Coverage 02 of 12
Commercial Auto Liability Insurance
Primary liability is the policy the FMCSA checks first. Get it right.
Commercial auto liability, often called trucking liability or primary liability, pays for injuries and property damage you cause to others while operating your truck. It is the one coverage every motor carrier must carry, and the one the FMCSA verifies through your BMC-91 filing before your authority goes active.
We place it with carriers that file electronically, so a bind in the morning is an active filing by the afternoon, and we structure the limit around what your shippers and brokers actually require.
Who needs it
- Every motor carrier with its own DOT and MC number
- New authorities waiting on FMCSA activation
- Carriers adding units or changing operating radius
What it covers
Inside the policy
Bodily injury
Medical costs, lost wages and legal defense when a third party is hurt.
Property damage
Vehicles, cargo, buildings and roadside property damaged in an accident you cause.
MCS-90 endorsement
The federal endorsement that guarantees environmental and public liability obligations.
Uninsured / underinsured motorist
Optional in most states; protects your driver when the other party has no coverage.
FAQ
Commercial Auto Liability Insurance: common questions
What is the difference between BMC-91 and MCS-90?
BMC-91 (or BMC-91X) is the proof-of-insurance filing your carrier sends to the FMCSA. MCS-90 is the endorsement attached to your policy that guarantees payment of public liability judgments. You need both.
Why is my first-year liability premium so high?
Carriers price unproven operations on driver experience, radius, commodity and garaging ZIP. A clean first year with no claims or violations is the single biggest lever at renewal.
Can I get a $2 million limit?
Yes, through a higher primary limit or an excess policy above a $1 million primary. We quote both ways.
Related coverage
Usually written alongside
Quote commercial auto liability insurance with the rest of your policy.
Send us the basics. A licensed agent shops the carriers that want your class and calls you with actual numbers, ready to bind. Most quotes come back within 24 hours; many are completed and back in your hands within one to two hours on the same business day.