Semi truck insurance cost: what owner operators pay in 2026
Semi truck insurance cost averaged $926 a month for new for hire transport policies at Progressive in 2025. Leased on, ATBS puts a year at $3,000 to $5,000.
Published averages, the federal minimums and the cost on every mile, read at the source in October 2026.
Key takeaways
- $926 a month was Progressive's 2025 average for new for hire transport truck policies. (Progressive Commercial, 2026)
- $8,000 to $20,000 or more a year is what recent quotes on a new authority run. (Overdrive, 2026)
- $3,000 to $5,000 a year is the ATBS range when you are leased to a carrier. (ATBS, 2024)
- $750,000 is the federal minimum liability for general freight. Many brokers expect $1 million. (eCFR, 2026)
- 10% or more is what most Progressive customers save by paying the policy in full. (Progressive Commercial, 2026)
- 6.4% is how much insurance premiums rose in the first quarter of 2026, ATRI found. (Heavy Duty Trucking, 2026)
Insurance is the bill that decides whether your own authority makes sense. It is also the hardest one to get a straight number on.
I have run both ways: leased to Landstar Ranger for 3 years, and now under my own authority. The published numbers for the 2 are not close.
This guide gives you the published averages, the federal minimums and the cost on every mile. I read each source in October 2026.
How much does semi truck insurance cost?
Progressive's new for hire transport truck policies averaged $926 a month in 2025. That is $11,112 a year (Progressive Commercial).
That average covers truckers who haul goods such as general freight and autos. Specialty haulers, such as logging and garbage, averaged $734 a month.
Progressive calls these averages only. Your rate depends on your authority, your coverage, your record and where you run.
| Who | Per year | Source |
|---|---|---|
| For hire transport, new policy average | $11,112 | Progressive, 2025 |
| For hire specialty, new policy average | $8,808 | Progressive, 2025 |
| Own authority | $8,000 to $12,500 | ATBS, 2024 |
| New authority, recent quotes | $8,000 to $20,000 or more | Overdrive, 2026 |
| Leased to a carrier | $3,000 to $5,000 | ATBS, 2024 |
Sources: Progressive Commercial, ATBS and Overdrive. Read October 9 and 10, 2026.
The spread is wide because the buyers are different. A new authority with 1 truck sits at the top of it.
Why does your own authority cost more to insure?
Under your own authority you buy the primary liability policy. Leased on, the carrier usually covers it while you are under dispatch.
Progressive says leasing to a company is usually cheaper for 2 reasons. The carrier covers primary liability, and it takes on much of the risk for crashes, violations and cargo claims.
Here is what each case costs on every mile, at the ATBS average of 95,000 miles a year.
| Who | Per year | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| Leased to a carrier, low | $3,000 | 3.2 cents |
| Leased to a carrier, high | $5,000 | 5.3 cents |
| Own authority, low | $8,000 | 8.4 cents |
| Progressive transport average | $11,112 | 11.7 cents |
| Own authority, high | $12,500 | 13.2 cents |
| New authority, high quote | $20,000 | 21.1 cents |
Yearly figures from ATBS, Progressive Commercial and Overdrive. Miles from FreightWaves. The per mile division is mine.
For example, the gap between $5,000 leased and $12,500 on your own is $7,500 a year. Your own authority has to earn that back before it pays you more.
My guide to getting your own trucking authority lays out the rest of that trade.
How much insurance does the law require?
For hire carriers of general freight need at least $750,000 in public liability. Hazmat freight raises the floor to $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 (49 CFR 387.9).
| What you haul | Federal minimum |
|---|---|
| General freight, not hazardous | $750,000 |
| Oil and listed hazardous materials | $1,000,000 |
| Certain bulk hazardous materials, such as some explosives and poison gas | $5,000,000 |
Source: eCFR, up to date as of October 7, 2026.
The law is the floor. Your customers set the bar you work to. Truckstop says many brokers expect $1 million (Truckstop).
Amazon Relay asks for $1,000,000 in auto liability and $100,000 in cargo coverage before you haul its freight (Amazon Relay).
My free load boards guide lists the rest of what Amazon Relay asks.
FMCSA requires no cargo insurance for a motor carrier of general freight. Brokers and shippers ask for it anyway.
From the cab. I hold a Hazmat endorsement. Hazmat freight raises your liability floor, so price that insurance before you chase those loads.
Which policies make up the bill?
Under your own authority, the bill is 4 policies. Leased on, you carry 3 smaller ones (Progressive Commercial).
| Own authority | Leased to a carrier |
|---|---|
| Liability, for harm to other people | Non trucking liability, for personal use of the truck |
| Physical damage, for your truck | Physical damage, for your truck |
| Motor truck cargo, for the freight | Trailer interchange, for a trailer you do not own |
| General liability, for claims not tied to driving | The carrier usually provides primary liability |
Source: Progressive Commercial, read October 10, 2026.
The small policies are cheap next to primary liability. FreightWaves puts bobtail insurance at $360 to $720 a year (FreightWaves Checkpoint).
