Commercial Auto Liability Insurance for Trucking
Primary auto liability is the coverage FMCSA requires before your authority goes active, and the first thing a freight broker checks before tendering a load. MIG shops trucking-only liability programs with 30+ A-rated insurance carriers in 48 states.
Free and no obligation. We compare options across our insurance carrier partners to help you find the right coverage at a competitive price.
What Is Commercial Auto Liability for Trucks?
It does not repair your own truck, replace damaged freight or cover your own driver’s injuries. Those are separate policies, and most carriers need several of them working together.
- Injuries to other drivers, passengers and pedestrians
- Damage to other vehicles, buildings, guardrails and property
- Legal defense when a covered accident leads to a lawsuit
- Scheduled equipment (power units and trailers)
- Damage to your own truck or trailer → Physical Damage
- Freight you're hauling → Motor Truck Cargo
- Your own driver's injuries → Occupational Accident or Workers' Comp
Federal Minimum Liability Limits for Trucking
FMCSA sets the minimum liability limit by what you haul and the weight of the vehicle. These are floors. The limit you need to get loaded is usually set by your brokers, shippers and contracts.
| Operation (for-hire, interstate) | Examples | Federal Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| General freight, vehicles 10,001+ lbs GVWR | Dry van, reefer, flatbed, auto hauler, dump | $750,000 |
| General freight, vehicles under 10,001 lbs GVWR | Cargo vans, smaller box trucks | $300,000 |
| Oil, hazardous waste and certain hazmat | Petroleum products, hazmat not in the $5M category | $1,000,000 |
| Bulk hazardous substances, explosives, poison gas, radioactive | Cargo tanks over 3,500 water gallons; Div. 1.1–1.3; Div. 2.3 Zone A; HRCQ radioactive | $5,000,000 |
Intrastate-only carriers must meet the liability minimum set by their home state, which can be lower than the federal limit. Hazmat carried in bulk requires the $5M limit even intrastate. Brokers and shippers commonly require $1,000,000 regardless of what you haul.
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Insurance Filings, the MCS-90 and Your Authority
Your authority isn’t active until FMCSA has proof of insurance on file. That proof is submitted by your insurance carrier, not by you and not by your agency. Since FMCSA’s Motus system replaced URS and the old L&I system, insurance carriers file electronically in Motus.
BMC-91 / BMC-91X
The federal filing that tells FMCSA your liability policy meets the minimum. Once your policy binds, the insurance carrier submits it electronically. If it isn’t received within 20 days of your authority being published, FMCSA can dismiss the application.
MCS-90 Endorsement
Required on for-hire liability policies. It guarantees the injured public is paid up to the federal minimum, even if the policy wouldn’t otherwise respond, such as an unlisted truck or an excluded driver. It is not extra coverage for you: the insurance carrier can seek reimbursement from the motor carrier.
State Filings (Form E / Form H)
Some states require their own proof-of-insurance filing for intrastate operations or state permits. Requirements vary by state, so make sure every filing you need is listed when you request a quote.
A lapse can revoke your authority
If a liability policy cancels, the insurance carrier notifies FMCSA, and FMCSA can begin revoking your authority when the cancellation takes effect without a replacement filing. Keep payments current and don’t let a policy expire between carriers.
AM Best Ratings and Why Brokers Check Them
AM Best grades an insurance company’s ability to pay claims. It rates the insurer, not you or your safety record. Freight brokers, shippers and lessors check it because a certificate is only as good as the company behind it.
Ratings below C+ (C, C-, D, E, F) indicate weak or impaired insurers.
How brokers and shippers review it
- Minimum rating. Many broker carrier packets ask for A- or better. Some accept B+ or B++ with conditions.
- Financial Size Category. Shown as a Roman numeral (e.g., VII). Some shippers set a minimum size alongside the letter rating.
- Admitted vs. surplus lines. Some brokers have their own rules for non-admitted (E&S) insurers.
- Monitoring. Most large brokers verify insurance through carrier-onboarding and monitoring services, and request certificates from your agency rather than from you.
Ask your broker for their exact requirement before you sign a carrier packet. A MIG Producer can show you which markets fit.
What Freight Brokers Check Before Tendering a Load
Coverage that satisfies FMCSA doesn’t always satisfy a broker’s carrier packet. These are the liability items that most often hold up setup.
What Affects the Cost of Truck Liability Insurance
Auto liability is usually the largest part of a trucking insurance premium. Each insurance carrier weighs these factors differently, which is why comparing markets matters.
Time in business
New authorities see fewer markets than established carriers.
Driver records
CDL experience, MVRs and violations for every driver.
Safety & inspections
CSA BASIC scores, out-of-service rates and safety rating.
Loss history
Prior claims, usually from loss runs covering recent years.
Commodity & radius
What you haul, how far and through which states.
Garaging & limits
Where units are based, limit chosen and deductible.
Coverage Options on a Trucking Auto Policy
Availability, limits and pricing vary by insurance carrier and state. Your policy documents control what is covered.
Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist
UM applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance. UIM applies when their limits aren’t enough. Some states require it; others allow you to reject it in writing.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Pays medical and certain other injury costs regardless of fault in states that require it. Not a substitute for health insurance or occupational accident coverage.
Medical Payments (Med Pay)
Limited medical coverage for occupants of your vehicle, regardless of fault. Narrower than PIP and available where applicable.
Additional Insured
Lists a broker, shipper, lessor or equipment provider on your policy, usually because a contract requires it. On a trucking policy it’s narrow: it generally applies only when that party is held liable for your truck’s operation, not for its own negligence (such as a negligent-selection claim). Some policies offer blanket Additional Insured for a flat fee.
Hired & Non-Owned Auto
Not part of most trucking auto policies, which cover scheduled units only. It’s typically added when a contract requires it, most often the UIIA for intermodal carriers, which doesn’t accept scheduled-only liability. Ask a MIG Producer if an agreement you’re signing calls for it.
Non-Trucking Liability (Bobtail)
For leased owner-operators: covers the truck when it isn’t under dispatch for the motor carrier. It doesn’t replace the motor carrier’s primary liability.
Auto Liability for Every Size of Operation
New Authority
Starting your authority and need liability on file to activate.
Small Fleet
Owner-operators and fleets growing from a few units.
Fleet
Larger programs, higher limits and fleet safety resources.
Intermodal / UIIA
Drayage carriers meeting UIIA and port requirements.
Physical Damage
Repairs or replaces your truck and trailer.
Motor Truck Cargo
Covers the freight you’re hauling.
Occupational Accident
Injury coverage for owner-operators.
Freight Broker Insurance
Contingent auto and cargo for brokers.
Commercial Auto Liability Questions
How much auto liability insurance does a trucking company need?
Who files my BMC-91X with FMCSA?
Is the MCS-90 extra coverage for my company?
What AM Best rating do freight brokers require?
Does auto liability cover my truck or my cargo?
What happens if my liability policy cancels?
Can I get auto liability with a new authority?
What is the difference between scheduled autos and any auto?
What's the difference between a certificate holder and an Additional Insured?
Is the quote free?
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This page is general information about commercial auto liability for trucking and is not legal advice or a statement of coverage. Federal and state requirements change; confirm current rules with FMCSA and your state. Coverage, limits, eligibility and pricing are determined by the insurance carrier, and your policy documents control. Marquee Insurance Group is an independent insurance agency and does not issue policies, make underwriting decisions or decide claims.