Truck insurance · All 50 states
Truck insurance requirements by state
For commercial trucks: which states require a USDOT number for trucks that never leave the state, which issue their own operating authority, which take part in UCR, and the state trucking taxes to know about, in one table, with a page and official sources for each state. A personal pickup falls under the state’s car insurance minimums instead (car insurance requirements by state).
Quick answer Truck insurance requirements by state depend on the truck: commercial trucks crossing state lines follow federal rules, including at least $750,000 of liability for general freight, while a personal pickup falls under the state's car insurance minimums.
- A personal pickup truck falls under the state's car insurance minimums, not the commercial truck requirements.
- Commercial trucks that stay inside one state answer to that state's rules, and those rules differ from state to state.
- 38 states are on FMCSA's list of states that require intrastate carriers to get a USDOT number, each with its own weight thresholds.
- Some states issue their own operating authority and insurance minimums for trucks, and a few charge a weight-distance tax on top of fuel tax.
- In California, intrastate property carriers need a Motor Carrier Permit (MCP) from the California DMV.
By Sam Alishahi · Reviewed October 2026
The short version
Federal rules set the floor for trucks crossing state lines: a USDOT number, operating authority for most for-hire freight, and at least $750,000 of liability for general freight. Trucks that stay inside one state answer to that state, and the states differ: 38 are on FMCSA’s list of states that require intrastate carriers to get a USDOT number (each with its own weight thresholds), some issue their own operating authority and insurance minimums, and a few charge a weight-distance tax on top of fuel tax.
How many new trucking companies start in each state, by month, from FMCSA’s census: new trucking companies by state; and crashes, injuries and deaths involving trucks in each state: truck accident statistics by state.
| State | On FMCSA’s intrastate USDOT list | State operating authority | UCR participant | State trucking taxes and permits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | For-hire carriers hauling property between points inside Alabama need intrastate authority (a certificate or… | Yes | ALDOT oversize/overweight permits |
| Alaska | Yes | — | Yes | No IRP: dual registration or trip permits, DOT&PF oversize/overweight permits |
| Arizona | Yes | — | No | ADOT oversize/overweight permits |
| Arkansas | No | All for-hire carriers hauling property or passengers wholly within Arkansas need an Arkansas Intrastate… | Yes | ARDOT oversize/overweight permits |
| California | Yes | Intrastate property carriers need a Motor Carrier Permit (MCP) from the California DMV, along with a CA… | Yes | CARB Clean Truck Check, CARB Truck and Bus Regulation |
| Colorado | Yes | Colorado's PUC does not regulate intrastate transportation of property except by towing carriers and… | Yes | Commercial vehicle chain law, CDOT oversize/overweight permits |
| Connecticut | Yes | Connecticut issues no operating authority for general freight; its state motor carrier licensing now covers… | Yes | Connecticut Highway Use Fee, CT DOT oversize/overweight permits |
| Delaware | Yes | — | Yes | DelDOT oversize/overweight permits |
| Florida | Yes | Florida does not issue operating authority for intrastate general freight. Intrastate household goods movers… | No | FDOT overweight/over-dimensional permits |
| Georgia | Yes | Carriers running commercial vehicles only inside Georgia, plus for-hire operators of lighter commercial… | Yes | Oversize/overweight permits (GAPROS) |
| Hawaii | Yes | Any carrier hauling property or passengers for hire on Hawaii's public highways needs a Certificate of… | No | PUC annual financial report and gross revenue fee, HDOT Vehicle Identification Card and safety check |
| Idaho | Yes | — | Yes | Weight-and-mileage registration over 60,000 lbs, 129,000-lb routes and overlegal permits |
| Illinois | No | For-hire carriers of property (other than household goods) operating intrastate need a Public Carrier… | Yes | IDOT oversize/overweight permits (ITAP), Illinois Tollway truck tolls |
| Indiana | Yes | Intrastate carriers register with the Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services, for Intrastate… | Yes | Oversize/overweight permits through DOR |
| Iowa | Yes | Iowa DOT's Office of Motor Carrier Services issues a motor carrier permit to intrastate for-hire property… | Yes | Iowa DOT oversize/overweight permits |
| Kansas | Yes | A public motor carrier hauling property (other than household goods) or passengers intrastate must first get… | Yes | Kansas commercial registration, K-TRIPS oversize/overweight permits |
| Kentucky | Yes | The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's Division of Motor Carriers issues a Kentucky Intrastate For-Hire… | Yes | Kentucky Weight Distance tax (KYU), Kentucky Intrastate Tax (KIT) |
| Louisiana | No | Louisiana does not issue operating authority for intrastate general freight. The Louisiana Public Service… | Yes | DOTD oversize/overweight permits, LPSC identification stamps |
| Maine | Yes | Maine does not appear to issue a separate operating-authority certificate for intrastate general freight.… | Yes | BMV overlimit permits and Maine Turnpike permits |
| Maryland | Yes | Maryland does not issue operating authority for intrastate property carriers. The Maryland Public Service… | No | SHA hauling permits |
