DOT Insurance for Owner-Operators (Your Own Authority)
When you were leased to a carrier, they carried the insurance. Now that you run under your own DOT and MC number, that is on you, and your authority will not go active until the right coverage is on file with the FMCSA. Whether you run a box truck across town or a semi coast to coast, the rules are the same: you own the truck, the authority, and the policy.
We set up owner-operators with their own authority every day, file the MCS-90 and your filings fast, and match the coverage to whatever you haul. Here is exactly what your DOT number requires, what the MCS-90 is, and what it costs.
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The short answer An owner-operator running under their own authority needs $750,000 to $1,000,000 auto liability with an MCS-90 endorsement filed with the FMCSA to activate, plus cargo (commonly $100,000) and physical damage on the truck. Premiums typically run $665 to $1,665 a month ($8,000 to $20,000 a year), depending on your equipment. |
What insurance your authority requires
To operate legally under your own DOT number, the FMCSA and your brokers set the floor:
| Coverage | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Auto liability | $750,000 (FMCSA minimum) to $1,000,000 (broker standard) |
| MCS-90 endorsement | Required to activate interstate authority |
| Motor truck cargo | $100,000 (broker standard, higher for high-value freight) |
| General liability | Not federally required, often required by contracts |
Limits change with your state and your freight (New Jersey requires $1,500,000, hazmat runs higher). For the full federal breakdown, see FMCSA insurance requirements and how much insurance you need to activate your MC number.
What is an MCS-90?
The MCS-90 is an endorsement on your auto liability that serves as proof of financial responsibility to the FMCSA. In plain terms, it guarantees the public will be paid for injury or damage you cause, even in a situation your policy might otherwise exclude, with your insurer recovering from you afterward. Interstate carriers need an MCS-90 to activate and keep their authority. Intrastate-only operators usually do not. We file it for you as part of setting up your coverage.
Coverage to add beyond the minimum
The required limits keep you legal. These protect the business you own:
- Physical damage. Repairs or replaces your truck and trailer after a collision, theft, fire, or weather loss.
- Trailer interchange. Covers trailers you pull under a written interchange agreement that you do not own.
- Reefer breakdown. Covers refrigerated loads if the unit fails, for temperature-sensitive freight.
- General liability. Covers off-the-truck claims like an injury during loading. See general liability.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist. Protects you when the at-fault driver has little or no coverage.
How much does owner-operator authority insurance cost?
For an owner-operator with their own authority, a full policy typically runs $665 to $1,665 a month ($8,000 to $20,000 a year), and your equipment moves it the most: a box truck sits at the low end, a semi running over the road or an auto hauler at the high end. Physical damage is a percentage of your truck’s value, generally 3% to 12% a year. For pricing on your specific rig, see the equipment pages linked below, then get an exact rate.
Owner-operators we cover, any equipment
Your own authority works the same no matter what you run. We write it for:
- Semi trucks running over the road or regional
- Hotshots and box trucks
- Dump trucks and auto haulers
- Cargo vans and other single-unit operations
If you are still deciding between running your own authority and leasing on, our owner-operator insurance page covers both paths. Brand new and activating for the first time? Start with new venture truck insurance.
Frequently asked questions
What insurance do I need for my own DOT number?
At a minimum, $750,000 to $1,000,000 in auto liability with an MCS-90 endorsement filed with the FMCSA. Most owner-operators also carry $100,000 motor truck cargo and physical damage on the truck, and add general liability when a contract requires it.
Do I need insurance to get a DOT number?
No, you can get a USDOT number without insurance, but you cannot activate operating authority (your MC number) until your insurance is on file with the FMCSA. We make sure the coverage and filings are in place when you are ready to operate.
What is an MCS-90 and do I need it?
The MCS-90 is an endorsement on your auto liability that proves financial responsibility to the FMCSA. Interstate carriers need it to activate and keep their authority. Intrastate-only operators usually do not. We file it for you with your policy.
How much does owner-operator authority insurance cost?
A full policy usually runs $665 to $1,665 a month ($8,000 to $20,000 a year), depending on your equipment, freight, radius, and record. Box trucks sit at the low end, semis and auto haulers at the high end.
Can I get coverage with brand-new authority and no experience?
Yes. Experience is one rating factor, not a wall. We work with carriers that write new authority and no-experience operators. The first year costs more, then rates come down with a clean record. See our new venture truck insurance page.
Why choose Trucking Insurance Services
Running your own authority means the paperwork is yours too, and that is where we earn our keep. We file your MCS-90 and FMCSA filings fast, set the limits your brokers require, and match the coverage to whatever you haul, with flexible monthly, quarterly, or annual payment options. It is one piece of a full commercial truck insurance program. We aren’t in the insurance industry, we’re in trucking.
Get your free quote → or call 855-281-2924 to set up coverage for your authority.
Figures are estimates based on the policies we place and current market rates, for general guidance only. Required limits vary by state and freight. Your actual premium depends on your equipment, record, radius, and limits. Get a quote for an exact number.