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How to Get Trucking Insurance With No Experience
  • By admin  20 Feb, 2026

How to Get Trucking Insurance With No Experience

A practical guide for new CDL holders and first-time owner-operators on finding affordable, FMCSA-compliant coverage from day one

OLPolicy  |  (866) 757-5350  |  Last Updated: 2026  |  Reading Time: ~18 min

Key Takeaways

      Getting trucking insurance with no experience is possible, but you will pay more and have fewer carrier options than an experienced operator with a clean record.

      The non-standard and surplus lines insurance markets exist specifically to cover higher-risk profiles, including new CDL holders and first-time authorities.

      Leasing to an established carrier before running under your own authority significantly reduces your insurance cost and risk exposure as a new driver.

      Your CDL class, driving record, cargo type, operating radius and the age of your truck are the primary factors underwriters evaluate for new operators.

      Most new authorities experience their sharpest rate decreases after 12 months of clean operation and again at the 24 and 36-month marks.

      OLPolicy specializes in new operator placements and works with markets that actively write inexperienced truckers. Call (866) 757-5350 for a free quote.

 

One of the most common and most frustrating discoveries for new truck drivers and first-time owner-operators is that insurance – an absolute requirement for legal operation – is significantly harder and more expensive to obtain without a track record. Standard insurance carriers use experience as a proxy for risk. No history means unknown risk and unknown risk means higher rates, more restrictive terms and in some cases, outright declination from carriers that only write established operators.

But “harder” does not mean impossible and “more expensive” does not mean unaffordable. A well-prepared new operator who understands the market, has the right documentation and works with a broker who specializes in new operator placements can obtain FMCSA-compliant coverage, get their authority activated and start building the track record that will drive rates down over the next one to three years.

This guide walks through exactly how to do that – from understanding why insurers treat new operators differently, to the specific steps for obtaining coverage, to the strategies that will accelerate your path to better rates. If you want to skip straight to getting quotes, OLPolicy’s team is available at (866) 757-5350 and works with markets that specifically serve new and inexperienced operators.

 

Why Trucking Insurance Is Harder to Get With No Experience?

How Underwriters Think About Experience?

Insurance underwriting is fundamentally the business of predicting future claims based on available data. When an underwriter evaluates a new operator, they have very little data to work with. There is no loss run – no history of prior claims – and no established pattern of safe operation. In the absence of that data, underwriters fall back on statistical averages for the class of operator most similar to yours.

The statistics are not favorable for new operators. Inexperienced commercial drivers have measurably higher accident rates than experienced drivers. New motor carrier authorities have higher claim frequencies than established carriers in their first two years of operation. These are actuarial facts that drive underwriting decisions across the industry and no amount of personal confidence in your own abilities changes how those numbers affect your quote.

The result is a tiered market access problem: the carriers with the most competitive rates – the large standard market insurers – apply the most restrictive experience requirements. Many will not write a new authority with a driver who has fewer than two years of CDL experience. The carriers that will write new operators charge meaningfully higher premiums to compensate for the higher expected claim frequency.

The Two-Year Threshold

Two years of CDL experience is the most common standard market threshold. Below that mark, you are likely to be declined by preferred market carriers entirely and will need access to the non-standard or surplus lines market. This does not mean you cannot get coverage – it means you need a broker with access to the right markets.

The good news is that the two-year threshold is a starting point, not a permanent ceiling. Once you have 12 to 24 months of clean operating history as an owner-operator – no at-fault accidents, no serious violations, no claims – you begin to transition from an unknown risk to a demonstrably good risk. At that point, preferred market carriers become available and rates decline meaningfully.

New Authority vs. Experienced Driver Under New Authority

There is an important distinction between a new CDL holder and an experienced driver who is simply new to running under their own authority. An owner-operator who has driven for a carrier for 10 years and is now starting their own authority for the first time is in a materially different position than someone who obtained their CDL six months ago and is immediately applying for authority.

The experienced driver’s CDL history, employment record and MVR are all available to underwriters and speak directly to their risk profile. Many standard market carriers will write an experienced driver on a new authority – the experience is on the driver and the new authority is a business structure change, not a skill change. A brand-new CDL holder is a different underwriting profile entirely and the two should not be confused when approaching the insurance market.

 

Your Two Paths: Leased to a Carrier vs. Own Authority

Before diving into the mechanics of getting insurance, it is worth stepping back to consider whether running under your own authority immediately is the right path for a new operator. The insurance cost and complexity differences between the two structures are substantial.

