Insurance
How to compare trucking insurance quotes line by line
Updated
Trucking insurance quotes compare line by line once they carry the same limits: $1 million in auto liability and $100,000 in cargo, the amounts most brokers publish. After the limits, the lines that decide whether a broker accepts the policy are cargo exclusions, deductibles, the insurer's rating and who files with FMCSA.
At a glance
- Limits to quote
- $1 million liability and $100,000 cargo
- Brokers asking both
- 18 of the 20 that publish both amounts on their own pages
- Federal liability minimum
- $750,000 for trucks of 10,001 lb or more
- Owner-reported down payments
- $2,000 to $6,000 (7 reports)
- Broker terms checked
- October 2026
Line your quotes up side by side. The cost estimator holds the comparison sheet below and shows owner reports for your equipment next to each quote. Cost estimator
Start every quote at the same limits
FMCSA's floor for general freight is $750,000 in liability for trucks of 10,001 pounds or more. Brokers ask for more: of the 20 brokers that publish both a liability and a cargo minimum on their own pages, 18 ask for at least $1 million and $100,000.
Quote that baseline even if your agent offers the federal minimum first.
Give every agent the same facts: the same truck, the same freight and the same lanes. Two quotes priced on different descriptions don't tell you which policy costs less for the work you'll do. If you'll haul reefer, pull power only or run Amazon Relay, put those lines on every request too.
The comparison sheet
Ask each agent to fill in every line in writing:
| Line | What to ask for | Why brokers care |
|---|---|---|
| Auto liability | $1 million per occurrence | 20 of the 21 brokers that publish a liability minimum on their own pages ask for $1 million or more |
| Cargo limit | $100,000, and how it applies | BNSF Logistics counts it per shipment, Werner per trailer, MegaCorp per truckload, ATS and Arrive per occurrence |
| Cargo exclusions | The full exclusion list | Spot and Bridgeway bar exclusions for unattended or unattached vehicles, and Bridgeway also bars theft exclusions. Uber Freight bars reefer breakdown exclusions |
| Reefer breakdown | Included, with its deductible shown | TQL wants it on your certificate for reefer loads. Flock Freight wants the breakdown deductible listed on its own line |
| Deductibles | The dollar amount for cargo and auto | Cornerstone caps them at $5,000. Spot and Logistics Plus cap them at $10,000 |
| Insurer rating | The A.M. Best rating of the company on the policy | Loadsmart and Logistics Plus want A- or better. Averitt wants A or better. Priority-1 accepts B+ VII or better |
| FMCSA filing | Who files your BMC-91 or BMC-91X and on what date | Your authority stays pending until the filing is in effect |
| Payments | Down payment, monthly amount and number of payments | Seven owners reported $2,000 to $6,000 down |
| Extras your freight needs | General liability, workers' comp, trailer interchange | Amazon Relay asks $1 million in general liability per occurrence, $2 million total, plus workers' comp |
Brokers check what you send them. Loadsmart wants your certificate of insurance (COI) before the first shipment, and TQL verifies insurance directly with your agent. A policy that fails one of these checks can cost you the load.
What owners report at the same limits
These are single reports from trucking forums, each one owner's figure:
- About $1,700 a month in California in 2022, at $1 million in liability and $100,000 in cargo, with physical damage.
- Close to $1,800 a month at $1 million and $100,000.
- A $1,850 a month quote on a new MC and DOT at $1 million and $100,000.
Two Florida hotshot owners show how far apart similar policies can land. Both reported $1 million in liability:
- One paid about $1,200 a month and had $1 million in general liability and $100,000 in cargo added.
- At $2,700 a month, the second owner carried $150,000 in cargo.
The cost page has the full range by equipment.
Check the lowest quote's coverage
Some of the smallest figures owners posted left out coverage brokers ask for:
- One owner paid $1,000 a month for liability only, with no cargo.
- A North Dakota owner paid $4,244 a year without cargo.
Both policies fall short of the $100,000 cargo minimum that 21 of the 22 brokers publishing one on their own pages ask for. Before you pick the lowest number, check three things on it:
- Cargo is on the policy at $100,000, with no exclusion your brokers bar.
- The limits match what the requirements page shows for the brokers you want.
- The agent has told you who files your BMC-91 or BMC-91X and when.
After you bind
Get the filing date in writing and check that it posted to your FMCSA record. Your authority won't go active without it. Keep the renewal date where you'll see it.
When a policy is cancelled, the insurer files a BMC-35. If you switch insurers, get the new filing in before the old policy's cancellation takes effect, which is ordinarily 30 days after FMCSA receives the BMC-35. The insurance filings page explains each form.
Confirm the new policy reached FMCSA. After you bind, the status check shows which insurance filing FMCSA has on record for you and flags any cancellation. Check your status
Frequently asked questions
What limits should I ask for on a trucking insurance quote?
Ask for $1 million in auto liability and $100,000 in cargo. Of the 20 brokers that publish both minimums on their own pages, 18 ask for at least those amounts.
What should I compare besides the price?
Compare the cargo exclusions, the deductibles and the insurer's rating. Then ask who files your BMC-91 or BMC-91X and when, plus the down payment and the number of payments.
What insurer rating do brokers want?
Loadsmart and Logistics Plus want A- or better, and Averitt wants A or better. Priority-1 accepts B+ VII or better.
How much down payment do owners report?
Seven owners on trucking forums reported down payments of $2,000 to $6,000.