Class Insurance Agency, an affiliated office of AIC Insurance
Truck insurance for Delaware haulers
Delaware is small, but its trucks run the I-95 corridor, haul poultry and chemicals, and pay some of the East Coast’s highest tolls. We quote Delaware owner-operators, new authorities and fleets by phone, email and online from our office in Vancouver, Washington, in English, Russian, Ukrainian or Romanian.
Call 360-450-2211 or start a quote online.
Authority, safety rules and insurance
- No state authority for freight. Delaware’s public carrier certificates cover taxis, limousines and buses, not property carriers.[1]
- Safety rules. Delaware’s motor carrier safety law exempts intrastate vehicles of 26,000 lb or less unless they carry placarded hazmat or seat 16 or more.[2]
- USDOT number. FMCSA lists Delaware among the states that require USDOT numbers for intrastate carriers[3]; confirm the weight threshold with DMV Motor Carrier Services.
- Insurance. Delaware’s safety law adopts the federal insurance rules, so federal minimums apply to covered vehicles: $750,000 for general freight, more for hazmat.[2][4] Most brokers ask for $1,000,000 in auto liability.
Delaware truck tolls
Rates for a 5-axle truck from August 15, 2025:[5]
| Toll point | 5-axle truck |
|---|---|
| I-95 Newark | $10 |
| SR 1, weekday | $5.50 with Delaware E-ZPass; $6.50 cash or other E-ZPass |
| SR 1, weekend | $8 / $10 |
| US 301 (from the Maryland line) | $12 E-ZPass; $14.40 by video |
| Delaware Memorial Bridge | $35 E-ZPass; $40 cash[6] |
DelDOT’s permit page also notes that the Delaware River and Bay Authority doesn’t allow overweight permitted moves across the Delaware Memorial Bridge.[7]
Permits, idling and equipment rules
- IRP, IFTA, UCR and heavy vehicle use tax go through DMV Motor Carrier Services in Dover, by appointment (302-744-2702).[8]
- Oversize and overweight permits come from DelDOT Hauling Permits.[7] Delaware has no weight-distance tax.
- Idling is limited to 3 minutes for vehicles over 8,500 lb, with sleeper-berth and cold-weather exceptions. Fines run $50 to $500.[9]
- Backup devices. Delaware-registered trucks of 26,001 lb or more registered since 2014 need a backup alarm, camera or object sensor.[10]
Delaware freight
In 2020, 68.7 million tons of freight worth $101.3 billion moved in Delaware. Trucks carry more than 68% of it, and 90% of the tonnage moves to or from neighboring Mid-Atlantic states, mostly on I-95, I-495, I-295, US 13, US 113, US 301 and SR 1.[11] The state-owned Port of Wilmington has been operated by Enstructure since July 31, 2023.[12] Broiler chickens made up 81.3% of Delaware’s farm cash receipts in 2019.[13]
What to have ready for a Delaware quote
- USDOT and MC numbers, if you have them
- Where the trucks are garaged, your usual routes and your radius
- What you haul: poultry, chemicals, port freight or general freight
- Driver names, license numbers and years of experience
- Year, make, VIN and value of each truck and trailer
- Current policy and loss runs, if you have been insured before
Frequently asked questions
Does Delaware require intrastate trucking authority?
Not for freight. Delaware’s public carrier certificates cover taxis, limousines and buses.[1]
What is the I-95 toll for a truck in Delaware?
$10 for a 5-axle truck at the Newark toll plaza, from August 15, 2025.[5]
How much is the Delaware Memorial Bridge toll for trucks?
$35 with E-ZPass or $40 cash for a 5-axle truck.[6]
How long can a truck idle in Delaware?
3 minutes for vehicles over 8,500 lb, with sleeper-berth and cold-weather exceptions.[9]
What insurance limits apply to Delaware trucks?
Delaware adopts the federal insurance rules, so covered vehicles need the federal minimum: $750,000 for general freight and more for hazmat.[2][4]
Get a Delaware truck insurance quote
Call 360-450-2211 or start your quote. We’re open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific (10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern).
Related coverage and nearby states
Sources
- [1] 2 Del. C. chapter 18: public carriers
- [2] 21 Del. C. chapter 47: motor carrier safety
- [3] FMCSA: Do I need a USDOT number?
- [4] 49 CFR 387.9: federal minimums
- [5] DelDOT: Toll and fee schedule (from Aug. 15, 2025)
- [6] Delaware Memorial Bridge: Toll rates
- [7] DelDOT: Oversize and overweight hauling permits
- [8] Delaware DMV: Motor Carrier Services
- [9] Delaware Regulation 1145: excessive idling
- [10] Delaware DMV: Backup device requirement for trucks
- [11] DelDOT: 2022 State Freight Plan executive summary
- [12] Port of Wilmington: Operations transfer to Enstructure
- [13] USDA NASS: Delaware agricultural profile
General information only, checked September 2026. Rules change; confirm with the agency that issues your permits. Coverage availability, terms and filings depend on underwriting and the policy issued; a quote request does not bind insurance.