New authority insurance cost
No carrier or program page we read prints a price for a new authority. Progressive publishes $734 to $926 a month per power unit as its 2025 average for new for-hire truck policies with liability and physical damage and no driver violations, not split by authority age. What moves a new authority's price is published: running under your own authority rather than leased on, having no loss history of your own, your drivers' CDL experience, and whether you pay in full or on a plan.
What do new authority insurance quotes actually come to?
No published figure answers that directly, and the published averages are not new-authority figures. Progressive says its 2025 national average "ranged from $734 for specialty truckers to $926 for transport truckers" a month, and its footnote limits that to "liability and physical damage coverage for policies with no driver violations," per power unit. Nothing on the page separates new authorities from other new policies, and neither it nor Canal's TestDrive page, Cover Whale's guidelines or One80's trucking program sheet prints a new-venture price or surcharge.
A quote for a new MC is priced on its own trucks, drivers, freight and coverages, so two quotes are two files, not a market rate. Ask each market for the coverages and limits it priced, line by line.
| Figure | Per month, one truck | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive 2025 average, transport truckers | $926 | Liability and physical damage, no driver violations |
| Progressive 2025 average, specialty truckers | $734 | Liability and physical damage, no driver violations |
How much is MC number insurance per month?
Dividing the annual premium by twelve gives you the arithmetic, not the bill. A payment plan can cost more over the year than paying up front, and Progressive puts its own discount in writing: "Most customers can save 10% or more when they pay their policy in full." Ask each market for the down payment, the installments and the total for the year.
Canal's TestDrive, for operations with "less than two years in the business," bills by the mile instead: only auto liability is charged per mile, while "physical damage, cargo, or truckers’ general liability" carry a fixed premium in equal installments. The charge "includes mileage when you are not pulling a load," so deadhead miles are billed too. Canal also lists "No monthly minimum premium OR interest" and applies the deposit to the renewal policy.
Can you start with liability only to keep the cost down?
FMCSA's rule, 49 CFR 387.7(a), bars a motor carrier from operating until it has in effect the minimum in 387.9, and 387.9 is a schedule of public liability limits, $750,000 for for-hire carriers of nonhazardous property in interstate commerce at 10,001 lb GVWR and up, with no cargo or physical damage line.
Cargo and higher limits come from the people you haul for. TQL, for one, requires a "Minimum $1 million auto liability insurance" and a "Minimum $100,000 cargo insurance policy" before you haul for it. Before you bind liability alone, ask the market whether it lets you add cargo or raise the limit mid-term, and what that costs.
Weigh the premium you pay before the first load, too: a new authority often pays for insurance on a truck that sits for two to three weeks while the filing and setup clear.
What makes a new authority quote higher or lower?
Running your own authority, to start with. Progressive's cost page says "Leasing to a company is usually cheaper than working under your own authority," and gives as one reason that owner-operators with their own USDOT authority "take on full responsibility for accidents, violations, and cargo claims." It adds that "the more coverage you need, the more your trucking insurance will cost."
One80 also asks for history a new MC does not have yet. Its trucking program sheet asks for "Loss runs for 3 + current year (4 years) valued within the last 90 days (if applicable)" and "Prior Premiums and historical unit count for current and prior 3 years (if applicable)"; a brand-new MC has none of its own to send.
Driver experience decides whether some markets quote at all. Canal's new-venture program requires "At least two years CDL driving experience," Cover Whale's guidelines say "2 years minimum driving experience with like vehicle," and One80 sets a two-year CDL minimum for all drivers. A driver who has held a CDL for only a few months can be turned down outright. Progressive adds that "Even a minor speeding ticket on a trucker's driving history can significantly increase your rate."
When does new authority insurance get cheaper?
No carrier page we read says when, or by how much. What the programs publish is where "new" ends for them: Canal's TestDrive is for operations with less than two years in the business, and One80 asks any operation in business less than three years total for a New Venture profile. Those are eligibility and paperwork lines, not price steps.
If you enroll in Smart Haul, Progressive's ELD program, its footnote says "At renewal, driving data could increase or decrease premiums." A total loss in the first year can put a new MC outside most markets' underwriting at renewal.
