Transport Topics / Insurance Requirements

Insurance Requirements

OVERVIEW

​In addition to filing an application for operating authority, all applicants for motor carrier, forwarder, and broker authorities must have specific insurance and legal process agent documents on file before the FMCSA will issue the authorities. The required filings vary, based on the types of registrations involved. Below is a list of pre-registration forms, followed by an explanation of which types of registrants are subject to filing those forms.

Liability and cargo insurance forms must be submitted directly (online) by the home office of the insurance company furnishing the coverage. The FMCSA does not furnish copies of insurance forms.

Authorities Subject to Filing

- Motor Carriers & Bus Lines
- Property Brokers
- Freight Forwarders (Non-Vehicle operating Freight Forwarders may seek a waiver of this requirement).

Limits - Bodily Injury & Property Damage (BIPD) / Surety Bonds

​- Commercial Vehicles under 10,001 lbs. - $300,000
- Commercial Vehicles, 10,001 lbs and over - $750,000
- Hazmat Haulers - $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 (depending on commodity hauled.
- Bus Lines - $1,500,000 (seating capacity for 15 or fewer passengers)
- Bus Lines - $5,000,000 (seating capacity for over 15 passengers)
- Property Broker & Freight Forwarders - $75,000 Surety Bond or Trust Fund Agreement.

Filing Forms

- BMC-91 - Motor Carriers, Bus Lines, Asset Based Freight Forwarders
- BMC-91X (Contracted Insurance Company) - Motor Carriers, Bus Lines, Asset Based Freight Forwarders
- BMC-84 (Surety Bond) - Brokers & Freight Forwarders
- BMC-85 (Trust Fund Agreement) - Brokers & Freight Forwarders
- BOC-3 (Service Of Process Agent) - Motor Carriers, Bus Lines, Brokers, Freight Forwarders
- MCS-90 - Endorsement for Motor Carrier Policies of Insurance for Public Liability under, Sections 29 & 30 of the Motor Carrier Act of 1980.

Applicants should be prepared to contact their agents to request filing of the required forms immediately after obtaining their designated docket number. These filings must be received within 90 days after the FMCSA has published public notice of intention to register the applicant. (Applicants will be notified by letter of their docket number and date of publication in the FMCSA Register.)

​Applicants are cautioned to ensure that the name and address of the business as set out in all pre-registration filings match exactly the name and address provided in their application for operating authority filings. Any deviation will result in rejection of the supplemental pre-registration filings.