Trucking insurance in Virginia

Virginia intrastate trucking insurance requirements

You may not legally haul property for pay between points within Virginia unless the Virginia DMV has issued you a permit or certificate of fitness. State permission to be paid for moving loads that begin and finish inside Virginia is called intrastate authority. GVWR, or gross vehicle weight rating, is the most weight your truck can safely carry when loaded, as set by the manufacturer. If every vehicle you run has a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or below, you do not need this state authority, but you are still required to follow Virginia motor carrier insurance rules. State insurance rules and for-hire declarations still apply to interstate carriers as well.

The state won't issue your authority until an insurer licensed in Virginia has sent proof of your policies. Your insurer uses Form E, a state filing, to prove you carry liability coverage for property damage and bodily injury (the insurer also files Form H when cargo insurance applies). Policies taking effect January 1, 2025, or later carry base auto liability minimums in Virginia of 50/100/25. A truck insurance agent can confirm which filings your setup needs and get your insurer to send Form E ahead of your application.

Permits, plates, and fees for Virginia trucking insurance

Once your insurance proof is on file with Motor Carrier Services, you can get your property carrier permit the day you apply. Each permit and certificate stays valid for 12 consecutive months. From February 1, 2027 onward, all operating authority applications and renewals must be submitted online, with transportation network company renewals as the exception.

Before registering your truck, talk with a trucking insurance agent so the details on your policy line up with your for-hire registration.

• When you apply for operating authority in Virginia, a filing fee of $50 generally applies.
• For-hire property trucks above 10,000 pounds each carry a $10 yearly fee (vehicles with unified carrier registration, apportioned plates, or fuel tax markers don't pay this $10 fee).
• Every vehicle you use under your state authority must carry for-hire license plates and for-hire registration.
• All permit and certificate holders must have Virginia road tax registration.

What limits apply to Virginia commercial truck insurance?

Federal liability minimums begin once a for-hire load crosses into another state: fleets with only vehicles rated below 10,001 pounds need $300,000, while heavier general freight trucks need $750,000. To prove your liability policy is active, your insurer files Form BMC-91 or BMC-91X with the federal agency (a BMC-82 bond is another option).

Many freight brokers want coverage above the federal minimum. C.H. Robinson, for instance, calls for $1,000,000 in auto liability plus $100,000 of cargo insurance. To compare costs, get quotes on the legal minimum plus the $1,000,000 broker limit from an agent who writes commercial truck policies.

Carrier or load type	Minimum coverage
Base auto liability in Virginia (policies on or after Jan. 1, 2025)	50/100/25
Interstate for-hire property (only vehicles under 10,001 lbs)	$300,000 liability
Interstate for-hire non-hazardous property (10,001 lbs or more)	$750,000 liability
Oil, hazardous waste, or placarded hazardous materials hauled interstate for-hire	$1,000,000 liability
C.H. Robinson freight broker requirement	$1,000,000 auto liability and $100,000 cargo
Poison gas, explosives, radioactive materials, or bulk hazardous tanks hauled across state lines	$5,000,000 liability

Maintaining active Virginia authority and filings

Your truck can be taken off the road if you let your policy or permit lapse. Once a notice of nonrenewal goes out from the state, a permit or certificate left unrenewed expires 30 days later. When the state denies your application, you may request a hearing in writing within 30 days. The state may allow a vehicle to run without a proper identification marker or registration card for up to 10 days in an emergency.

All vehicles registered in the state must carry coverage from a Virginia-authorized insurer. If your vehicle is uninsured, the state requires you to file an SR-22 for 3 years to get reinstated. An agent who tracks commercial filings can help you keep Form E active and avoid a lapse.

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