posted speed limit in the US

Toll road SH-130 between Mustang Ridge (south of Austin) and Seguin (east of San Antonio) is signed at 85 mph (137 km/h) on Segments 5 and 6. It is the highest legally posted speed limit in the United States. The road is well-engineered for the speed but the consumption fact catches foreign drivers off-guard: at 85 mph, fuel burn is roughly 25 percent higher than at 65 mph.

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

Famous driving routes in Texas

Tips for foreign visitors

Tolls in Texas

Texas operates more toll facilities than any other US state. The dominant systems are TxTag (statewide), TollTag (DFW/NTTA), EZ TAG (Houston/HCTRA), and the SH-130 toll authority. All are interoperable with each other and with most US national toll programmes (E-ZPass, FasTrak, SunPass via the Toll Interoperability Hub).

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