Commercial Truck Insurance for Owner Operators with Authority.
Running your own MC number means you're responsible for your own compliance and coverage. We make the insurance side simple — from FMCSA filings to competitive rates on every coverage you need.
Coverages for Owner Operators with Authority
From FMCSA mandates to load-specific protection — here's what your operation needs to run legally and profitably.
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Primary Liability
FMCSA RequiredRequired by the FMCSA under 49 CFR Part 387 for all for-hire motor carriers. Covers third-party bodily injury and property damage. Includes the MCS-90 endorsement and BMC-91 filed directly with the FMCSA on your behalf. Available at $750K, $1M, and higher limits.
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Physical Damage
RecommendedYour truck is your most valuable business asset. Covers collision, theft, fire, and vandalism on owned or financed equipment — including stated value and actual cash value.
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Motor Truck Cargo
Broker RequiredCovers the freight you haul against damage, theft, or loss in transit. Most brokers require proof before dispatching loads. Available for dry van, flatbed, reefer, tanker, specialty freight, and more.
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General Liability
RecommendedCovers your business operations beyond the cab such as loading and unloading, premises liability, and non-trucking activities. Many shippers and facilities require it before brokering loads.
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Trailer Interchange
SpecializedPulling trailers from a pool under a written trailer interchange agreement? That agreement makes you responsible for damage while the trailer is in your care. Covers non-owned trailers damaged by collision, fire, theft, or vandalism while in your custody — so a dropped trailer doesn't come out of your pocket.
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Reefer Breakdown
SpecializedIf your refrigeration unit fails mid-haul because of mechanical breakdown, the load and your broker relationship are both on the line. Covers repair or replacement of the refrigeration unit and can cover spoiled cargo when temperature control fails. Essential protection for any operator hauling temperature-sensitive freight.
FMCSA Minimum Insurance Requirements
Federal minimums by operation type — but the real-world standard is often higher.
Minimum primary liability required by the FMCSA for commercial vehicles under 10,000 lbs. GVW operating as for-hire carriers.
Minimum primary liability required by the FMCSA for most dry van, flatbed, and reefer haulers.
Required by the FMCSA to haul automobiles and certain hazardous materials.
Most Brokers Require $1M
Many freight brokers and large shippers require $1 million in primary liability regardless of FMCSA minimums. Even if your operation qualifies for $750K, plan for $1M from the start — it's the real-world standard for getting loads.
Agents Handle the FMCSA Filings
Your agent issues the MCS-90 endorsement and BMC-91 form directly with the FMCSA — no paperwork on your end. Filings are completed before your authority activates and updated at every renewal.
What Owner Operator Authority Insurance Costs in 2026
Most authority holders pay $12,000–$20,000 per year for their full coverage stack. Here's what each piece runs.
Underwriters charge more when there's no operating history to price against. After 12 clean months on your MC number, more markets will quote you. After 24, rates typically drop into the standard range.
What Drives Your Number
- Garaging state
- Driving record
- Years under your MC number
- Commodity and operating radius
Two trucks running the same lane in different states can pay thousands apart on identical records.
Last reviewed May 2026.
Questions About Own Authority Insurance
Answers to the most common questions we hear from owner operators setting up or renewing their authority coverage.
In most cases, specialty truck insurance agents can bind coverage same day or next business day. Once your policy is bound, a certificate is issued, your insurance carrier files the required MCS-90 endorsement with the FMCSA electronically, and your authority can be activated. Time-sensitive? Request a quote immediately for an agent to begin quoting you.
For most for-hire freight, the FMCSA requires a minimum of $750,000 in primary liability. Auto haulers and hazmat carriers face higher minimums — $1 million to $5 million depending on the material transported. Carriers moving household goods also require $750,000. Keep in mind: many freight brokers and large shippers require $1 million in liability regardless of the FMCSA minimums.
Yes. Your insurance company files a BMC-91 with the FMCSA and the MCS-90 endorsement — an endorsement to your policy — on your behalf. This filing proves you maintain the required financial responsibility to operate interstate. You do not file it yourself; your insurer handles it electronically. Your agent will make sure this is in place before your authority is activated and immediately upon each policy renewal.
The BMC-91 is the form your insurance carrier files with the FMCSA to certify that you maintain the required primary liability coverage to operate. Without it, the FMCSA will not activate your operating authority. Your insurance carrier files this automatically when your policy is bound — you'll receive confirmation that it has been filed. If your policy cancels, the carrier files a BMC-91X (cancellation notice) and your authority is made inactive.
Yes. Many markets offer motor truck cargo coverage to new authorities. Premiums may be higher than for experienced operators, and some commodities — fresh produce, electronics, jewelry — have stricter underwriting requirements. Most standard freight types are accessible to new operators. We'll place you with a truck insurance agent to help you find cargo coverage that fits your lanes and the freight you plan to haul.
Putting together your first-year budget? Read the full line-by-line breakdown of new authority trucking insurance costs — premium ranges for dry van, flatbed, and reefer operators.