Owner-operator insurance: what FMCSA requires and what it costs

The federal minimums

FMCSA's filing chart, which follows 49 CFR 387.9 and 387.303T. "FMCSA will not grant operating authority registration until the registrant has in effect the minimum levels of financial responsibility on file with FMCSA." (FMCSA, updated Mar 26, 2026)

Sources: FMCSA Insurance Filing Requirements chart; 49 CFR 387.9; the under-10,001 lbs row applies to a "Fleet including only vehicles under 10,001 pounds (4,536 kilograms) GVWR" (49 CFR 387.303T(b)(1)). If even one vehicle in the fleet is rated 10,001 lbs or more, the $750,000 row applies.

On cargo, FMCSA's FAQ: "Household goods carriers and freight forwarders of household goods are required to have cargo insurance." (FMCSA) Brokers and shippers can still require cargo coverage in their own contracts; the federal rule sets no cargo amount for general freight.

The filings, and who makes them

You buy the policy. The insurer tells FMCSA. "Carriers and other regulated entities should NOT submit insurance certificates directly to FMCSA. They should request that their insurance company submit the insurance filings online." (FMCSA)

• BMC-91. "Form BMC 91 certificates of insurance will be filed with the FMCSA for the full security limits" (49 CFR 387.313T(a)(3)). One insurer covers the whole minimum.
• BMC-91X. "Form BMC 91X certificate of insurance will be filed to represent full coverage or any level of aggregation" (49 CFR 387.313T(a)(3)). Used when more than one insurer stacks up to the minimum, and it can also show full coverage from one insurer.
• MCS-90. The endorsement on the policy itself. It isn't filed with FMCSA: "Proof of the required financial responsibility shall be maintained at the motor carrier's principal place of business." (49 CFR 387.7(d)). Keep a copy.
• BMC-34. Cargo liability, for household goods carriers only (FMCSA chart).
• BMC-35. The cancellation notice. Coverage on file "shall not be cancelled or withdrawn until 30 days after written notice has been submitted to the FMCSA" (49 CFR 387.313T(d)).

The insurer pays FMCSA for each filing: "There is a $10 fee for each individual filing made with FMCSA (except for cancellations)." (FMCSA). It has to be licensed in a state where you operate or where you're based, or be an eligible surplus lines insurer (49 CFR 387.315), so a policy from an unlicensed company can't be filed.

Deadlines for a new authority

The filing is due within 20 days of FMCSA publishing your application: "Financial responsibility is indicated by filing within 20 days from the date an application notice is published in the FMCSA Register" (49 CFR 365.109T(a)(5)). Miss it and "an FMCSA decision will be served notifying the entity that their application will be dismissed unless they comply with the requirements within 60 days." (FMCSA). The full sequence is on the MC number waiting period.

After that, the coverage has to stay on file: "Policies of insurance, surety bonds, and endorsements required under this section shall remain in effect continuously until terminated." (49 CFR 387.7(b)(1)). If it lapses: "If the registrant fails to maintain evidence of the required level of insurance coverage on file with FMCSA, its operating authority will be revoked or suspended involuntarily." (91 FR 23144). "It is the entity’s responsibility to monitor and maintain filings up to date and on file." (FMCSA) Getting authority back after a lapse: when authority goes inactive.

What a policy costs: published numbers

We didn't find a federal or state source that publishes owner-operator truck premiums. These are the two public figures we found, with who they cover. Neither is a quote for a new authority.

ATRI: "Liability and insurance cargo premiums rose 3.9%, costing carriers an average $0.11 per mile." "By region, insurance premiums cost the most in the Northeast ($0.12 per mile) and the least in the Midwest ($0.10)." (FleetOwner, Jul 22, 2026, summarizing ATRI's 2026 report; the full report is behind a sign-up form, so we read the summary). Progressive: "The national average monthly commercial truck insurance cost with Progressive Commercial ranged from $734 for specialty truckers to $926 for transport truckers." Its footnote: "2025 new policy premium per power unit for liability and physical damage coverage for policies with no driver violations." (Progressive Commercial, read Oct 25, 2026).

At 100,000 miles a year, ATRI's 10 to 12 cents works out to $10,000 to $12,000. Progressive's range works out to $8,808 to $11,112 over 12 months. Both are averages across many carriers. ATRI's come from carriers that answer its survey, and Progressive's exclude anyone with a driver violation.

What moves the premium

Progressive lists the factors it rates on: USDOT authority, coverage requirements, cargo, operating radius, truck type and age, driving history, and location (Progressive Commercial). Two of those are spelled out on the same page:

• Your own authority or leased on. "Leasing to a company is usually cheaper than working under your own authority," Progressive says. When you're leased on, the company you lease to will "typically cover primary liability while under dispatch".
• Radius. "Truckers with a large operating radius usually take on more risk due to longer drive times and more varied routes."

ATRI's regional split points the same way: the Northeast cost more per mile than the Midwest in 2025 (FleetOwner). A new MC has no claims history of its own, so get more than one quote, and ask each agent which of these factors drove the number.

Not insurance or legal advice. We don't sell insurance and get nothing from insurers. Not affiliated with FMCSA.