 

Path 1: Lease to an Established Carrier First

Leasing to a carrier means operating your truck under the carrier’s motor carrier authority rather than your own. The carrier’s primary liability policy covers you while you are under dispatch and your own insurance obligations are limited to physical damage on your truck, bobtail/non-trucking liability for off-dispatch periods and potentially cargo insurance and occupational accident coverage depending on the lease terms.

For a new operator, this path has significant advantages:

  •       Lower total insurance cost: $5,000 to $9,000 per year total versus $12,000 to $20,000 or more for own authority
  •       No primary liability requirement: The carrier’s policy covers the most expensive and hardest-to-obtain coverage
  •       Business experience accumulation: You build verifiable operating history that benefits future insurance applications
  •       Freight and revenue certainty: Established carriers provide consistent load access while you learn the business
  •       Mentorship and support: Many carriers provide dispatch support, fuel programs and operational guidance for new drivers

 

The trade-off is that you operate under someone else’s authority and are subject to their load assignments, rates and operational requirements. For many new operators, this is a worthwhile short-term constraint in exchange for lower costs and risk while building experience.

Path 2: Own Authority From Day One

Running under your own authority from the start gives you full independence – you choose your loads, set your rates and build your business on your own terms. The trade-off is that you bear the full cost and complexity of insurance from day one, including primary liability, which is the most expensive coverage in the package and the hardest to obtain at competitive rates without experience.

This path is viable, but it requires more preparation, more upfront cost and a realistic understanding of what the insurance market will deliver in the first one to two years. New authorities on their own are not shut out of the market – but they are in the non-standard and surplus lines segment of it and rates will be higher than the industry averages you may have seen quoted online.

 

Factor Leased to Carrier Own Authority (No Experience)
Primary Liability Carrier covers; you need bobtail/NTL only $8,000 – $20,000+/yr your responsibility
Total Annual Insurance Cost $4,000 – $9,000 $12,000 – $22,000+
Market Access Standard market available for physical damage/bobtail Largely non-standard/surplus lines for primary liability
FMCSA Filing Required No (carrier holds authority) Yes – BMC-91 required
Income Certainty Higher – carrier provides load access Lower – you build your own freight relationships
Path to Better Rates Build experience, then obtain own authority 24–36 months of clean history opens standard market
Best For New CDL holders, first year operators Experienced drivers starting own authority

 

 

What Underwriters Look at for New Operators

Even with limited operating history, underwriters are not evaluating you in a vacuum. There is meaningful information available about every new operator and how that information lines up with underwriting preferences determines both your market access and your rate. Understanding what underwriters look for gives you the ability to present your application in the strongest possible light.

 

1. CDL Class and Endorsements

Your CDL class – A, B, or C – and any endorsements (hazmat, tanker, doubles/triples, passenger) tell underwriters what you are legally qualified to operate and carry. A Class A CDL with a clean record and no endorsements is a relatively standard risk profile. Adding a hazmat endorsement while applying for a new authority signals a higher-risk commodity profile and limits your carrier options further.

For new operators, the most favorable profile is a Class A CDL without hazmat endorsement, combined with dry van or flatbed freight operations. This combination gives you access to the broadest range of insurance markets while you build your track record.

2. Motor Vehicle Record (MVR)

Your MVR is the most detailed factual record available to an underwriter for a new operator. It covers your entire driving history – commercial and personal – and every violation, accident, or license action on that record is visible and rated.

For new operators, a clean MVR is more important than almost any other factor. A new CDL holder with no violations and no accidents is a meaningfully better risk than a new CDL holder with two speeding tickets in the past two years. The difference shows up directly in your premium and can determine which markets will write you at all.

If your MVR has issues – violations, accidents, or prior suspensions – it is worth consulting with an insurance broker before applying for authority to understand how your specific history affects your options and whether waiting a period of time before applying might improve your position.