Have the first year's loss runs and driver changes ready when the renewal is shopped. That is our job as much as yours: "And when renewal comes around, we're already shopping on your behalf."
What is in a new authority quote besides the premium?
Taxes, fees and the way you pay. Canal's billing page says "Your invoice is a total of all your policy coverages with Canal plus any taxes and/or fees." Two of the markets on this page use non-admitted paper: One80's program sheet says "A- Rated Carrier / Non-Admitted paper," and Cover Whale lists Utah among its non-admitted states. Utah Code 31A-15-103 lets a nonadmitted insurer insure "a risk located in this state," and 31A-3-301 makes that transaction "subject to a tax of 4-1/4% of gross premiums," counting "the fees charged to the insured, however designated" as premium. On a $20,000 premium that is $850. The section does not say who pays it; ask whether the tax is in the quoted total.
FMCSA's own fee for the insurance filing is not paid with your application. 49 CFR 360.3T sets FMCSA's service fee for an insurer's accepted certificate of insurance at "$10 per accepted certificate" and charges it to an insurance service account FMCSA bills monthly. eCFR marks the permanent section, 360.3, "again suspended indefinitely"; 360.3T is the version that applies. Any filing fee on your quote is set by whoever lists it, so ask what it covers.
Before comparing two new authority quotes, put these side by side:
- The coverages and limits on each, line by line
- The total paid in full and the total on the payment plan, with the down payment
- Taxes and fees, and whether the insurer is admitted or non-admitted
- Whether liability is a fixed premium or billed by the mile
- Whether the market lets you add trucks in the first year; Canal's program allows up to four in total
Is $45,000 a year normal for new authority insurance?
No published figure says what normal is for a new authority. Progressive's 2025 averages for new truck policies, $734 to $926 a month, come to about $8,800 to $11,100 a year per truck, and they leave out cargo and drivers with violations. If a quote is that high, ask the market which trucks, drivers, limits and cargo it priced.
Is the $300 FMCSA fee part of the insurance cost?
No. 49 CFR 360.3T, the fee schedule that applies while eCFR marks 360.3 suspended, sets $300 for an application for motor carrier operating authority, paid to FMCSA when you apply. The premium goes to the insurer, and FMCSA's $10 fee for the insurer's certificate of insurance is charged to an insurance service account, not paid with your application.
Is pay-per-mile insurance cheaper for a new authority?
It depends on your miles, and Canal publishes no rate. Its TestDrive bills only auto liability per mile, counts empty miles, and puts your rate per mile in the policy packet; physical damage, cargo and general liability stay fixed. Ask for the rate per mile and the fixed premiums, then run them against the miles you expect.
Where these answers come from
Each entry carries the exact words of the source so you can check it yourself. Forms, rules and carrier pages change; read the current version before acting.
- 1. Progressive Commercial, Commercial Truck Insurance Cost, national average
“The national average monthly commercial truck insurance cost with Progressive Commercial ranged from $734 for specialty truckers to $926 for transport truckers.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Progressive's figures for its own 2025 new for-hire truck policies. The page defines transport as truckers who haul goods such as general freight and autos. - 2. Progressive Commercial, Commercial Truck Insurance Cost, footnote to the average
“2025 new policy premium per power unit for liability and physical damage coverage for policies with no driver violations.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 3. Progressive Commercial, Commercial Truck Insurance Cost, paid in full discount
“Most customers can save 10% or more when they pay their policy in full.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Progressive's statement about its own discount; its footnote says it is not available in all states and situations. - 4. Progressive Commercial, Commercial Truck Insurance Cost, USDOT authority
“Leasing to a company is usually cheaper than working under your own authority because it can help with:”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 6. Progressive Commercial, Commercial Truck Insurance Cost, coverage requirements
“Generally, the more coverage you need, the more your trucking insurance will cost.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 7. Progressive Commercial, Commercial Truck Insurance Cost, driving history
“Accidents and violations impact commercial truck insurance premiums more than typical auto policies because large, heavy vehicles can cause more damage. Even a minor speeding ticket on a trucker's driving history can significantly increase your rate.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 8. Progressive Commercial, Commercial Truck Insurance Cost, Smart Haul footnote
“Savings not guaranteed. At renewal, driving data could increase or decrease premiums.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 9. Canal Insurance, Canal TestDrive, am I eligible
“Operating up to two trucks in the U.S. with less than two years in the business”
canalinsurance.com, accessed October 3, 2026. One item of Canal's eligibility list for its own program. The page introduces TestDrive as an option "designed to help new commercial trucking operations". - 10. Canal Insurance, Canal TestDrive, am I eligible, driving experience
“At least two years CDL driving experience Truck model 2000 or newer”
canalinsurance.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Two consecutive list items; line break collapsed. - 11. Canal Insurance, Canal TestDrive, am I eligible, adding trucks
“Insured may add trucks during the first policy year to total no more than four”
canalinsurance.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 12. Canal Insurance, Canal TestDrive FAQ, are all my coverages calculated on a per mile basis
“Only the auto liability coverage is charged on a per mile basis. All other coverages (such as physical damage, cargo, or truckers’ general liability) will have a fixed premium that is divided into equal installments.”
