FMCSA Insurance Requirements for a New Authority

Most new for-hire trucking companies need $750,000 in liability coverage on file with FMCSA before their authority goes active. Cargo insurance is only federally required for household goods.

FMCSA insurance requirements for a new for-hire property carrier come down to one thing: liability coverage (bodily injury and property damage) on file with FMCSA before your authority is granted. The federal minimum is $750,000 for non-hazardous freight in a vehicle rated 10,001 pounds or more, and $300,000 under that. FMCSA doesn't require cargo insurance unless you haul household goods.

Those are floors, set in 49 CFR Part 387. What you buy may end up higher, because brokers and shippers set their own rules.

How much liability insurance does FMCSA require?

It depends on your vehicle weight and what you haul. This is FMCSA's own filing chart for motor carriers of property, last updated March 26, 2026:

A semi, or a box truck rated at 10,001 pounds or more, hauling general freight sits in the $750,000 row. GVWR is the weight rating on the truck's door sticker, which is higher than what it weighs empty. The exact hazmat lists are in 49 CFR 387.303T(b), so check there before you haul anything placarded.

FMCSA's chart also lists an MCS-90 endorsement on the policy for all for-hire interstate carriers. Your insurer attaches that endorsement to the policy, so there's nothing extra for you to file.

Do I need $750,000 or $1,000,000 in liability?

FMCSA requires $750,000 for most trucks. Many brokers and shippers ask for more, often $1,000,000, as a condition of giving you loads. That's a rule in their own contracts, and FMCSA doesn't enforce it.

The public record shows most new carriers start at the federal floor. Of the 8,596 carriers that applied for authority between July 1 and August 31, 2026, and had a liability filing on record by October 13, the first filing showed $750,000 for 76.5%, $1,000,000 for 18.3% and $300,000 for 4.9%. Before you pick limits, check what brokers require from a new MC.

Does FMCSA require cargo insurance?

Only for household goods. The chart shows a $0 federal cargo requirement for general freight. For household goods carriers, 49 CFR 387.303T(c) sets cargo coverage at $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 for any one loss at one time and place, filed on a BMC-34 (or a BMC-83 surety bond).

Skipping it is still a risk. Brokers commonly ask for cargo coverage before they'll give you a load, so ask your agent to quote it with the liability.

Do I need insurance to get an MC number?

No, but you need it on file before the MC goes active. You get your docket (MC) number when you apply. FMCSA says it "will not grant operating authority registration until the registrant has in effect the minimum levels of financial responsibility on file."

FMCSA tells new applicants to contact their insurer about the filing right after they get their docket number. Your insurer files the proof electronically, as a BMC-91 or BMC-91X. You can't file it yourself.

How long do I have to get insurance on file?

About 20 days before the warning comes. FMCSA's filing page says that if you don't comply within 20 days of your application's publication in the FMCSA Register, FMCSA serves a decision saying the application will be dismissed unless you comply within 60 days.

Most new carriers miss that first mark. We looked at the 17,631 carriers that applied for authority between July 1 and August 31, 2026, counting from the application date (FMCSA's clock starts at Register publication, which can be a bit later):

• 25.7% had a liability filing on record within 20 days
• 34.6% within 30 days
• 46.0% within 60 days
• 48.8% had one at any point by October 13

For the ones that did file, the median was 19 days after applying. If the filing is on record and your MC still hasn't moved, here's what to check when insurance is filed but the MC is still pending.

What happens if my insurance lapses after my MC is active?

Your authority can go inactive. FMCSA says that once authority is granted, carriers have to keep proof of insurance on file to avoid revocation. Under 49 CFR 387.313T(d), an insurer can't cancel the filing until 30 days after FMCSA receives its cancellation notice, which is Form BMC-35.

So a missed premium starts a 30-day clock. It happens a lot. In September 2026, the public FMCSA record showed 2,104 liability cancellations, on 2,090 carriers of all ages, with an effective date that month. By October 13, our data hadn't matched a replacement filing for 1,598 of those carriers.

If you get a cancellation notice, call your agent the same day. If a new policy is filed before the old one's cancellation takes effect, your authority typically stays active.

Where do I get a policy that meets the requirement?

From an agency that writes new authorities. You can get quotes from up to three agencies that write new authorities with one form. For what policies run, see how much truck insurance costs for a new authority.

First Load is a private company, not FMCSA and not an insurance agency.

Sources

• FMCSA: Insurance Filing Requirements (filing chart, grant only with insurance on file, 20-day and 60-day dismissal timeline, keeping filings on file after the grant; last updated March 26, 2026, checked October 13, 2026)
• eCFR: 49 CFR Part 387, Subpart C (387.301T filing required, 387.303T(b) liability minimums, 387.303T(c) household goods cargo, 387.313T(d) 30-day cancellation notice on Form BMC-35; checked October 13, 2026)
• First Load data: FMCSA public authority and insurance records (including FMCSA's insurance history of cancellations), stored nightly by First Load since July 2026. Counts as of October 13, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum insurance for a new authority?

For general freight in a truck rated 10,001 pounds or more, FMCSA's minimum is $750,000 in liability coverage. Under 10,001 pounds it's $300,000. Hazmat runs $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 depending on the material.

Does FMCSA require cargo insurance for a new carrier?

Only if you haul household goods. For those carriers the federal minimum is $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence. Brokers commonly ask for cargo coverage anyway, so have your agent quote it.

Is $750,000 liability insurance enough for trucking?

It meets the federal rule for most trucks hauling general freight. Many brokers and shippers want $1,000,000 before they'll give you loads, so check their requirements before you settle on a limit.

Who files proof of insurance with FMCSA?

Your insurance company files it electronically, usually as a BMC-91 or BMC-91X. You can't file it yourself. Ask your agent to confirm the filing went in under the exact name and USDOT number on your application.

Can I get my MC number without insurance?

You get the MC number when you apply, but FMCSA won't grant the authority until your liability filing is on record. If it isn't on file within 20 days of Register publication, FMCSA warns that the application will be dismissed unless you comply within 60 days.

Last verified 2026-10-13 · First Load editorial · First Load is a private company, not FMCSA. The public record can lag and other requirements or holds may not show in it.