3. Cargo Type

What you plan to haul is a major underwriting variable. Underwriters assign risk levels to different commodity types based on claim frequency and severity data. In general terms, the spectrum runs from lower-risk to higher-risk as follows:

 

Cargo Category Risk Level Market Accessibility for New Operators
Dry van general freight Lower Broadest market access; most competitive rates
Flatbed / building materials Moderate Good market access; load securement risks rated
Refrigerated (reefer) Moderate Available; cargo spoilage and higher load values rated
Auto transport Moderate-High More limited; vehicle damage claims frequent
Oversized / heavy haul High Limited market; permit complexity adds underwriting scrutiny
Hazardous materials High Very limited for new operators; surplus lines only
High-value cargo (electronics, pharma) High Most limited; often requires established track record

 

The practical advice for new operators: start with the cargo type that gives you the broadest market access and the most competitive rates – typically dry van general freight – and expand into more specialized commodity types as you build experience and establish relationships with insurers.

4. Operating Radius

Local and regional operations are viewed more favorably than long-haul by most underwriters working with new operators. Shorter radii mean fewer hours on the road, fewer states of exposure and more opportunities to return home for rest – all factors that reduce the probability and severity of accidents.

If you have flexibility in defining your initial operating territory, positioning your application as regional or local while you establish your track record can meaningfully improve your rate and market access. You can expand your radius later as your record develops.

5. Truck Age and Value

The age and condition of your truck affects your physical damage premium directly – older trucks are worth less and cost less to insure for physical damage. However, very old trucks can present maintenance-related risk concerns for some underwriters, particularly if the truck is over 15 years old and lacks modern safety features like ABS or electronic stability control.

For a new operator, a truck in the 5 to 10 year age range often represents a reasonable balance: not so new that physical damage premiums are very high and not so old that the truck’s condition is a material underwriting concern.

6. Business Structure and Personal Financial Profile

Most states allow insurers to use personal and business credit scores as a rating factor. For a new business with no operating history, the business credit profile may be thin or nonexistent, leaving underwriters to rely primarily on personal credit. A strong personal credit profile can partially offset the risk premium associated with new operator status.

Your business structure – sole proprietor, LLC, or corporation – also matters to some underwriters, particularly in how liability flows through the entity. Working with a business attorney to establish the right structure before applying for authority is worth the investment both for insurance and for general liability protection.

 

What to Expect: Costs for New Operators

New operator insurance costs vary widely based on the factors described above, but the following ranges reflect realistic expectations for first-year owner-operators based on national market data.

 

Average First-Year Insurance Costs by Scenario

Operator Profile Estimated Annual Cost Key Cost Drivers
New CDL (< 1 yr), own authority, dry van, local radius $14,000 – $20,000 Very limited market; new authority premium is highest here
New CDL (< 1 yr), leased to carrier, dry van $4,500 – $8,000 No primary liability; carrier covers; most affordable path
CDL 1–2 yrs, own authority, dry van, regional $12,000 – $18,000 Slightly more market access; non-standard market primary
CDL 1–2 yrs, own authority, flatbed, regional $13,000 – $19,000 Flatbed rated slightly higher; load securement exposure
CDL 2–3 yrs, own authority, dry van, regional $9,000 – $14,000 Standard market begins to open; meaningful rate improvement
Experienced driver (5+ yrs), new authority, dry van $8,000 – $13,000 Experience offsets new authority; better market access

 

How Your Rate Changes Over Time

One of the most important things to understand as a new operator is that your rate is not permanent. The insurance market rewards demonstrated safe performance and the milestones below reflect when most new operators see meaningful rate improvement:

 

Milestone Typical Rate Impact What Changes
12 months clean operation 10–20% rate reduction possible Loss-free year demonstrates actual risk profile; some standard markets open
24 months clean operation Additional 15–25% reduction from first-year rate Standard market carriers actively compete; non-standard rates decrease
36 months clean operation Preferred market access; rates near industry average Full standard market available; competitive shopping most effective
First at-fault claim 15–35% rate increase at renewal Sets back the timeline; non-standard market becomes more likely again
Second claim within 3 years 30–50%+ increase; market declinations possible Most standard carriers will decline; surplus lines only

 

The Long View

A new operator who starts at $16,000 per year and maintains a completely clean record for three years can reasonably expect to be at $9,000 to $11,000 by year four – a reduction of 30 to 40 percent simply by operating safely and letting the clock run. Every clean mile is a contribution to your future insurance rate.

 

 

The Non-Standard and Surplus Lines Market: What It Means for You

Most new operators will hear the term ‘surplus lines’ at some point in their insurance search. Understanding what this means – and what it does not mean – helps you set accurate expectations and avoid confusion when reviewing quotes.

 

What Is the Surplus Lines Market?

