Insurance
Semi truck insurance: cost and the limits brokers want
Updated
Owners on trucking forums who named a semi or a tractor reported $1,200 a month for one semi truck and $1,000 a month for liability alone eight months into their authority. The federal floor is $750,000 in liability. Brokers ask for more: 20 of the 21 brokers that publish a liability minimum on their own pages want $1 million or more.
At a glance
- Reports naming a semi or tractor
- 6, shown one by one
- One semi truck
- $1,200 a month
- Federal liability minimum
- $750,000 at 10,001 lb GVWR or more
- Listed hazardous materials
- $1 million or $5 million, by material and how it's carried
- 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
What semi owners report paying
Six owners on trucking forums named a semi or a tractor with their premium. Each line below is one owner's report.
| Owner report | Amount | Coverage they stated |
|---|---|---|
| One semi truck | $1,200 a month | |
| Semi | $12,000 a year | |
| Peterbilt 379, about 8 months into authority | $1,000 a month | Liability only, no cargo |
| Big rig, owner 10 years in | $5,000 a year per truck | |
| A water truck and a semi | About $1,100 a month | |
| Tractor on a first authority, 8 years' driving experience | $50,000 | Tractor only. Period not stated |
Treat these as single reports, since the forum figures have no semi group or semi range. Of the 60 reports with a yearly or monthly figure, 40 have no equipment group, including reports that name a semi or a tractor but not the trailer.
The Peterbilt owner's $1,000 a month left out cargo, and 21 of the 22 brokers that publish a cargo minimum ask for $100,000 or more. A quote missing cargo can look low and still keep you off most broker freight. The cost page has the flatbed and tanker reports and the down payments owners posted.
See which brokers your semi's coverage satisfies. From your DOT or MC number, the load-ready check shows which brokers and load programs will set you up today, which open up later and what general liability, workers' comp or trailer interchange would unlock. Load-ready check
The federal minimum for a semi
FMCSA's minimum for interstate for-hire general freight is $750,000 in public liability at 10,001 lb GVWR or more. It's a liability floor and sets no cargo limit. Listed hazardous materials raise it to $1 million or $5 million, depending on the material and how it's carried, such as in bulk.
Before a semi can run under your own authority, your insurer has to file proof of your liability coverage with FMCSA, and that filing has to be in effect. Your brokers set the cargo number, since general freight cargo has no federal filing. The requirements page has the full federal chart.
What brokers ask semi carriers for
Expect most brokers to ask a semi carrier for at least $1 million in liability and $100,000 in cargo. Your trailer and your freight add more lines. These come from brokers' own pages, as of October 2026.
| If you run | Brokers' own pages ask for |
|---|---|
| Any freight | General liability at many brokers. Uber Freight, Arrive Logistics and Flock Freight ask $1 million per occurrence, and Flock adds a $2 million annual aggregate. Bison Transport and Spot ask $2 million |
| Reefer | Cargo that covers reefer breakdown. Uber Freight's cargo can't exclude reefer breakdown or running out of reefer fuel. Werner wants breakdown included in your cargo insurance where it applies. Flock Freight wants the breakdown deductible on its own line of the COI |
| Power only or other people's trailers | Trailer interchange. Bison asks $50,000 for power only and $75,000 for reefer trailers. Bridgeway asks $50,000 or the trailer's market value, whichever is higher. J.B. Hunt may require it on trailers you don't own |
| Amazon Relay | $1 million auto per occurrence including $50,000 for trailer replacement, $100,000 cargo, $1 million general liability ($2 million aggregate) and workers' comp where you operate, after 180 days of authority |
Amazon Relay lists day and sleeper cabs, with 48 ft trailers and 53 ft dry vans and reefers. For the coverage behind each line, see reefer breakdown, trailer interchange and cargo insurance. Power only work has its own program guide.
Leased on or under your own authority
If you lease on, you run under the motor carrier's authority and its liability filing, and the coverage you shop for changes. See bobtail insurance and non-trucking liability, and weigh the two paths on lease on or own authority.
How to get quotes you can compare
- Quote the limits you'll need. Start at $1 million in liability and $100,000 in cargo. Add general liability, reefer breakdown or trailer interchange if your freight calls for them.
- Describe the rig and the work the same way to every agent. List the trailer, freight and radius you'll run, with nothing trimmed to shrink the price.
- Read the deductibles and exclusions. A reefer load needs a cargo policy with no reefer breakdown exclusion at Uber Freight.
- Get the payment plan. Each quote should spell out the down payment, the monthly payment and how many payments there are.
Put the quotes side by side with the quote comparison guide.
Keep your filing active
A cancelled policy reaches FMCSA as a BMC-35 notice, and the insurance filings page explains when that cancellation takes effect.
Keep the semi insured the whole time, because the notice period isn't coverage. Renew early and make sure the new filing shows up. The one-truck startup guide covers the rest of the setup.
Build the semi's first-year budget around your quote. In the startup cost estimator, pick a semi with a dry van, reefer or flatbed, then enter your insurance quote and down payment to see the year's costs and your cost per mile. Startup cost estimator
Frequently asked questions
How much is semi truck insurance?
Owners on trucking forums who named a semi or a tractor reported figures such as $1,200 a month for one semi truck and $12,000 a year. These are single reports, and the forum figures have no semi range.
What insurance do brokers require for a semi truck?
At least $1 million in liability and $100,000 in cargo at most brokers. Many also ask for general liability, and reefer or power only work adds more lines.
What is the federal insurance minimum for a semi truck?
FMCSA's minimum for interstate for-hire general freight is $750,000 in public liability at 10,001 lb GVWR or more. Listed hazardous materials raise it to $1 million or $5 million.
What does Amazon Relay require for semi trucks?
Amazon Relay asks for $1 million in auto liability per occurrence, including $50,000 for trailer replacement, plus $100,000 in cargo and $1 million in general liability ($2 million aggregate). It also asks for workers' comp where you operate and 180 days of authority.