Texas mobile home move permit

Who issues the permit

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) issues a single trip permit to move manufactured housing that is over Texas legal size limits on its running gear or a temporary chassis.

Permits are ordered through TxDMV's online system, TxPROS, which has a Permit Wizard to find the right permit type. The Oversize/Overweight Permits Office answers at (800) 299-1700.

The Motor Carrier Division permit office in Austin is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and the toll free line closes 30 minutes before the office does.

The applicant gives a USDOT number. TxDMV checks it against the federal FMCSA system for out of service orders and issues the permit in the company name listed for that number.

Sources: TxDMV, Manufactured Housing Single-Trip Permits; TxDMV, Oversize/Overweight Permits; TxDMV, Holiday Hours and Movement Restrictions

Owners moving their own home

An owner may move their own home if they are named on the title and own or lease the towing vehicle.

An owner doing their own move must carry liability insurance of at least $300,000 combined single limit.

Source: TxDMV, Manufactured Housing Single-Trip Permits

Fee and what it covers

The single trip manufactured housing permit costs $40.

Paying by card adds a service charge of 25 cents per permit plus 2.25 percent. TxDMV also takes electronic checks, and cash only at a Regional Service Center.

Each permit covers one movement from a named origin to a named destination, during the times printed on the permit, for no more than five days.

The fee is not refunded once a permit number has been issued, unless the refund corrects an error by the Motor Carrier Division.

A home that is over legal gross, axle or axle group weights needs a General Single-Trip Permit instead.

Source: TxDMV, Manufactured Housing Single-Trip Permits

Escorts, lights and signs

A home more than 16 feet and up to 18 feet wide needs one escort: in front on a two lane highway, behind on a highway with four or more lanes.

Above 18 feet wide, two escorts are required, one in front and one behind.

Two homes, or two sections of one multi section home, may travel as a convoy and share escorts if they stay within 1,000 feet of each other.

A home over 12 feet wide must carry a rotating amber beacon at least eight inches across on the rear of the roof, or two five inch flashing amber lights at the rear corners.

Escort vehicles for manufactured housing carry a 16 inch red flag on each of their four corners.

Escort vehicles also carry front and rear signs reading "wide load" in black letters at least eight inches high on a yellow background.

Source: TxDMV, Escort and Equipment Requirements

When the home can travel

Manufactured housing may not move on national holidays.

TxDMV's holiday page ties the ban to Texas Government Code 662.003 and allows moves on those days only if TxDMV grants an exception.

Sources: TxDMV, Manufactured Housing Single-Trip Permits; TxDMV, Holiday Hours and Movement Restrictions

After the move

The mover gets the TxDMV permit, and a copy goes with the owner's application for a new Statement of Ownership showing the new location.

Source: TDHCA, Statement of Ownership FAQ

Sources and dates

• TxDMV, Manufactured Housing Single-Trip Permits, read October 6, 2026https://www.txdmv.gov/motor-carriers/oversize-overweight-permits/manufactured-housing-single-trip
• TxDMV, Oversize/Overweight Permits, read October 6, 2026https://www.txdmv.gov/motor-carriers/oversize-overweight-permits
• TxDMV, Holiday Hours and Movement Restrictions, read October 6, 2026https://www.txdmv.gov/motor-carriers/oversize-overweight-permits/holiday-movement-restrictions
• TxDMV, Escort and Equipment Requirements, read October 6, 2026https://www.txdmv.gov/motor-carriers/oversize-overweight-permits/escort-and-equipment-requirements
• TDHCA, Statement of Ownership FAQ, read October 6, 2026https://www.tdhca.texas.gov/frequently-asked-questions-statement-ownership