Insurance as prerequisite.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 46-67
in effectSec. 46-67. - Insurance as prerequisite.
(a) Before any taxicab permit shall be issued to any person, or before renewal of any permit shall be granted, the applicant shall file an insurance policy evidencing insurance coverage complying with the requirements contained in subsection (b) below or give proof that he has qualified as a self-insurer, as the term is defined in the Texas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act as now in force or hereafter amended.
(b) The insurance required in subsection (a) shall be in the form of commercial auto liability coverage in no less than the minimum coverage amounts specified in the Texas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act issued by either a company listed as an authorized auto liability lines carrier on the Texas Department of Insurance's List of Authorized Insurance Companies or a surplus lines insurer listed on the Texas Department of Insurance's list of Eligible Surplus Lines Insurance Companies. The eligible surplus lines insurance company is required to have a Best's Rating of at least B+ and a Best's Financial Size Category of Class VI or better according to the most current edition of Best's Key Rating Guide, Property-Casualty, United States. Additionally, the insurance policy must include an endorsement requiring 30 days' written notice of termination or cancellation to the director and an endorsement requiring ten days' written notice of non-payment to the director. In the event that a policy terminates or is cancelled without replacement, then each permit to which it pertains shall be suspended, and those taxicabs may not be operated. If a proper replacement policy is not provided to the director on or before the 10 th business day after the date of termination or cancellation of the policy, the permit shall automatically terminate. Proof of insurance coverage shall be maintained at all times and shall be accepted only in the authorized form approved by the Texas Department of Insurance for that purpose.
(c) A permittee will be in compliance with subsection (b) if a licensee with whom the permittee contracts obtains insurance that fulfills the standards articulated in subsection (b); however, it shall be the duty of the permittee to ensure that the licensee maintains the aforementioned valid insurance policy at all times. Additionally, upon no fewer than five days' notice, the director may require the permittee to provide access to records that demonstrate proof of financial responsibility and compliance with the insurance requirements articulated in this section.
(d) If an insurance policy maintained by a licensee under subsection (c) has lapsed or does not provide the coverage required by this section, the permittee shall provide the coverage required by this section, regardless of whether the licensee maintains insurance adequate to cover any portion of the claim.
(Ord. No. 2014-754, § 2(Exh. A), 8-6-2014; Ord. No. 2016-736, § 21, 10-5-2016; Ord. No. 2025-1050, § 8, 12-17-2025)
Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH46VEHI_ARTIITA_DIV2VEPE_S46-67INPRFetched: 10/26/2026