Trucking insurance in Louisiana
Louisiana's minimum state liability coverage for trucking insurance Louisiana reaches $300,000 when a local truck weighs more than 50,000 pounds.
Monthly cost, national figures
$665 to $1,165 a month for an established hotshot with a clean record (Trucking Insurance Services)
$1,000 to $1,800 in the first two years of a new MC number (Trucker Path Insurance)
What moves the priceBroker ask
$1,000,000 of auto liability and $100,000 of cargo cover, more than the law asks
Broker limits tableOwn MC number
The OP-1 application costs $300, you name a BOC-3 process agent, UCR starts at $55 a year, and your insurer files the BMC-91X within 20 days of FMCSA Register publication.
New authority checklistFederal rules lift the minimum to $750,000 once your truck is rated 10,001 pounds or more and you drive across state lines.
Louisiana intrastate trucking insurance requirements and weight tiers
Intrastate hauling means picking up loads and dropping them off inside Louisiana without ever crossing a state boundary. Motor carrier authority for these local operations comes from the Louisiana Public Service Commission. All motor carriers in the state must hold a liability insurance policy, with the required coverage rising as your truck gets heavier. Gross vehicle weight means the full weight of your truck plus its load, or the truck and trailer together.
Light commercial vehicles weighing 20,000 pounds or less use the standard auto liability minimum in Louisiana of 15/30/25. Higher state tiers start to apply when your truck's gross vehicle weight, or its combined weight rating, passes 20,000 pounds.
Once your truck reaches 50,001 pounds, Louisiana motor carrier law gives you a choice: a combined single limit or a split limit. With a split limit, there are separate caps: one for 1 injured person, one for everyone injured in the accident, and one for property damage. A combined single limit instead gives you 1 pool of money covering all crash injuries and property damage. A commercial truck insurance agent can pair your exact weight rating with the right policy.
| Gross vehicle weight | Bodily injury for 1 person | Bodily injury for 2 or more persons | Property damage | Combined single limit option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20,000 lbs and under | $15,000 | $30,000 | $25,000 | Not specified by state law |
| 20,001 to 50,000 lbs | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | Not specified by state law |
| Over 50,000 lbs | $100,000 | $300,000 per occurrence | $25,000 | $300,000 |
State filings and registration rules for Louisiana trucking insurance
Buying a policy alone won't keep your authority active. If the Louisiana Public Service Commission regulates your intrastate operation, you pay Inspection and Supervision Fees every quarter, and the commission offers an online calculator to work out what you owe. We often tell new owners that a valid, good-standing motor carrier account is required for electronic filing through the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles.
You must also finish Unified Carrier Registration at the Office of Motor Vehicles (Department of Public Safety). This applies if your vehicle is rated 10,001 pounds or more and crosses state lines. Both for-hire and private property carriers are covered by this rule. Opening or renewing an International Registration Plan apportioned account takes a current registration; the account is what lets you register a truck for travel across multiple states. Other vehicles on that same DOT number will be denied apportioned registration by Louisiana when this registration isn't current. Trucking insurance agents can help you coordinate your state accounts with your policy filings.
Federal limits for Louisiana commercial truck insurance across state lines
Once you cross a state line for hire, federal insurance rules apply to you. Before your interstate authority can go active, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration must have proof of liability coverage from your insurer. That proof is filed on Form BMC-91 or BMC-91X, or as a BMC-82 bond.
Your vehicle weight rating and your cargo determine the federal liability minimums. The law sets $750,000 for general freight hauled in trucks rated 10,001 pounds or more. Many freight brokers still want higher limits before they let you haul for them. C.H. Robinson is one example: it requires $1,000,000 in auto liability coverage plus $100,000 in cargo liability. Coverage that brokers actually accept is easier to get when you talk with an agent who knows trucking.
| Operation and cargo type | Federal minimum liability |
|---|---|
| For-hire property carrier whose fleet is made up only of vehicles under 10,001 lbs | $300,000 |
| For-hire non-hazardous property carrier whose vehicle is rated 10,001 lbs or more | $750,000 |
| Carrier for hire of oil, hazardous waste, or placarded hazardous materials | $1,000,000 |
| Private or for-hire carrier of bulk hazardous substances, explosives, poison gas, or radioactive materials | $5,000,000 |
Does Louisiana exempt any trucks from state motor carrier coverage?
State law in Louisiana spells out 3 specific exceptions to its motor carrier liability rules. Have a commercial truck insurance agent check your hauling setup and confirm which coverage applies before you decide your truck is exempt.
- Any vehicle transporting forest products in their natural state.
- A farm-to-market vehicle that is not primarily for hire.
- Tow trucks that Louisiana's separate towing statute covers.
Questions people ask
If I get into an accident without liability insurance in Louisiana, what happens?
Crash without liability coverage, and your driver's license can be suspended and your vehicle registrations revoked by the state for 180 days, according to Louisiana Department of Insurance guidance. Louisiana's No Pay, No Play law also bars an uninsured driver from collecting the first $25,000 for property damage or the first $15,000 for personal injury.
How much notice will my insurer give Louisiana when my policy cancels?
If your policy gets terminated, canceled, or lapses (even briefly), Louisiana law gives your insurer or the security provider 45 calendar days. They must notify the state secretary within that time. To administer these rules, the state may also charge up to $1 per vehicle.
Does Louisiana let motor carriers self-insure instead of buying insurance?
You can, provided you already meet the requirements. Motor carriers that qualify as self-insurers with the United States Department of Transportation, or under state self-insurance law, may operate in Louisiana as self-insurers.
Sources
- Louisiana Laws (legis.la.gov)
- Financial responsibility, minimum levels (49 CFR 387.9)
- Insurance filing requirements (FMCSA)
- Carrier Regulations and Applications (lpsc.louisiana.gov)
- Louisiana Department of Insurance auto guide (doe.louisiana.gov)
- Motor carrier account registration (motorcarrier.dor.in.gov)
- Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) (expresslane.la.gov)
- Carrier Resources: FAQs (C.H. Robinson)
Related
Insuring a truck in Louisiana
A trucking agent who places policies in Louisiana can quote it by phone, or you can send your details.