# Trucking Insurance Requirements: What Coverage You Need

Canonical: https://www.fastboc3filing.com/guides/trucking-insurance-requirements
Category: Industry Guides
Published: 2026-04-07
Updated: 2026-04-07
Read time: 8 min read

> Understand trucking insurance minimums by authority type. Covers liability, cargo, and BMC-91 requirements for carriers and brokers.

## TL;DR

> FMCSA minimums: $750K liability for general freight, $1M for HHG (plus $5K/vehicle cargo), and $1M–$5M for hazmat. Brokers carry a $75K BMC-84 surety bond instead of auto liability.

## Key takeaways

- BMC-91 is the FMCSA insurance certificate filed by your insurer — required for activation.
- Cargo coverage is mandatory only for HHG carriers, but most contracts demand $100K+.
- New-carrier premiums typically run $8K–14K/year; clean CSA scores reduce them later.
- Liability covers harm to others; cargo covers freight damage — different policies.
- Hazmat and HHG hauling significantly increase rates and underwriting scrutiny.

## Cited entities

- 49 CFR Part 387 [Legislation] (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-387)
- BMC-91 Filing [DefinedTerm]

## FAQ

### What are the minimum FMCSA insurance requirements for trucking?

For general freight: $750,000 primary liability (BMC-91). For household goods: $1,000,000 liability plus $5,000 per vehicle cargo (BMC-34). For hazmat carriers: $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 based on hazmat class. Freight brokers need a $75,000 BMC-84 surety bond, not auto liability.

### What is a BMC-91 filing?

A BMC-91 is an FMCSA-filed certificate of insurance confirming your motor carrier meets the federal minimum liability coverage. Your insurance company submits it electronically to the FMCSA; once accepted, it appears on SAFER. BOC-3 activation and BMC-91 activation both must be complete before authority goes live.

### How much does trucking insurance cost for a new carrier?

First-year owner-operators typically pay $8,000-14,000/year for combined liability + physical damage + cargo. Established carriers with clean CSA scores can get it down to $5,500-9,000. Hazmat, HHG, and high-risk cargo significantly bump premiums.

### What is cargo insurance vs liability insurance?

Liability pays for injury or damage to others (the BMC-91 minimum). Cargo insurance pays for damage to the freight you're hauling. Most contracts require cargo coverage even though FMCSA only mandates it for HHG carriers - brokers and shippers insist on $100,000+ cargo limits.

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