September 18, 2026
Will Kremer
Amazon Relay Requirements: How to Get Approved and Stay Approved
By Will Kremer, Truck Insurance Agent · Last updated September 18, 2026
Amazon Relay is the whole business plan for a lot of the new carriers we insure, so this question comes up a lot: what does it actually take to get approved? The Amazon Relay requirements come down to four things: an aged authority, clean safety scores, the right insurance, and eligible equipment. Insurance is the part we handle for you, and our Amazon Relay insurance requirements page covers it in full. This guide covers the rest: what Amazon checks, what holds most applications back, and how to stay on Relay once you’re in.
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The short answer To get approved for Amazon Relay you need an MC and DOT number with interstate authority active for at least 180 days, a for-hire carrier authority, a safety rating of Satisfactory, None or Not Rated, BASIC scores under Amazon’s thresholds, Relay-compliant insurance, and eligible equipment. Amazon says most applications are approved or rejected within 1 to 3 weeks. |
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Key takeaways
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The Amazon Relay requirements
These are the carrier requirements Amazon publishes on its Apply to Amazon Relay page and Relay FAQ:
| Requirement | What Amazon wants |
|---|---|
| Authority | MC and DOT number, interstate, active 180+ days |
| Entity type | Carrier, authorized for property, for hire |
| Safety rating | Satisfactory, None or Not Rated |
| BASIC scores | Unsafe Driving and HOS under 60%; Maintenance, Drugs/Alcohol, Driver Fitness under 75% |
| Violation rates | Driver 35% or less, vehicle 50% or less |
| Insurance | $1M auto, $100k cargo, $1M/$2M general liability, $50k trailer |
| Equipment | Tractors, or 16′ and 26′ box trucks with a tuck-under liftgate |
Most carriers can check the entity type and equipment boxes easily. The two that decide most applications are the ones that take time: the age of your authority and your safety scores.
Aging your authority: the 180-day rule
Truckers call it aging your MC or aging your authority, and it’s the number one reason we see new carriers come back without a Relay approval. Amazon wants your interstate authority active for at least 180 days before it approves you. If you’ve seen older advice online that says otherwise, the 180 days is what Amazon publishes now.
Our advice is simple: apply once your authority has hit 180 days. Amazon lets you start an application sooner, but carriers who apply early generally report hearing back around day 180 anyway. Applying when you qualify keeps the process clean and lets you apply with a full picture of your safety record and your insurance already in place.
What to do while your MC ages
Most of the new carriers we insure spend those first six months hauling for other brokers. That’s a good way to build the business, and the insurance usually looks the same as it will on Relay minus a couple of pieces: $1,000,000 in auto liability and $100,000 in cargo covers most broker loads. General liability and trailer interchange are sometimes needed for a broker, often not, and they’re the two coverages we add when it’s time for Relay.
Whether you’re running loads or getting set up, make safety and following the regulations the priority. Every inspection in these months goes into the scores Amazon reviews on day 180. Keep up with maintenance, follow hours-of-service rules, and keep your driver files in order.
And tell your agent your business plan up front. When we know Relay is the goal, we set up your policy with markets that write Relay, so adding the Relay coverages at month six is a quick endorsement instead of a new search. If you’re still at the very beginning, our guide on how to start a box truck business walks through the steps before this one.
or call 855-281-2924 Tell us Relay is the plan, and we’ll build your policy for it from day one. |
Safety scores: the requirement that follows you
Safety scores are the second most common reason we see carriers held back, and unlike the 180 days, they don’t stop mattering once you’re in. Amazon says its BASIC thresholds are stricter than federal standards, and it says in its guide to CSA scores that it reaches out to carriers each month when a score nears a threshold, which you can track on your Relay Scorecard.
The habits that keep scores clean are the same ones that keep insurance affordable: pre-trip and post-trip inspections, repairs done before they become violations, hours of service followed to the letter, and drivers who know the truck is a business vehicle. A clean record is what gets you approved, and it’s what brings your premium down at renewal.
