ServicesPrimary Auto Liability
Primary Auto Liability Insurance in Grand Prairie
Primary auto liability pays for injuries and property damage your truck causes to other people. It is also the policy that keeps your authority active. We set the limit, place the coverage and send you screenshots of the filing once it posts.
The coverage your authority stands on
Primary auto liability, often called primary liability or auto liability, responds when your truck hurts someone or damages their vehicle or property. It does not pay to fix your own truck. That is physical damage insurance. It also does not pay for the load you are hauling, which falls under motor truck cargo insurance.
For interstate for-hire carriers hauling general freight, FMCSA sets a federal minimum of $750,000, and higher minimums apply to oil and hazardous materials. Your insurer proves the coverage by filing a BMC-91 or BMC-91X, and most policies carry the MCS-90 endorsement. Carriers running only inside Texas file a Form E with TxDMV instead. Many brokers and shippers want a $1,000,000 combined single limit before they will tender a load, so the legal minimum is often not the working minimum.
We show you what we found in your current policy and what we changed, with screenshots at each step. That includes the declarations page, the scheduled units and the filing as it appears on the FMCSA register.
What we handle on a primary liability policy
Limit selection
We compare the federal or state minimum with what your brokers and contracts actually require. Then we quote the limit that keeps your loads moving, not just the one that keeps you legal.
Federal and state filings
We have the insurer file the BMC-91X with FMCSA or the Form E with TxDMV. Once it shows on the public register, we send you a screenshot.
Unit and driver schedule check
Every power unit on the policy should match your VINs, and every driver should be listed. We mark up mismatches on a copy of your declarations page so you can see exactly what was wrong.
Certificates of insurance
Brokers, shippers and leasing companies each want a certificate of insurance with their name on it. We issue them and keep the wording consistent with your policy.
Hired and non-owned auto options
If you rent a truck during a breakdown or drivers run errands in their own vehicles, we explain whether that exposure is covered and how to add it.
Signs it is time to review your liability coverage
Your new MC authority is pending
FMCSA will not activate new authority until a liability filing is on record. Until it posts, you cannot legally haul for hire across state lines.
A broker turned down your limit
If a load board or broker setup packet asks for a higher limit than you carry, you are losing freight to carriers who meet it.
You got a nonrenewal or cancellation notice
When a policy cancels, the insurer files a BMC-35 and FMCSA starts a revocation clock on your authority. A replacement filing has to be in place before that date.
You are leaving a lease to run under your own authority
Leased owner-operators usually ride on the motor carrier's liability. Once you take out your own MC authority, you need your own policy and filing.
You added or sold trucks
A unit missing from the schedule can lead to a disputed claim. A sold unit still listed means you are paying premium on a truck you no longer own.
How we set up your primary liability
- 1
Gather your operation details
On the phone or a video call, we take your DOT number, MC authority status, VINs, driver list with license details, and three to five years of loss runs if you have them. We also ask about your radius and the commodities you haul.
- 2
Review what you have now
If you already carry coverage, we go through the declarations page line by line. You get an annotated copy showing the limit, the endorsements and any gaps we found.
- 3
Quote and compare
We take your file to insurers that write trucking and lay the quotes side by side. You see the limit, deductible, endorsements and premium for each one.
- 4
Bind, file and confirm
Once you choose, we bind the policy and request the filing. When it shows on the FMCSA or TxDMV record, we send you the screenshot along with your first certificates of insurance.
What moves your liability premium
Liability is usually the largest share of a trucking insurance bill, because injury claims involving heavy trucks are expensive. Insurers price it from your risk profile, not the value of your truck. Here is what they weigh most.
- Limit and radius
- A $1,000,000 limit costs more than the minimum. Long-haul and regional operations generally price higher than short local runs, because more miles mean more exposure.
- Drivers and their records
- CDL experience, age and motor vehicle records carry heavy weight. One driver with recent violations can raise the premium for the whole policy.
- Authority age and loss history
- New authorities have no track record, so insurers price conservatively. Clean loss runs and low CSA scores help at every renewal.
- Commodity and garaging location
- Hazmat, steel and heavy haul rate higher than dry van freight. Trucks garaged around busy corridors like I-20 and I-30 face more traffic exposure than rural units.
- Unit type and count
- Tractors, dump trucks, hotshot setups and box trucks each rate differently. Each power unit on the schedule adds to the premium.
Primary auto liability questions
Something not covered here? (972) 236-7691
Does primary liability cover damage to my own truck?
No. It pays for injuries and damage you cause to others. Repairs to your own tractor or trailer come under physical damage insurance, which we can quote at the same time.
How long does the BMC-91X take to show up with FMCSA?
The insurer usually files it electronically soon after the policy is bound, and it typically appears on the FMCSA register within a few business days. We watch the record and send you a screenshot once it posts, so you are not left guessing about your authority.
I am leased to a carrier. Do I need my own primary liability?
Usually not while you are under dispatch, because the motor carrier's policy covers you. You will still need non-trucking liability (bobtail) insurance for personal use of the truck. Once you get your own authority, you need your own primary policy.
Is $750,000 enough?
It meets the federal minimum for general freight. Many brokers and shippers, though, require $1,000,000 before they will work with you. We look at who you haul for and quote the limit those customers expect.
I only haul inside Texas. What filing do I need?
Intrastate carriers file a Form E with TxDMV instead of the federal BMC-91X. We confirm which filings your operation needs and make sure the insurer files each one.
Get your liability filing on record
Have your DOT number and VINs ready. We will go over your limits, quote the coverage and show you the filing once it posts, for carriers in Grand Prairie, Arlington, Irving and the surrounding area.