Insurance
Box truck insurance: cost and the limits brokers want
Updated
Four box truck owners on trucking forums gave a yearly or monthly premium, and on a yearly basis they run from $6,400 to $28,800. The federal minimum is $750,000 in liability for a truck rated 10,001 lb GVWR or more. A box truck that stops at that minimum falls short at 20 of the 21 brokers that publish a liability minimum on their own pages, since they want $1 million or more.
At a glance
- Owner reports with a figure
- 4
- Yearly range
- $6,400 to $28,800
- Federal liability minimum
- $750,000 at 10,001 lb GVWR or more
- Brokers asking $1 million liability
- 20 of the 21 that publish a minimum
- Brokers asking $100,000 cargo
- 21 of the 22 that publish a minimum
- Amazon Relay box trucks
- 16 or 26 ft, working tuck-under liftgate
- Amazon Relay authority age
- 180 days of interstate authority
What box truck owners report paying
Only four box truck owners on trucking forums gave a clear yearly or monthly figure, so the table shows each one as the owner posted it. Count the monthly payments times 12 and they run from $6,400 to $28,800 a year.
| Owner report | Amount |
|---|---|
| One box truck | $17,000 a year |
| Box truck, total for the year | About $6,400 |
| Box truck | About $600 a month |
| First box truck, Arizona | $2,400 a month, the lowest quote the owner got |
Two more box truck quotes aren't in that count, since neither gives a single yearly or monthly figure:
- A Michigan owner was quoted $20,000 to $23,000 a year, including general liability.
- In Minnesota, an owner reported $18,000 for $1 million in liability. With $100,000 in cargo and physical damage added, the quote came to roughly $34,000, and the owner didn't say what period it covered.
Check a quote's limits before its price. None of the four owners in the table named their limits, which means their figures can't tell you whether a quote covers what brokers want. For every equipment type and the down payments owners posted, see the cost page.
Check which brokers will set up your box truck. The load-ready check reads your DOT or MC number and sorts brokers and load programs into the ones that take you today, the ones that open up later and the coverage that unlocks the rest. Load-ready check
The federal minimum for a box truck
Once the truck is rated 10,001 lb GVWR or more, FMCSA's minimum for interstate for-hire general freight is $750,000 in public liability. There's no cargo limit in that floor.
The floor is $300,000 when every vehicle under your authority is rated under 10,001 lb GVWR, and hazardous cargo has its own schedule of limits.
A non-CDL box truck still counts. General freight at 26,000 lb or less needs no CDL. The duties that start at 10,001 lb still apply, though, along with the $750,000 floor at that rating.
Your authority won't be granted until your insurer's proof of liability coverage is filed with FMCSA and in effect. FMCSA sets no filing minimum for general freight cargo, and the filings page explains the forms.
What brokers and box truck programs ask for
Plan on at least $1 million in liability and $100,000 in cargo for broker freight, since 18 of the 20 brokers that publish both minimums ask for that much or more. The table below shows the published rules from programs, brokers and boards that name box trucks or straight trucks, as of October 2026.
| Who | Liability | Cargo | Also required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Relay | $1 million per occurrence, including $50,000 for trailer replacement | $100,000 | $1 million general liability per occurrence ($2 million aggregate), $100,000 employer's liability and workers' comp where you operate |
| Circle Logistics, 2018 carrier packet | $1 million per occurrence | $100,000 per occurrence, with Circle as a named insured | Workers' comp and employer's liability as state law requires |
| My Virtual Fleet load board | $1 million | $100,000 | Your own MC authority |
- Amazon Relay wants a working tuck-under liftgate on a 16 ft or 26 ft box truck, plus 180 days of interstate authority and a Satisfactory rating or no rating.
- Circle Logistics requires a cargo policy that can't carry exclusions or restrictions that would block a cargo claim.
- My Virtual Fleet lists cargo vans, Sprinters, straight trucks and box trucks on its board.
A box truck policy at the federal minimum keeps your authority active. It won't meet these programs' limits. For the full broker picture, see the requirements page and cargo insurance.
How to get quotes you can compare
- Quote the limits brokers ask for. Ask every agent for $1 million in liability and $100,000 in cargo. Add $1 million in general liability and workers' comp if you plan to run Amazon Relay.
- Price it before you buy the truck. Get the insurance number first.
- Describe the work the same way to every agent. Use the same truck, freight and radius on each request. Give the radius, freight and equipment you'll run, even when a smaller answer would lower the price.
- Read the deductibles and exclusions. Check both on every quote, line by line.
- Get the payment terms. Ask for the down payment, the monthly payment and the number of payments. The quote comparison guide has a sheet for all of it.
Keep your filing active
If your insurer cancels, FMCSA hears about it on a BMC-35, and the insurance filings page explains the 30-day clock that follows.
Your box truck needs live coverage through that notice period, so line up the renewal before the old policy ends and confirm the new filing posted.
Starting from scratch, the box truck startup guide covers the filings and fees, and box truck loads covers where the freight comes from.
See what the premium does to a box truck budget. In the startup cost estimator, pick the box truck and add your insurance quote and down payment. You'll see the year's budget and your cost per mile. Startup cost estimator
Frequently asked questions
How much is box truck insurance?
Four box truck owners on trucking forums gave a yearly or monthly figure, and on a yearly basis they run from $6,400 to $28,800. They didn't name their limits, so check any quote's limits before you compare its price.
What insurance does a box truck need for broker loads?
Plan for $1 million in liability and $100,000 in cargo, then add $1 million in general liability and workers' comp if you'll run Amazon Relay. The requirements page lists the brokers that ask for more or less.
Does a non-CDL box truck need $750,000 in liability?
Yes, once it's rated 10,001 lb GVWR or more and hauls interstate for-hire general freight. Of the 21 brokers that publish a liability minimum, 20 want $1 million or more.
What does Amazon Relay require for box trucks?
Amazon Relay takes 26 ft and 16 ft box trucks with a working tuck-under liftgate and wants 180 days of interstate authority. It asks for $1 million in auto liability, $100,000 in cargo, $1 million in general liability per occurrence and workers' comp where you operate.