Insurance: the part we make easy
Amazon requires $1,000,000 in auto liability, $100,000 in cargo, $1,000,000 / $2,000,000 in general liability, and $50,000 in trailer interchange if you pull Amazon’s trailers. Amazon verifies it through RMIS, a third-party vendor that gets your certificate from your agent. One thing we see go wrong: a certificate made out to Amazon instead of RMIS. The certificate holder is RMIS. We endorse your policy with the Relay coverages and send the certificate to RMIS within minutes. Everything else, including what it costs, is on our Amazon Relay insurance page.
How to apply, and how long approval takes
Amazon’s application takes about 20 minutes and runs in five steps:
- Enter your DOT number.
- Add your company details.
- Verify with a one-time password.
- List your equipment.
- Add your payment information.
Amazon says most completed applications are approved or rejected within 1 to 3 weeks, and that delays usually come from validating insurance. Have your Relay coverage bound and your certificate at RMIS before you apply, and that part of the review goes quickly. Once you’re approved, Amazon gives you free onboarding courses and you can start booking loads.
Staying approved once you’re in
Getting approved is the first milestone. Keeping your Relay account is the ongoing one, and the carriers we see lose access usually lose it for one of three reasons:
- Safety scores slipping past Amazon’s thresholds.
- Cancelled insurance. A policy that cancels takes you below Amazon’s minimums.
- Removed coverage. Dropping general liability or trailer interchange to save money puts you below Amazon’s minimums.
RMIS sends regular requests for updated certificates, and Amazon asks carriers to update their insurance in the Relay account at least 5 days before a policy ends. We start renewals early and keep your certificate current, so your Relay account never has to wait on paperwork. If money is tight, call us before changing anything, and we’ll look for ways to lower the bill that keep you Relay-compliant.
Frequently asked questions
Is it hard to get approved for Amazon Relay?
It’s straightforward once your authority has aged 180 days and your safety scores are under Amazon’s thresholds. Those two are what hold most carriers back. With the right insurance already in place, the rest of the application takes about 20 minutes.
Can I apply for Amazon Relay before 180 days?
Amazon lets you start an application early, but it won’t approve you until your interstate authority has been active for 180 days. Our advice is to apply once you’ve hit 180 days, with your Relay insurance already bound.
How long does Amazon Relay approval take?
Amazon says most applications are approved or rejected within 1 to 3 weeks. Delays usually come from insurance validation, so having your certificate at RMIS before you apply keeps it moving.
Why was my Amazon Relay application denied?
The most common reasons we see are an authority that hasn’t aged 180 days and safety scores over Amazon’s thresholds. Insurance that doesn’t meet Amazon’s minimums is the other common one, and it’s the easiest to fix: we can add the missing coverage and send a new certificate to RMIS the same day.
Can I get removed from Amazon Relay after I’m approved?
Yes. Safety scores that slip past Amazon’s thresholds, cancelled insurance, and removing a required coverage can all cost you access. Keep your scores clean and your coverage continuous, and renew early so RMIS always has a current certificate.
Who is the certificate holder for Amazon Relay?
RMIS, the vendor Amazon uses to verify insurance, not Amazon Relay. The certificate has to come from your agent or insurance company, and we send Relay certificates to RMIS within minutes.
Planning on Relay? Start with the insurance plan.
Whether you’re on day one or day 170, the best time to tell your agent Relay is the goal is now. We’ll set up coverage for the broker freight you run while your authority ages, add the Relay coverages when you hit 180 days, and send the certificate to RMIS so your application moves. New to your own authority? Start with our new venture truck insurance page.
Get your quote → or call 855-281-2924 and talk to an agent who sets up Relay carriers.
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About the author Will Kremer, Truck Insurance Agent A truck insurance agent at Trucking Insurance Services since 2011, Will Kremer specializes in owner-operators, new ventures, and fleets, and helps truckers pick the coverage that fits how they actually run. |
Requirements are summarized from Amazon Relay’s published carrier requirements, FAQ, and application guide; Amazon’s full list includes items not covered here and can change, so confirm the current requirements with Amazon before applying. Trucking Insurance Services LLC — 380 Dahlonega St #212, Cumming, GA 30040 — 855-281-2924
Categories: Blog, Trucking Insurance