canalinsurance.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 13. Canal Insurance, Canal TestDrive FAQ, why do I owe different amounts each month
“Canal TestDrive is a pay-as-you-drive program, meaning we charge you based on the total miles your truck is driven each month. This includes mileage when you are not pulling a load.”
canalinsurance.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 14. Canal Insurance, Canal TestDrive, benefits
“No monthly minimum premium OR interest No monthly paperwork on your end.* Low cost of entry Deposit is applied to your renewal policy”
canalinsurance.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Four consecutive list items; line breaks collapsed. Canal prints no rate per mile; its FAQ says the rate is in the policy packet. - 15. Canal Insurance, Canal TestDrive FAQ, how is my bill calculated
“Your invoice is a total of all your policy coverages with Canal plus any taxes and/or fees.”
canalinsurance.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 16. Cover Whale, coverage guidelines, auto liability guidelines, experience
“Experience: 2 years minimum driving experience with like vehicle”
coverwhale.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Cover Whale's statement of its own underwriting standards; the same line appears under its physical damage and cargo guidelines. - 17. Cover Whale, coverage guidelines, auto liability guidelines, non-admitted states
“Non-Admitted States: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IN, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, and WV”
coverwhale.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Utah is not on the page's admitted-states list. - 18. One80 Intermediaries, Domestic Trucking Program sheet (V062026), submission requirements, loss runs
“Loss runs for 3 + current year (4 years) valued within the last 90 days (if applicable)”
one80.com, accessed October 3, 2026. A program manager's statement about its own program. - 20. One80 Intermediaries, Domestic Trucking Program sheet (V062026), submission requirements, new ventures
“If In Business for any amount of time less than 3yrs total, completed New Venture profile in addition to the Supp.”
one80.com, accessed October 3, 2026. The PDF sets "profile" with an fi ligature. - 21. One80 Intermediaries, Domestic Trucking Program sheet (V062026), highlighted features
“New Ventures considered. 2 year CDL minimum required for all drivers.”
one80.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Two consecutive items of a bulleted list; the bullet markers are dropped. - 22. One80 Intermediaries, Domestic Trucking Program sheet (V062026), highlighted features, paper
“All size operations considered (single unit owner operators and fleets). A- Rated Carrier / Non-Admitted paper.”
one80.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Two consecutive items of a bulleted list; the bullet markers are dropped and the PDF sets "fleets" with an fl ligature. - 23. Utah Code 31A-15-103(1), surplus lines insurance, unauthorized insurers (effective 5/3/2023)
“a nonadmitted insurer may make an insurance contract for coverage of a person in this state and on a risk located in this state, subject to the limitations and requirements of this section.”
le.utah.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. The sentence opens: when Utah is the home state as defined in Section 31A-3-305. - 24. Utah Code 31A-3-301(1)(a), tax imposed on surplus lines insurance transactions (effective 10/14/2025)
“An insurance transaction under Section 31A-15-103 is subject to a tax of 4-1/4% of gross premiums, less 4-1/4% of return premiums paid to insureds by reason of policy cancellations or premium reductions.”
