Commercial Truck Insurance Cost

How much is commercial truck insurance?

The cost of commercial truck insurance can vary widely depending on your operation and coverage needs. Understanding what impacts your rate can help you plan and save. One way to estimate how much you'll pay is to look at real data and see what an average policy costs. To give you a better idea, we looked at our 2025 new for-hire truck policies and grouped them into two categories:

• For-hire transport: Truckers who haul goods, such as general freight and autos.
• For-hire specialty: Truckers who focus on a specific niche, such as garbage, septic waste, or logging.

The national average monthly commercial truck insurance cost with Progressive Commercial ranged from $734 for specialty truckers to $926 for transport truckers.^‡‡ Remember, these numbers are only averages. Your rate depends on many factors, like coverage needs and driving history.

Want to know what you'll pay? Start a custom quote online or call us to speak with a licensed professional.

Truck insurance cost factors

USDOT authority

Whether you operate under your own authority or lease onto a motor carrier can significantly impact your insurance cost.

Leasing to a company is usually cheaper than working under your own authority because it can help with:

• Primary liability insurance: When you're leased to a company, they typically cover primary liability while under dispatch. You may still need non-truck or bobtail coverage to fill the gaps, but your overall insurance costs are often lower.
• Risk management: Owner operators with their own USDOT authority take on full responsibility for accidents, violations, and cargo claims. When you lease onto a motor carrier, the company often assumes much of this risk.

Coverage requirements

Generally, the more coverage you need, the more your trucking insurance will cost.

For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) usually requires truckers who need a federal filing to carry a minimum combined single limit (CSL) of $750,000 or $1 million depending on cargo and vehicle type. These amounts are higher than most state minimums, which affects your premium.

Some contracts might also require you to carry extra coverages, like physical damage or trailer interchange. These add-ons can increase your truck insurance cost.

Cargo

Cargo type affects your truck insurance cost based on factors like value, theft potential, and hazard level. For example, a semi truck carrying high-value or hazardous materials typically costs more to insure than one hauling lower-risk goods like fresh produce.

Along with liability coverage, you might also need motor truck cargo insurance to protect against lost or damaged cargo. This extra coverage can raise your truck insurance rate. Learn how the cost of cargo insurance factors into your overall price.

Operating radius

Truckers with a large operating radius usually take on more risk due to longer drive times and more varied routes. Specifically, insurers consider whether you drive across state lines or work in a single state. For example, a semi truck driver who travels regionally will usually pay more for insurance than a driver whose routes are local.

Truck type and age

The type of vehicle you drive can determine your commercial truck insurance cost. For example, it generally costs more to cover a heavy semi truck than a lighter pickup truck carrying the same product because the semi truck can cause more damage in an accident. Explore the types of commercial trucks we insure.

Your vehicle's age can also impact your rate. Newer trucks with advanced safety features might cost less to insure because they reduce the likelihood of accidents and theft.

Driving history

Accidents and violations impact commercial truck insurance premiums more than typical auto policies because large, heavy vehicles can cause more damage. Even a minor speeding ticket on a trucker's driving history can significantly increase your rate.

Keeping a clean record could save you hundreds, or even thousands, on your truck driver insurance cost.

Location

Commercial truck insurance rates vary by state. You can sometimes expect to pay more if you operate in locations with heavy traffic, roadwork, and accidents. Learn more about commercial truck insurance by state.

How to get affordable commercial truck insurance

Truckers need coverage they can rely on. So instead of focusing only on price, most look for ways to lower costs while getting the protection they need.

Here are a few tips to help you get affordable commercial truck insurance:

Adjust your coverages and limits

While more coverage provides greater protection, it's not always in the budget. Luckily, you can adjust your commercial truck coverages to help save on your truck insurance cost.

For example, physical damage coverage is usually required for trucks with an outstanding loan or lease. To reduce your total cost, you could simply raise your deductible. Just remember that you'll have to pay more out of pocket if you have a claim.

Make sure you're satisfied with the coverage you choose before your policy starts. You can also reach out to an insurance expert if you have questions about balancing price and protection.

Calculate monthly payments

Don't let the annual cost shock you. For example, a commercial truck insurance quote of $11,000 per year might sound difficult to manage, but breaking it into monthly payments can make it less intimidating and easier to budget.

Some companies, like Progressive Commercial, offer discounts to customers who pay in full. Be sure to ask about unique billing options when getting your truck insurance quote.

Ask about discounts^†

Discounts are one of the easiest ways to get the best value on commercial truck insurance. A few of our favorite discounts for for-hire truckers include:

• Paid in full discount: Most customers can save 10% or more when they pay their policy in full.^‡ That's a $1,000 savings on a $10,000 policy.
• Smart Haul®: Progressive truck customers can save an average of $1,261^** on their commercial truck premium by enrolling in this program and allowing us to access data from their electronic logging device (ELD).

Discover your truck insurance cost with Progressive Commercial

As America's #1 truck insurer,^Δ we use real data to offer competitive rates that reflect your needs, so you get the coverage you want without paying for what you don't.

Choosing Progressive Commercial truck insurance means you'll have access to:

• 24/7 customer support and specialized truck claims assistance
• Flexible payment options that fit your budget
• Discounts and savings programs for truckers

With more than 50 years of experience, our licensed agents can help you find coverage that fits your business. You can also get a fast, personalized quote online to compare options and pricing.