YES – in the State of Texas the military HMMWV is street legal.
The state of Texas is very pro-military and they recognize the HMMWV as a legitimate vehicle in which the state has specific legislation that addresses the HMMWV and provides owners the ability to own and operate HMMWV’s on Texas public roadways.
Texas is a very unique state in that they allow military HMMWV’s to be driven on public roadways as vehicles and not just as off road vehicles.
If you intend to take a HMMWV to another state other than Texas it is YOUR responsibility to learn the laws in those states.
NOTE: In some states HMMWV’s are classified as off road ONLY vehicles and may not be allowed to be driven on public roadways. Know the laws where you are or are going.
6.5 Liter Detroit Diesel
Key Characteristics:
- Type: 6.5 Liter, Naturally Aspirated (NA) Diesel V8.
- Manufacturer: GM / Detroit Diesel.
- Performance: Designed for durability and low-end grunt, good for heavy hauling at low RPMs, not for high speed.
- Fuel System: Features a Stanadyne injection pump, designed for reliability with provisions for fuel flow even if the lift pump fails.
- Transmission: Often paired with a TH400 automatic transmissions in military setups.
- Identification: A key identifier is the presence of a turbocharger mount casting at the front of the engine block, even if no turbo is installed
The HMMWV uses standard diesel fuel, available at most gas stations. The HMMWV can us military-grade JP-8 fuel also.
Option 1
Hagerty Insurance is a good place to start – they insure old and classic vehicles as well as HMMWV’s – they can be found here: https://www.hagerty.com/
Option 2
J C Taylor – Classic vehicle Insurance found here https://jctaylor.com
Option 3
The STEEL SOLDIERS forum has an entire category dedicated to insurance. Steel Soldiers is a valuable resource when researching HMMWV and military vehicle insurance.
Option 4
Many people indicate they can get HMMWV Insurance through their normal vehicle insurance provider.
AM General is the manufacturer of the military HMMWV
In the state of Texas the military HMMWV has two options for license plates so that the vehicle can be operated on public roadways.
Note: Military HMMWV’s do NOT have VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) numbers, they use the serial number printed vehicle data plate found on the drivers side door frame. The state of Texas will use this serial number as your VIN.
Option #1 is to obtain actual license plates through the county tax office same as with any other vehicle in Texas.
Option #2 – On the HMMWV you may fill out an application at the county tax office that will allow you to not have to install physical metal license plates. The alternative is the tax office will issue registration that utilizes the vehicle serial number as your license plate. If you chose this option you must fill and complete a form TXDOT VTR-135 and you must stencil the vehicle serial number in 2 inch numbers/letters on the rear of the HMMWV.
TXDOT Form VTR-135 – for Military Vehicle License Plates
TXDOT Form 130-U – for Application For Texas Title and/or Registration
Note: BOTH options still REQUIRE that you must REGISTER the HMMWV at the county tax office just as with any other vehicle within the state of Texas.
In Texas the military HMMWV does NOT require a state vehicle inspection to drive on public roadways. Although no vehicle inspection is required military HMMWV’s are required to have:
brake lights
turn signals
headlights
seat belts
mirrors
reflectors
… and all other equipment that any other vehicle is required to have so that it may legally be operated on public roadways.
NOTE: seat belts must be worn when driving the military HMMWV on public roadways just as with any other vehicle. This is the LAW and is for driver and passenger SAFETY.
HMMWV means High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, commonly known as the Humvee, a versatile, four-wheel-drive military truck used by the U.S. military and others for troop transport, cargo, and weapon platforms, replacing older Jeeps and serving as the basis for the civilian Hummer
65 miles per hour is generally considered the top speed of most HMMWV’s
Expect around 55-70 mph for a typical military Humvee, but speeds vary widely based on its specific build and load, road conditions and numerous other factors not listed here.
It should be noted: While capable off-road, the HMMWV’s design prioritizes mobility over on-road stability and speed, and pushing it beyond its limits significantly increases accident potential and mechanical failure.
NOTE: It is the responsibility of the driver to learn the capabilities of their individual HMMWV. It is recommended to start out using caution and slower speeds while driving on public roadways for drivers inexperienced with the HMMWV.
The Internet is full of sources of information on the military HMMWV. We have found some of the below listed sources to be very valuable in researching the HMMWV.
Military Heritage Collection of North Texas
Military Heritage Collection web site.
Military Heritage Collection Facebook Group
Steel Soldiers – a forum in bulletin board format that has lots of participation and good information – they can be found here – STEELSOLDIERS.com
HMMWV REPAIR/MAINTENANCE – Facebook Group – over 25 thousand members great information resource
Hummer H1 / HMMWV – Facebook Group – over 56 thousand members great information resource
Humvee / Hummer H1 Owners – Facebook Group – over 25 thousand members great information resource