Texas Security Guard Insurance: What Your DPS License Requires
Short answer: Texas security contractor companies (Class B license holders — guard, patrol, alarm, armored car) must keep a certificate of insurance on file with the DPS Private Security Program at all times, with minimums of $100,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage, $50,000 per occurrence for personal injury, and a $200,000 total aggregate. Proof goes to DPS on the state's certificate form (PSP-05). OnPost issues Texas-compliant certificates the same day you bind — and most client contracts want $1M limits anyway, which cost surprisingly little more.
Texas Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury & property damage | $100,000 per occurrence | General liability |
| Personal injury | $50,000 per occurrence | False arrest, defamation, invasion of privacy |
| Total aggregate | $200,000 | All occurrences combined |
| Proof of coverage | PSP-05 certificate | Must stay on file with DPS continuously |
Source: Texas DPS Private Security Program statutes and rules — verify current rules at dps.texas.gov. We confirm current requirements on every quote.
The State Minimum Is Not What Your Contracts Want
Here's the Texas-specific trap: the DPS minimum keeps your license valid, but almost every commercial contract in Texas requires $1M per occurrence with assault & battery included and additional-insured status. Firms that buy the bare state minimum end up buying twice. The jump from state-minimum limits to contract-ready $1M limits usually costs less than owners expect — we quote both numbers so you can see the gap yourself.
Personal Injury Coverage: Texas Says the Quiet Part Out Loud
Notice that Texas explicitly requires personal injury coverage — false arrest, wrongful detention, defamation. That's the state telling you what security companies actually get sued for. It pairs with assault & battery coverage, which many cheap policies exclude; in a state with this much armed retail and nightlife security, an A&B exclusion is a business-ending gap. Every OnPost quote shows the A&B limit in writing.
What a Complete Texas Package Looks Like
- $1M/$2M general liability with personal injury and full A&B limits — DPS-compliant and contract-ready.
- PSP-05 certificate filed correctly so your license never shows a gap.
- Workers comp — technically elective for private Texas employers, but most client contracts require it, and going bare on guard payroll is a lawsuit magnet.
- Commercial auto for patrol vehicles — Texas patrol routes are long; auto claims are the #2 cost driver for Texas guard firms.
- Firearms liability for the state's large armed segment — see the armed guard guide.
Get DPS-Compliant Proof Today
New Class B application, renewal increase, or a client demanding $1M by Friday — start your quote and a Texas-savvy specialist comes back today with real numbers.