Truck Insurance Requirements by State: What You Need to Know

Certainly! Here’s a comprehensive overview of commercial truck insurance requirements by state, highlighting key regulations and minimum coverage limits for various states:

🚚 Commercial Truck Insurance Requirements by State

1. Texas

• Intrastate (within Texas):
  • **General Freight (GVW > 10,000 lbs):**Minimum $500,000 liability coverage
  • **Oil Transport:**Minimum $1,000,000 liability coverage
  • **Hazardous Materials:**Minimum $5,000,000 liability coverage
• **Interstate (crossing state lines):**Federal requirements apply
  • **Non-Hazardous Freight (GVW > 10,000 lbs):**Minimum $750,000 liability coverage
  • **Oil Transport:**Minimum $1,000,000 liability coverage
  • **Hazardous Materials:**Minimum $5,000,000 liability coverage
• **Workers’ Compensation:**Not mandatory but recommended
• **Non-Trucking Liability (Bobtail):**Not required but advisable for owner-operators citeturn0search2

2. California

• In-State Operations:
  • **General Freight:**Minimum $750,000 liability coverage
  • **Oil Transport:**Minimum $1,000,000 liability coverage
  • **Hazardous Materials:**Minimum $5,000,000 liability coverage
• **Interstate Operations:**Federal requirements apply
  • **Non-Hazardous Freight (GVW > 10,000 lbs):**Minimum $750,000 liability coverage
  • **Oil Transport:**Minimum $1,000,000 liability coverage
  • **Hazardous Materials:**Minimum $5,000,000 liability coverage
• **Cargo Insurance:**Not required by law but recommended citeturn0search0

3. Florida

• Minimum Liability Coverage:
  • **GVW 26,000–35,000 lbs:**Minimum $50,000 per occurrence
  • **GVW 35,000–44,000 lbs:**Minimum $100,000 per occurrence
  • **GVW 44,000 lbs or more:**Minimum $300,000 per occurrence
• **Personal Injury Protection (PIP):**Mandatory $10,000 coverage
• **Property Damage Liability (PDL):**Mandatory $10,000 coverage citeturn0search8

4. South Carolina

• Passenger Transport:
  • **1–15 passengers (intrastate):**Minimum 25/50/25 liability coverage
  • **16 or more passengers (intrastate):**Minimum 25/300/25 liability coverage
  • **1–15 passengers (interstate):**Minimum $1.5 million CSL
  • **16 or more passengers (interstate):**Minimum $5 million CSL
• Property Transport:
  • **GVW < 10,000 lbs (intrastate):**Minimum $500,000 liability coverage
  • **GVW ≥ 10,000 lbs (intrastate):**Minimum $750,000 liability coverage
  • **GVW < 10,000 lbs (interstate):**Minimum $300,000 liability coverage
  • **GVW ≥ 10,000 lbs (interstate):**Minimum $750,000 liability coverage
• Hazardous Materials Transport:
  • **Intrastate:**Minimum $5 million liability coverage
  • **Interstate:**Minimum $1 million or $5 million, depending on the substance citeturn0search1

5. Mississippi

• Minimum Liability Coverage:
  • **Bodily Injury:**$25,000 per person
  • **Bodily Injury (per accident):**$50,000
  • **Property Damage:**$25,000
• Cargo Insurance Requirements:
  • **General Freight:**Minimum $750,000 liability coverage
  • **Oil Transport:**Minimum $300,000 liability coverage
  • **Hazardous Materials:**Minimum $5,000,000 liability coverage
  • **Household Goods:**Minimum $10,000 liability coverage citeturn0search4

📌 Key Takeaways

• *Intrastate vs. Interstate: Insurance requirements can differ based on whether you’re operating within a single state or across state line.
• *Cargo Type Matters: The nature of the cargo (e.g., hazardous materials, oil, general freight) significantly influences the required coverage limit.
• *State-Specific Regulations: Always consult state-specific regulations or a licensed insurance agent to ensure complianc.

For a personalized assessment of your commercial truck insurance needs, consider consulting with a licensed insurance agent familiar with the regulations in your operating state.