Class Insurance Agency, an affiliated office of AIC Insurance
Every state’s truck insurance rules on one page
Federal rules set the insurance for trucks hauling for hire across state lines. Trucks that stay inside one state answer to that state, and the rules vary a lot: some states require their own authority and Form E filing, some set limits below the federal $750,000, and New Jersey requires $1.5 million. This table sums up all 48 contiguous states. Each state name links to a full page with the details, exceptions and official sources.
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Start with the federal minimums
For-hire carriers hauling property across state lines, and hazmat carriers in any commerce, must carry the federal minimums[1]:
| What you haul (trucks of 10,001 lb or more) | Federal minimum |
|---|---|
| General freight, for hire | $750,000 |
| Oil and most hazmat | $1,000,000 |
| Bulk hazardous substances, explosives, poison gas, certain radioactive loads | $5,000,000 |
These amounts haven’t changed since 1985.[2] Most brokers and shippers ask for $1,000,000 of auto liability no matter where you run, so the state minimum is rarely the limit you actually buy. See commercial auto liability for how filings and the MCS-90 work.
State-by-state requirements for trucks that stay in one state
“In-state” means hauling for hire between two points in the same state. Limits shown are for a heavy truck hauling general freight; hazmat, household goods and passenger carriers have their own rules. FMCSA keeps the official list of states that require USDOT numbers for in-state carriers.[3]
| State | State authority for in-state for-hire freight | Minimum liability, in-state for-hire truck | State insurance filing | USDOT number for in-state trucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | See state page | See state page | See state page | See state page |
| Arizona | See state page | See state page | See state page | See state page |
| Arkansas | ARDOT intrastate authority ($25 + $5/vehicle) | $50,000/$100,000/$30,000 + $5,000 cargo | Certificate of insurance or ACORD | No |
| California | CA number + DMV Motor Carrier Permit | $750,000 (10,001 lb+); $300,000 under | MC 65 M with the DMV | Yes |
| Colorado | See state page | See state page | See state page | See state page |
| Connecticut | None for freight (movers only) | $750,000 (in-state trucks 18,001 lb+) | Proof filed with DMV every year | Yes, 18,001 lb+ |
| Delaware | None for freight | Federal amounts ($750,000) for covered vehicles | None found | Yes (confirm threshold) |
| Florida | USDOT number; movers register with FDACS | $50,000–$300,000 by truck weight | None found | Yes, with exceptions |
| Georgia | GIMC registration with DPS ($5/vehicle) | Set by DPS rule | Form E (for-hire) | Yes (USDOT-GA) |
| Idaho | ITD haul-for-hire registration | $750,000 (farm, forest, mine haulers exempt) | Form E | Yes |
| Illinois | ICC Public Carrier Certificate ($50) | $750,000 (10,000 lb+); $300,000 under | Form E + Form H | No (hazmat permit carriers only) |
| Indiana | DOR acknowledgment (Form IOA-1) | $750,000; $300,000 at 10,000 lb or less | Form E | Yes, 10,001 lb+ |
| Iowa | Iowa DOT motor carrier permit ($150) | $750,000; $300,000 under 10,000 lb | Form E | Yes (USDOT-IA) |
| Kansas | KCC certificate of public service | $100,000/$300,000/$50,000 (federal rules may apply) | Form E (no ACORD) | Yes, with exceptions |
| Kentucky | Kentucky certificate ($25) | $100,000/$600,000/$50,000 (over 18,000 lb) | Form E or ACORD | Yes, 10,001 lb+ |
| Louisiana | None for freight (PSC: movers, passengers, waste) | Federal insurance rules adopted (confirm) | None for freight | Confirm with State Police |
| Maine | None found for freight | $50,000/$100,000/$25,000 | None found | Yes, over 26,000 lb |
| Maryland | None for freight | $750,000 (for-hire over 26,000 lb) | None found | Yes |
| Massachusetts | None for freight (movers: DPU) | Federal amounts adopted (confirm with RMV) | Confirm with RMV | Yes, 10,001 lb+ |
| Michigan | State Police CVED Authority | $750,000 (federal rules adopted) | Form E | Yes |
| Minnesota | MnDOT Certificate of Registration (free) | $100,000/$300,000/$50,000 | Form E | Yes, over 10,000 lb |
| Mississippi | MDOT general freight authority | $750,000 + $5,000/$10,000 cargo | Certificate of insurance with MDOT | No |
| Missouri | See state page | See state page | See state page | See state page |
| Montana | None for freight (PSC: passengers, movers, garbage) | $25,000/$50,000/$20,000 | None for freight | Yes (USDOT-MT) |
| Nebraska | None for freight (PSC: passengers, movers) | $750,000 (federal rules adopted, over 10,000 lb) | None found | See state page |
| Nevada | See state page | See state page | See state page | See state page |
| New Hampshire | None for freight (movers: Dept. of Safety) | $750,000 (federal insurance rules apply) | None found | Interstate only |
| New Jersey | Movers: public mover license | $1,500,000 (CDL-class trucks); $300,000 (10,001–26,000 lb) | $1.5M certificate for IRP plates | Yes, 10,001 lb+ |
| New Mexico | NMDOT warrant ($50) | $750,000 (federal minimums) | Form E + Form H | No |
| New York | NYSDOT operating authority | $100,000/$300,000/$50,000 + cargo | Form E + Form H (no ACORD) | Yes, 10,001 lb+ |
| North Carolina | NCDMV registration (no NCUC certificate for freight) | $750,000 for every commercial motor vehicle | Insurance verification with NCDMV | Yes (USDOT … NC marking) |