My guide to non trucking liability insurance covers the leased side.
What goes into your premium?
Progressive lists 7 things that move your rate. They run from your authority and your coverage to your record and your location.
- Authority. Your own authority costs more than a lease.
- Coverage. More coverage and higher limits cost more.
- Cargo. High value or hazardous freight costs more than lower risk goods.
- Radius. A regional driver usually pays more than a local one.
- Truck. A heavier truck costs more. A newer one with safety features may cost less.
- Record. Progressive says even a minor speeding ticket can raise your rate a lot.
- Location. Rates vary by state.
You control 2 of them every day: your driving record and the freight you choose.
The truck you buy moves this bill too. My article on how much a semi truck costs has this fall's prices.
How do you lower your semi truck insurance cost?
Pay the year in full, share your ELD data if your insurer rewards it and keep your record clean. Then shop the policy with 3 agents.
- Pay in full. Progressive says most customers save 10% or more. That is $1,000 on a $10,000 policy.
- Share ELD data. Progressive says truck customers in its Smart Haul program save $1,261 on average.
- Raise the deductible. Your premium drops, and you pay more out of pocket after a claim.
- Build a history. Some owners report primary liability falling to $5,000 to $10,000 once established, Overdrive says.
- Get 3 quotes. Do it before you pay the $300 authority fee.
Those savings figures are Progressive's own, so ask any insurer you quote for its numbers.
Then put the yearly premium into the cost per mile calculator as a fixed cost.
What should you budget for next year?
Budget for a rise. ATRI found insurance premiums up 6.4% in the first quarter of 2026, Heavy Duty Trucking reported.
For example, 6.4% on $11,112 is about $711 more a year.
Do not let the policy lapse to save money. To cancel, you or your insurer must give the other 35 days of written notice (49 CFR 387.7).
FMCSA suspends or revokes your authority when proof of coverage is not on file. Reinstating it costs $80, and you cannot haul for hire in between (FMCSA).
To see what is left after this bill, read owner operator salary after expenses.
This is not insurance advice. A licensed agent who writes truck policies can price your own case.
Frequently asked questions
How much is semi truck insurance a month?
Progressive's new for hire transport truck policies averaged $926 a month in 2025. Specialty haulers averaged $734. (Progressive Commercial)
How much is semi truck insurance a year?
$11,112 at Progressive's 2025 transport average. ATBS puts own authority at $8,000 to $12,500 a year. (Progressive Commercial)
How much is insurance for a new trucking authority?
Overdrive reports recent quotes of $8,000 to $20,000 or more a year on new authority. (Overdrive)
How much is truck insurance when you are leased on?
ATBS puts it at $3,000 to $5,000 a year. The carrier usually provides primary liability. (ATBS)
Is $1 million in liability required by law?
Not for general freight. The federal minimum is $750,000. Many brokers expect $1 million. (eCFR)
Do you need cargo insurance on a semi truck?
FMCSA requires none for a motor carrier of general freight. Brokers and shippers often require it. (FMCSA)
How can you lower semi truck insurance cost?
Pay in full, keep a clean record and get 3 quotes. Progressive says most customers save 10% or more by paying in full. (Progressive Commercial)
How this was checked
On October 10, 2026, I read Progressive Commercial's cost and coverage pages and the federal minimums at 49 CFR 387.9. The eCFR text was current to October 7, 2026.
The ATBS and Overdrive ranges were read on October 9 and again on October 10, 2026. Progressive's averages come from its own 2025 new policies, so they describe one insurer's customers.
The per mile figures and the 6.4% example are my arithmetic on the sourced numbers. I did not use my own premiums in this article.
This is not insurance advice. Get written quotes from licensed agents, and read the policy before you pay.
Evidence label: researched from insurer, trade and federal sources, with first hand notes. Update schedule: twice a year, and when Progressive posts new averages.
Sources
- Commercial truck insurance cost. Progressive Commercial. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- Owner operator insurance. Progressive Commercial. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- How much does it cost to start a trucking company, April 2024. ATBS. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- Getting your own authority: Basics of filing, insurance and avoiding common mistakes, updated April 1, 2026. Overdrive. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- 49 CFR 387.9, Financial responsibility, minimum levels. eCFR. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- 49 CFR 387.7, Financial responsibility required. eCFR. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- Types of Operating Authority. FMCSA. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- How to Start a Trucking Company: A 14 Step Guide, January 24, 2025. Truckstop. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- Amazon Relay, carrier requirements and FAQ. Amazon Relay. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- What is bobtail insurance, March 18, 2026. FreightWaves Checkpoint. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- Trucking Fleets Faced Record Operating Costs During Third Year of Freight Recession, July 15, 2026. Heavy Duty Trucking. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- ATBS: average truck driver earnings in 2025 held mostly stable from 2024, April 15, 2026. FreightWaves. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- Get Operating Authority (Docket Number), updated April 20, 2026. FMCSA. Accessed October 10, 2026.