Class Insurance Agency, an affiliated office of AIC Insurance
Truck insurance for New Jersey haulers
New Jersey requires $1.5 million in liability for CDL-class trucks, twice the federal $750,000 minimum, and its trucks work the Port of New York and New Jersey, the Turnpike warehouse corridor and the Hudson River crossings. We quote New Jersey 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.
New Jersey’s truck liability requirements
| Vehicle | Required liability |
|---|---|
| CDL-class trucks | $1,500,000 |
| Commercially registered trucks, 10,001–26,000 lb GVWR | $300,000 |
| Other vehicles, policies from January 1, 2026 | $35,000/$70,000 bodily injury, $25,000 property damage |
The truck limits were added by a 2024 law[1][2], and the standard minimums rose on January 1, 2026.[3] The MVC also requires a certificate showing $1.5 million of auto liability for any truck with apportioned (IRP) plates.[4] Policies on vehicles other than private passenger cars must pay personal injury protection to pedestrians they injure.[5] If your current policy is written at $750,000 or $1,000,000, check it against the New Jersey requirement before you register.
USDOT numbers, drivers and movers
- USDOT number. Intrastate trucks of 10,001 lb or more may not operate without an active USDOT number.[6][7]
- Intrastate hours. 12 hours of driving within 16 hours after 10 hours off, and 70 hours in 7 days or 80 in 8.[6]
- Drivers. CDLs are issued from age 18, but drivers under 21 may drive only inside New Jersey, and entry-level driver training is required before the skills test.[8]
- Non-domiciled CDLs. FMCSA lists New Jersey among states found preliminarily out of compliance, and under the federal rule effective March 16, 2026 these CDLs are limited to H-2A, H-2B and E-2 visa holders.[9]
- Household goods movers need a public mover license from the Division of Consumer Affairs, $400 a year, and file insurance on Forms E, H and K.[10]
Turnpike, Parkway and crossing tolls
| Toll (5-axle truck, 2026) | Rate |
|---|---|
| NJ Turnpike, Interchange 1 to 18W, cash | $78.55 |
| NJ Turnpike, Interchange 1 to 18W, E-ZPass | $71.66 |
| NJ Turnpike, Interchange 1 to 18W, NJ E-ZPass off-peak | $68.08 |
| Port Authority bridges and tunnels, E-ZPass peak / off-peak / overnight | $113.35 / $108.35 / $100.85 |
| Port Authority, Tolls by Mail | $128.35 |
Turnpike peak hours are weekdays 7 to 9 a.m. and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., plus weekends.[11] Port Authority crossings are cashless and charge only entering New York, with rates effective January 4, 2026.[12] On the Delaware River, the toll bridges including I-78 and I-80 charge 5-axle trucks $32.50 with E-ZPass[13], and the Delaware Memorial Bridge $35.[14] The Atlantic City Expressway went all-electronic on January 4, 2026.[15]
Weights, routes and idling
- Weights. 80,000 lb gross, 22,400 lb single axle and 34,000 lb tandem.[17]
- Size and routes. 102-inch-wide trucks and 53-foot trailers are allowed on the designated network; elsewhere the limits are 96 inches and 48 feet, with a 13 feet 6 inches height limit.[17] Large trucks must stay on the national network except for food, fuel, rest, repairs or the shortest route to a terminal, whether interstate or intrastate.[18] Oversize and overweight permits come from NJDOT.[17]
- Idling. Diesel trucks may idle only 3 minutes. Fines run $250, $500 and $1,000, and the sleeper-berth exemption is narrow.[19]
Fuel tax and registration
Diesel is taxed at 56.1 cents a gallon from January 1, 2026.[20] IRP plates come from MVC Motor Carrier Services in Trenton (609-633-9400)[4], which also runs IFTA.[21]
New Jersey freight
The Port of New York and New Jersey handled 5.96 million loaded containers (TEUs) in 2025, the second-busiest U.S. port.[22] Trucks carry 68% of New Jersey’s domestic freight by weight and 73% by value, and the Turnpike Exit 8A area in Cranbury, Jamesburg, Monroe and South Brunswick is one of the state’s main warehouse clusters.[23]
What to have ready for a New Jersey quote
- USDOT and MC numbers, and your plate type (IRP or New Jersey commercial)
- Where the trucks are garaged, your usual routes and your radius
- What you haul: port containers, warehouse freight, construction materials or general freight
- Your current liability limit, so we can match the $1.5 million requirement
- 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
What liability limit does a New Jersey truck need?
$1.5 million for CDL-class trucks and $300,000 for commercially registered trucks of 10,001 to 26,000 lb. IRP-plated trucks need a $1.5 million certificate.[2][4]
Do I need a USDOT number if I never leave New Jersey?
Yes, for trucks of 10,001 lb or more.[6]
Can my tractor-trailer use the Garden State Parkway?
Not north of Interchange 105, where commercial vehicles over 10,000 lb are banned.[16]
What does a 5-axle truck pay to cross into New York?
At Port Authority bridges and tunnels, $100.85 to $113.35 with E-ZPass depending on the time, or $128.35 by mail, from January 4, 2026.[12]
How long can a diesel truck idle in New Jersey?
3 minutes, with fines starting at $250.[19]
Get a New Jersey 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] N.J. P.L.2023, c.276: commercial vehicle liability minimums
- [2] N.J.S.A. 39:6B-1: required liability coverage (Justia copy)
- [3] NJ DOBI Bulletin 25-06: new auto minimums from 2026
- [4] NJ MVC: International Registration Plan
- [5] N.J.S.A. 17:28-1.3: PIP for pedestrians (Justia copy)
- [6] N.J.A.C. 13:60-2.1: USDOT numbers and intrastate hours (LII copy)
- [7] FMCSA: Do I need a USDOT number?
- [8] NJ MVC: Getting a CDL
- [9] FMCSA: Non-domiciled CDL review
- [10] NJ Division of Consumer Affairs: Public movers and warehousemen rules
- [11] NJ Turnpike Authority: 2026 Turnpike tolls, Class 5 (5-axle trucks)
- [12] Port Authority of NY & NJ: Truckers' guide to tolls (Jan. 2026)
- [13] Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission: Current tolls
- [14] Delaware Memorial Bridge: Toll rates
- [15] South Jersey Transportation Authority: All-electronic tolling
- [16] N.J.A.C. 19:9-1.9: truck restrictions on the Turnpike and Parkway (LII copy)
- [17] NJDOT: Commercial vehicle guidebook (Jan. 2024)
- [18] NJDOT: Truck routing (N.J.A.C. 16:32)
- [19] N.J.A.C. 7:27-14.3: diesel idling (LII copy)
- [20] NJ Treasury: Motor fuel tax rates from Jan. 1, 2026
- [21] NJ MVC: IFTA
- [22] Port Authority of NY & NJ: 2025 port volumes
- [23] NJDOT: Statewide Freight Plan (2023)
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.