The insurance market is divided into two broad segments: the admitted market and the non-admitted (surplus lines) market.

Admitted carriers are licensed by the state insurance department in each state where they do business. Their rates are filed with and approved by the state and policyholders have access to state guaranty funds if the carrier becomes insolvent.

Surplus lines carriers are not licensed in the state where the risk is located, but are permitted to write coverage through licensed surplus lines brokers for risks that admitted carriers decline or cannot accommodate. Surplus lines carriers have more flexibility in pricing and underwriting – they are not bound by the rate filings that admitted carriers must submit – and they specifically target higher-risk or non-standard profiles.

What This Means Practically

For new operators, being placed in the surplus lines market means three things:

  •       Your rate is market-determined without state rate regulation. This means rates can be higher than admitted market rates and they can also vary more between carriers. Shopping multiple surplus lines markets is essential.
  •       State guaranty fund protection does not apply. If your surplus lines carrier becomes insolvent, you do not have the state guaranty fund backstop available for admitted carrier policyholders. Checking the AM Best financial strength rating of any surplus lines carrier is important.
  •       Coverage is still legitimate and legally binding. Surplus lines coverage fully satisfies FMCSA insurance requirements and is widely used throughout the commercial trucking industry. Being in the surplus lines market does not mean you have inferior or second-tier coverage – it means you are in a segment of the market designed for profiles like yours.

 

AM Best Ratings Matter More in Surplus Lines

Because surplus lines carriers do not have state guaranty fund protection, the financial strength of your carrier matters more. Look for surplus lines carriers with an AM Best rating of A- or better. OLPolicy works only with financially stable carriers in both the admitted and surplus lines markets.

 

 

Step-by-Step: How to Get Trucking Insurance With No Experience

The process of obtaining trucking insurance as a new operator has more steps than simply calling an insurer and asking for a quote. Working through these steps in order puts you in the strongest possible position and avoids the most common delays and surprises.

 

Step 1: Obtain Your CDL

Before you can get meaningful insurance quotes, you need a valid Commercial Driver’s License at the class appropriate for the vehicle you plan to operate. A Class A CDL is required for combination vehicles – tractor-trailers – with a gross combination weight rating over 26,001 lbs. Your CDL class and any endorsements are one of the first things any insurer will ask for.

If you have not yet obtained your CDL, factor the training and testing timeline into your overall business planning. CDL training programs typically run four to eight weeks and state licensing processes vary in their timeline. Plan for six to twelve weeks from starting training to having a valid CDL in hand.

Step 2: Clean Up Your MVR Before You Apply

Before applying for insurance, pull your own MVR from your state’s DMV and review it carefully. Look for any violations, accidents, or license actions that could affect your rate or market access. If there are errors on your record, dispute them before applying – correcting an erroneous violation can materially change your rate.

If your MVR has legitimate issues – violations within the past three years, a prior accident, or a prior license suspension – understand how they will affect your rate and market access before you commit to a business plan built around insurance costs you have not yet confirmed. This is a step where a brief consultation with an insurance broker like OLPolicy can save significant time and frustration.

Step 3: Decide on Your Operating Structure

Before approaching the insurance market, decide whether you will lease to a carrier or operate under your own authority. This decision fundamentally changes what you need to buy and how much you will pay. As described earlier in this guide, leasing to a carrier first is often the most financially prudent path for operators with less than one to two years of CDL experience. If you are committed to own authority from the start, proceed with the steps below.

Step 4: Gather Your Documentation

Insurance underwriters for new operators need specific information to generate an accurate quote. Having this documentation ready before you contact brokers accelerates the process and signals that you are a well-prepared, serious operator:

  •       CDL: License number, class, endorsements, issue date and expiration date
  •       MVR: Full motor vehicle record from your state DMV covering at least 3 years (5 years is better)
  •       Vehicle information: VIN, year, make, model, gross vehicle weight rating and purchase price or current market value
  •       Business information: Legal business name, EIN (Employer Identification Number), business structure, state of domicile
  •       Operating plan: Primary commodity type, estimated operating radius, estimated annual mileage and states where you plan to operate
  •       MC/DOT number: If you have already applied for authority, provide your MC number; if not, confirm your intended timeline
  •       Personal credit authorization: Many carriers will request permission to run a credit check as part of underwriting

 

Step 5: Work With a Specialist Broker

This step cannot be overstated. The single most impactful decision a new operator can make in the insurance process is choosing the right broker. A general commercial lines agent – the kind that writes business owner policies, general liability and commercial auto for local businesses – may have limited access to the specialty trucking markets that write new operators. A trucking specialist broker has established relationships with admitted and surplus lines carriers that specifically serve the new operator segment.

