Auto Hauler insurance — Commercial Trucking
Auto haulers running under commercial trucking authority — primary liability, cargo, on-hook, and physical damage.
We shop carriers including
Auto haulers are a subset of commercial trucking but require markets that understand the cargo. Most general trucking underwriters either decline auto-hauler risks or surcharge them so heavily that the policy is not competitive. Seven sedans at $35,000 each, or a single luxury unit plus six others, puts the worst-case load past $300,000 — enough to push general-trucking carriers out of the bidding.
We write owner-operators running open trailers (typically 7 to 10 cars) and enclosed haulers running fewer, higher-value units. The standard package includes $1,000,000 primary liability, physical damage on the tractor and trailer, motor truck cargo with the right per-vehicle and per-load limits, and on-hook coverage if any of the work involves wrecked, repossessed, or non-running units.
Operating authority matters more than most haulers realize. New-venture operations with their own MC number price very differently from experienced haulers leased to a transport company. Leased-on owner-operators need bobtail and non-trucking liability plus physical damage on the tractor, with the lessor's policy covering primary liability and cargo while under dispatch.
Frequently asked questions
Can you write a new-venture auto hauler?
Yes. New-venture trucking is harder to place — most general carriers decline anything under 12 months of authority. We have markets that take it. Expect the first 12 months to price higher than year two; clean history is the main premium driver after the new-venture surcharge runs off.
How much cargo coverage should an auto hauler carry?
Math the worst-case load. Seven cars at $40,000 each is $280,000. One luxury or EV unit on the deck plus six others pushes the worst case past $350,000. We size per-vehicle and per-load limits to the actual mix you haul.
Do you write enclosed auto haulers?
Yes. Enclosed haulers carry fewer but higher-value units. We recommend higher physical-damage limits because the trailer itself is a six-figure asset, and cargo limits need higher per-vehicle sub-limits to match. The carrier panel for enclosed is narrower than for open.
What's the difference between on-hook and motor truck cargo?
Motor truck cargo covers the vehicles on the deck in transit. On-hook covers cargo while being loaded, secured, or transported on a hook or wheel-lift — typically wrecked, repossessed, or non-running units. Pure roll-on roll-off operations may not need it.
How does the FMCSA BMC-91 filing work?
BMC-91 is the federal financial-responsibility filing for interstate motor carrier authority. It establishes minimum liability — $750,000 floor with most auto-hauler shippers requiring $1,000,000. We file directly with FMCSA on every interstate auto-hauler account. BMC-34 (cargo) is filed separately when the commodity or shipper requires it.