| North Dakota | None | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 + PIP | None | No |
| Ohio | PUCO certificate + per-vehicle tax | $750,000; $300,000 if all under 10,001 lb | Form E | Yes, 10,001 lb+ |
| Oklahoma | See state page | See state page | See state page | See state page |
| Oregon | ODOT account; Class 1A permit for for-hire ($300) | $750,000 | Form E + Form H ($10,000 cargo) | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | PUC authority ($100) | $750,000 (over 10,000 lb); $300,000 under | Form E + Form H | Yes, 17,001 lb+ |
| Rhode Island | Division certificate or permit | $250,000/$500,000/$25,000 + $25,000 cargo | Certificates filed with the Division | See state page |
| South Carolina | SCDMV Certificate of Compliance ($25) | $750,000 (10,000 lb+); $300,000 under | Form E (+ Form H), no ACORD | Yes |
| South Dakota | None found | $750,000 for for-hire freight (federal rules adopted) | None found | No |
| Tennessee | Intrastate Authority (waived if filed under UCR) | $750,000; $300,000 under 10,001 lb | Form E + Form H | No |
| Texas | TxDMV registration (over 26,000 lb) | $500,000 | Form E + Forms H/I | Yes |
| Utah | See state page | See state page | See state page | See state page |
| Vermont | None for freight | $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 | None found | No |
| Virginia | DMV operating authority ($50) | $750,000 (over 10,000 lb); $300,000 (7,501–10,000 lb) | See state page | No |
| Washington | UTC common carrier permit ($275) | $750,000 (10,000 lb+); $300,000 under | Form E (or Form G bond) | Yes, 16,001 lb+ |
| West Virginia | None for freight; PSC insurance filing | $750,000 (for-hire, 10,000 lb+) | Form E with the PSC | Yes |
| Wisconsin | WisDOT LC number ($500) | $750,000 (over 10,000 lb); $300,000 under | Form E | Yes, 10,001 lb+ |
| Wyoming | WYDOT Letter of Authority ($50) | $750,000 + $10,000 cargo | Form E + Form H (no ACORD) | Yes (USDOT-WY) |
Rules change. Each state page lists the statute, rule or agency page behind every figure, with the date we checked it (September 2026), and we update them as laws change.
States that charge trucks by the mile
Five states add a per-mile tax or fee on heavy trucks, on top of fuel tax and IFTA:
| State | Tax | Rate at about 80,000 lb |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | Weight-mile tax | 25.12 cents a mile |
| New Mexico | Weight-distance tax (up about 35% on July 1, 2026) | 59.10 mills (about 5.9 cents) a mile |
| New York | Highway Use Tax | 5.46 cents a mile (gross-weight method) |
| Connecticut | Highway Use Fee (combination trucks) | 10 cents a mile; 17.5 cents over 80,000 lb |
| Kentucky | KYU weight-distance tax (over 59,999 lb) | 2.85 cents a mile |
Rates and filing rules, with sources, are on each state page.
Where the state limit isn’t $750,000
- Higher: New Jersey requires $1,500,000 for CDL-class trucks.
- Lower for in-state trucks: Texas ($500,000), Florida ($50,000 to $300,000 by weight), Kentucky, Minnesota, New York and Kansas (split limits starting at $100,000/$300,000), Rhode Island ($250,000/$500,000), Arkansas ($50,000/$100,000), and Montana ($25,000/$50,000).
- Every commercial truck: North Carolina applies $750,000 to private and in-state commercial motor vehicles too.
A low state minimum only covers you for in-state work. The moment you haul for hire across a state line, or take a broker load, you need at least $750,000, and usually $1,000,000.
Form E, ACORD and who files
Many states with their own authority want proof of insurance filed directly by the insurance company, usually on a Form E (liability) and Form H (cargo). South Carolina, Kansas, New York and Wyoming don’t accept ACORD certificates for this, while Kentucky and Arkansas do. When we bind your policy, we ask the insurer to file the state forms and follow up until the state has them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum truck insurance required by law?
For for-hire trucks hauling general freight across state lines, $750,000 under federal rules, and $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 for hazmat. Trucks that stay in one state follow that state’s rules, shown in the table above.[2]
Which state requires the highest truck insurance?
New Jersey, which requires $1,500,000 of liability for CDL-class trucks under a 2024 law. See the New Jersey page for details.
Do trucks that stay in one state need a USDOT number?
In many states, yes. FMCSA keeps the list of states that require USDOT numbers for in-state carriers, and some states set their own weight thresholds.[3]
What is a Form E?
A Form E is the uniform filing an insurance company sends to a state to prove a carrier has the required liability insurance. A Form H does the same for cargo insurance.
Is the state minimum enough to haul for brokers?
Rarely. Most brokers and shippers ask for $1,000,000 of auto liability, and any for-hire load across a state line needs at least the federal $750,000.
Get a quote that meets your state’s rules
Call 360-450-2211 or start your quote. We quote trucking operations in the 48 contiguous states from our office in Vancouver, Washington, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific.
Related guides
Sources
- [1] 49 CFR 387.3: who the federal minimums apply to
- [2] 49 CFR 387.9: federal minimum levels of financial responsibility
- [3] FMCSA: Do I need a USDOT number? (states requiring intrastate numbers)
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.