le.utah.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Section 31A-15-103 is the surplus lines section: a nonadmitted insurer's contract on a risk located in Utah. - 25. Utah Code 31A-3-301(1)(b), gross premium defined (effective 10/14/2025)
“"Gross premium," for a surplus lines insurance transaction, means the monetary consideration for an insurance policy including the fees charged to the insured, however designated.”
le.utah.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 26. 49 CFR 360.3T(f)(51), schedule of filing fees, insurance service fee, eCFR
“A service fee for insurer, surety, or self-insurer accepted certificate of insurance, surety bond, and other instrument submitted in lieu of a broker surety bond $10 per accepted certificate”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Pulled from the eCFR versioner API as of 2026-10-01. eCFR marks § 360.3 "again suspended indefinitely" (87 FR 59035, Sept. 29, 2022); § 360.3T is the fee schedule in effect. Paragraph (f)(1) of the same schedule sets $300 for an application for motor carrier operating authority. - 27. 49 CFR 360.3T(a)(1), manner of payment, eCFR
“The service fee for insurance, surety or self-insurer accepted certificate of insurance, surety bond or other instrument submitted in lieu of a broker surety bond must be charged to an insurance service account established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Pulled from the eCFR versioner API as of 2026-10-01. eCFR marks § 360.3 "again suspended indefinitely" (87 FR 59035, Sept. 29, 2022); § 360.3T is the fee schedule in effect. Paragraph (a)(2)(i) says a bill for each account with activity is sent on its billing date each month. - 28. 49 CFR 360.3T(f)(1), schedule of filing fees, operating authority application, eCFR
“An application for motor carrier operating authority, a certificate of registration for certain foreign carriers, property broker authority, or freight forwarder authority $300.”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Pulled from the eCFR versioner API as of 2026-10-01. eCFR marks § 360.3 "again suspended indefinitely" (87 FR 59035, Sept. 29, 2022); § 360.3T is the fee schedule in effect. - 29. 49 CFR 387.7(a), financial responsibility required, eCFR
“No motor carrier shall operate a motor vehicle until the motor carrier has obtained and has in effect the minimum levels of financial responsibility as set forth in § 387.9 of this subpart.”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Pulled from the eCFR versioner API as of 2026-10-01. - 30. 49 CFR 387.9, financial responsibility, minimum levels, table title, eCFR
“The minimum levels of financial responsibility referred to in § 387.7 are hereby prescribed as follows: Table 1 to § 387.9—Schedule of Limits—Public Liability”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Pulled from the eCFR versioner API as of 2026-10-01. - 31. 49 CFR 387.9, schedule of limits, row 1, eCFR
“For-hire (In interstate or foreign commerce, with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 or more pounds) Property (nonhazardous) $750,000”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Pulled from the eCFR versioner API as of 2026-10-01. Rows 2 to 4 set $1,000,000 and $5,000,000 for oil and hazardous materials. Last amended 91 FR 45660, July 21, 2026. - 32. TQL, Frequently Asked Questions for Carriers, what do I need to start hauling for TQL
“To haul for TQL we require: Valid MC or US DOT number Minimum $1 million auto liability insurance Minimum $100,000 cargo insurance policy”
tql.com, accessed October 3, 2026. A list on the page; line breaks collapsed. A broker's own requirement, not a federal one. - 33. Redoubt, Commercial Trucking Insurance page, our promise
“And when renewal comes around, we're already shopping on your behalf. You shouldn't have to chase your own broker.”
www.redoubt.insure, accessed October 3, 2026
A leased owner-operator is getting their own authority
Leaving a lease for own authority: what the new policy costs, lease-on versus own authority, and owner-operator coverage.
Elsewhere on the site
Got a new authority quote that looks too high?
Text Redoubt the quote, your USDOT or MC number, and the trucks and drivers it covers. We will go through what is in the price, what the payment plan adds, and which markets take new authorities for an operation like yours.
This is general insurance information, not legal advice or a coverage determination. The policy forms, the endorsements the carrier issues, and the requirement in writing from whoever is asking control.