California truck insurance from people who only insure trucks
State & Co Insurance LLC is a family-owned independent agency, and trucking insurance is all we do. Since 2010 we have worked with more than 15 A-rated carriers, and we are licensed in 34 states, California included. California has more trucking regulation than any other state, so it pays to work with people who deal with it every day.
California is the country’s biggest freight market. The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach form one of the busiest container port complexes in the nation, the Port of Oakland serves the north, and I-5, I-10, I-15, I-40, and I-80 tie the state to every region. The Central Valley grows a huge share of the nation’s produce, which keeps reefer demand strong, and the Inland Empire around Ontario and Fontana has become one of the largest warehouse and distribution clusters anywhere. Running here means dealing with CARB emissions rules and California’s own intrastate authority requirements on top of the federal ones.
Coverage built for California truckers
- Primary auto liability. The federal minimum is $750,000 for general freight, but California shippers and brokers overwhelmingly require $1,000,000, and the state’s litigation environment makes higher limits worth a serious look.
- Cargo insurance. $100,000 is the standard broker requirement. Produce and reefer haulers out of the Central Valley should confirm reefer breakdown coverage and temperature exclusions.
- Physical damage. Covers your tractor and trailer for collision, theft, fire, and vandalism. Theft exposure around port and metro terminals is real, so stated values and deductibles deserve attention.
- Non-trucking liability (bobtail). For non-dispatch use of the truck between loads.
- Trailer interchange. Common on port drayage and intermodal work around LA, Long Beach, and Oakland, where you are constantly pulling someone else’s chassis or container trailer.
- Workers comp / occupational accident. California generally requires workers comp for any employer with one or more employees, with very few exceptions. Owner-operators commonly carry occupational accident coverage.
- General liability. Covers off-the-road exposures like loading dock and customer premises incidents.
New authority in California
- BMC-91 filing. FMCSA requires your insurer to file proof of liability coverage before your interstate MC number goes active. We handle that filing when we write your policy.
- UCR registration. California interstate carriers must complete Unified Carrier Registration each year. If you run intrastate only, you need a California Motor Carrier Permit and CA number from the DMV instead of federal authority, and your insurance filings go to the state.
- Minimum limits warning. The $750,000 federal minimum activates your authority, but California brokers and shippers will expect $1,000,000 liability and $100,000 cargo, and many contracts ask for more.
What truck insurance costs in California
A typical owner-operator full package (liability, cargo, physical damage) runs about $12,000 to $18,000 a year. New authority in the first year is usually $18,000 to $30,000 or more. One California-specific note: the state’s high litigation costs and heavy traffic density push liability pricing above the national average, and CARB emissions rules can limit which trucks you can run, especially in port drayage, which affects the equipment carriers are willing to insure.
Cities we serve across California
- Los Angeles. Anchors the LA and Long Beach port complex and the nation’s busiest drayage and container freight market.
- Oakland. Northern California’s container port and East Bay distribution hub on the I-80 and I-880 corridors.
- Fresno. Heart of the Central Valley produce belt, driving year-round reefer and agricultural freight on Highway 99 and I-5.
- Sacramento. State capital and northern distribution point where I-5 and I-80 meet.
- San Diego. Border and metro freight market on the I-15 and I-5 corridors, with cross-border connections to Mexico.
Why truckers use an independent agent
As an independent agency we work with more than 15 A-rated carriers instead of one company. That means we shop your coverage across the market, match the carrier to the way you actually run, and you talk to the same people when a claim or an audit comes up. We do not answer to a home office quota. We answer to you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does truck insurance cost in California?
Most owner-operators pay $12,000 to $18,000 a year for a full package, often toward the higher end because of litigation costs and traffic density. First-year new authority typically runs $18,000 to $30,000 or more.
What are the minimum liability limits?
Federal minimums are $750,000 for general freight and $300,000 for household goods. California brokers and shippers almost always require $1,000,000 liability and $100,000 cargo, and many contracts ask for more.
I just got my MC number. What do I need to get it active?
An insurance policy with a BMC-91 filing to FMCSA, UCR registration, and your BOC-3. If you will run intrastate only, you need a California Motor Carrier Permit and CA number instead.
Does California require workers comp for my drivers?
California generally requires workers comp for any employer with one or more employees, with very few exceptions. Solo owner-operators typically carry occupational accident coverage instead.
How do CARB emissions rules affect my insurance?
CARB rules determine which trucks can legally operate in California, especially in port drayage. If your truck is not compliant, you cannot run the freight, so confirm your equipment meets the current requirements before you buy a policy around those lanes.
How fast can I get covered?
Most quotes come back within one business day, and once you approve the quote we can bind coverage and handle your BMC-91 or state filings the same day.
State & Co Insurance LLC
11220 Elm Lane Suite 202, Charlotte, NC 28277
(980) 475-8075 | kevin@statecoinsurance.com