| Massachusetts | Yes | No state operating authority for general-freight intrastate carriers was found. Household goods movers that… | Yes | MassDOT commercial truck permits (OASIS), Massachusetts Vehicle Check commercial and diesel inspection |
| Michigan | Yes | Under the Motor Carrier Act (PA 254 of 1933), intrastate for-hire carriers must get CVED Authority from the… | Yes | Spring (frost law) weight restrictions, MDOT oversize/overweight permits |
| Minnesota | Yes | For-hire property carriers operating within Minnesota must get a Motor Carrier of Property Certificate of… | Yes | Spring load restrictions, MnDOT oversize/overweight permits |
| Mississippi | No | Carriers hauling property other than household goods within Mississippi register with MDOT's Motor Carrier… | Yes | MDOT ExpressPass oversize/overweight permits |
| Missouri | Yes | All for-hire carriers of property or passengers operating wholly within Missouri must get Missouri… | Yes | MoDOT oversize/overweight permits |
| Montana | Yes | Montana's current motor carrier statute has only three classes needing a Public Service Commission… | Yes | Montana GVW fee, MDT oversize/overweight permits (eTRIPS) |
| Nebraska | Yes | Nebraska issues no operating authority for intrastate general-freight carriers. The Public Service… | Yes | NDOT oversize/overweight truck permits |
| Nevada | Yes | A common carrier of property other than a household goods mover or tow operator needs written approval from… | No | — |
| New Hampshire | No | New Hampshire repealed RSA chapter 375-B, its law on motor vehicles carrying property for hire, effective… | Yes | Special (oversize/overweight) permits, IFTA and UCR through the Road Toll Bureau |
| New Jersey | Yes | Movers of household goods operating within New Jersey must be licensed as public movers by the Division of… | No | NJDOT oversize/overweight permits and Code 23 trailers |
| New Mexico | No | NMDOT's Transportation Regulation Bureau took this over from the Public Regulation Commission on July 1,… | Yes | Weight Distance Tax |
| New York | Yes | NYSDOT issues a certificate of authority for intrastate for-hire property carriers other than household… | Yes | Highway Use Tax (HUT), NYSDOT special hauling permits |
| North Carolina | Yes | Intrastate for-hire carriers that do not haul household goods register with the NCDMV, file insurance… | Yes | NCDOT oversize/overweight permits |
| North Dakota | No | North Dakota does not require state operating authority for intrastate property carriers. Household goods… | Yes | NDHP oversize/overweight permits |
| Ohio | Yes | A for-hire motor carrier may not operate intrastate in Ohio until it registers with the Public Utilities… | Yes | ODOT special hauling permits |
| Oklahoma | Yes | Carriers hauling property or passengers for hire within Oklahoma need an Intrastate For-Hire Motor Carrier… | Yes | Deleterious Substance Transport Permit, Size and weight permits |
| Oregon | Yes | Intrastate for-hire carriers of any weight need a Class 1A Permit from ODOT's Commerce and Compliance… | No | Weight-mile tax, Highway use tax bond, Over-dimension variance permits |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Any carrier paid for a trip that starts and ends in Pennsylvania needs a certificate (PUC number) from the… | Yes | PennDOT special hauling permits |
| Rhode Island | No | The Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (Motor Carriers Section) regulates intrastate for-hire… | Yes | RIDOT oversize/overweight permits |
| South Carolina | Yes | SCDMV issues a Certificate of Compliance to intrastate for-hire property carriers: Class E-L for very… | Yes | SCDOT oversize/overweight permits |
| South Dakota | No | South Dakota's Motor Carrier Handbook lists operating authority, IFTA and UCR as credentials for interstate… | Yes | Oversize/overweight permits (SD Highway Patrol), Commercial vehicle registration, IFTA through the Department of Revenue |
| Tennessee | No | For-hire motor carriers (and private towing and wrecker services) operating within Tennessee need Intrastate… | Yes | — |
| Texas | Yes | Intrastate carriers in those categories must hold a TxDMV Certificate of Registration (TxDMV number), issued… | Yes | TxDMV oversize/overweight permits (TxPROS) |
| Utah | Yes | — | Yes | UDOT Motor Carrier Division oversize/overweight permits |
| Vermont | No | — | No | Vermont DMV oversize/overweight permits, VT Haul Pass, IFTA through Vermont DMV |
| Virginia | No | Virginia DMV Motor Carrier Services issues intrastate operating authority (a property carrier permit) to… | Yes | Virginia DMV hauling permits (EZ Haul) |
| Washington | Yes | For-hire carriers hauling general commodities within Washington must get a common carrier permit from the… | Yes | WSDOT oversize/overweight permits |
| West Virginia | Yes | For-hire property carriers do not need a certificate, but before operating they must register each year with… | Yes | — |
| Wisconsin | Yes | For-hire carriers of property or passengers operating within Wisconsin must get Wisconsin intrastate… | Yes | WisDOT oversize/overweight permits |
| Wyoming | Yes | WYDOT's Motor Vehicle Services Operating Authority Section issues Wyoming Operating Authority, which… | No | Mandatory ports of entry, Oversize/overweight permits |
General information, not legal advice. State rules change; each state page links to the agency to confirm with. Free to cite with a link to this page. Download as CSV.
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