OLPolicy’s commercial transportation team works with new operators every day. We know which markets are currently competitive for new authority placements, what documentation they require and how to present your application in the strongest possible light. Call (866) 757-5350 or visit OLPolicy.com to get started.

Step 6: Compare Quotes Accurately

When you receive multiple quotes, comparing them on premium alone is misleading. Evaluate each quote across these dimensions to make an accurate comparison:

  •       Primary liability limits: Is every quote offering the same limit – ideally $1,000,000? A quote with $750,000 will be cheaper but may not satisfy broker requirements.
  •       Physical damage coverage: Is the insured value of the truck consistent across all quotes? A lower insured value produces a lower premium but means less compensation in the event of a total loss.
  •       Cargo limits: Most brokers require $100,000 minimum. Confirm every quote includes this.
  •       Deductibles: A lower premium with a higher deductible is not necessarily a better deal. Factor in the deductible when comparing total cost of risk.
  •       Carrier AM Best rating: Confirmed financial stability, especially important in the surplus lines market.
  •       BMC-91 filing included: Confirm this is part of the standard service, not an add-on fee.

 

Step 7: Bind Coverage and File Your BMC-91

Once you select a carrier and confirm coverage details, your insurer will bind the policy and file the BMC-91 with the FMCSA. Confirm with your broker that the BMC-91 filing is submitted immediately upon binding – not days later – so your authority activation is not delayed by a filing lag.

After the BMC-91 is filed, check your carrier profile in the FMCSA portal at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov within two to three business days to confirm that the filing appears as active. If it does not appear within that window, contact your broker immediately.

 

New Operator? OLPolicy Can Get You Covered Today.

OLPolicy specializes in trucking insurance for new CDL holders and first-time owner-operators. We work with markets that write inexperienced operators and handle your BMC-91 filing so your authority activates on time.

Call OLPolicy: (866) 757-5350   |   Visit: OLPolicy.com

 

 

Strategies to Lower Your Rate as a New Operator

While the experience premium is real and unavoidable, there are genuine strategies that new operators can use to minimize costs in the first year and accelerate the path to better rates in subsequent years.

 

Start Local or Regional

Operating radius is a rating factor within your control. A new operator who commits to a local or regional radius – under 500 miles – will pay meaningfully less than one applying for a 48-state OTR operation. If your business model allows it, defining a more limited radius in your first year reduces your rate and limits your exposure while you build experience. You can expand your geographic footprint as your track record develops.

Choose Lower-Risk Cargo

If you have flexibility in the freight you will haul, starting with dry van general freight gives you the broadest market access and the most competitive rates. Avoid adding hazmat or high-value specialty cargo endorsements to your initial application unless they are essential to your business plan. You can add specialized commodity coverage after your first year when your market options are broader.

Install a Dashcam Before You Apply

Many insurers – including those in the surplus lines market – offer documented discounts of 5 to 15 percent for fleets with dashcam programs. Installing a forward-facing dashcam before you apply for coverage signals to underwriters that you are a safety-conscious operator and may qualify you for a modest discount even in your first year. More importantly, a dashcam is your most valuable protection against fraudulent or exaggerated third-party claims, which disproportionately target new operators who may be perceived as less likely to have evidence to defend themselves.

Consider a Higher Physical Damage Deductible

If your truck is paid off, choosing a $2,500 or $5,000 deductible on physical damage coverage rather than the default $1,000 can reduce your physical damage premium meaningfully. This strategy requires that you have sufficient cash reserves to cover the higher deductible in the event of a loss. Do not raise your deductible above what you can realistically afford to pay out of pocket.

Maintain Perfect Records From Day One

This is the most powerful long-term rate strategy available to a new operator, even though its full benefit takes time to materialize. Every mile you drive without a reportable incident, every renewal without a claim and every year you demonstrate safe operation builds the track record that unlocks better markets and lower rates. Developing disciplined habits around pre-trip inspections, hours-of-service compliance and defensive driving from your first day of operation is an investment in your insurance cost for the next decade.

Ask About Telematics Programs

Some insurers offer usage-based pricing programs that reward demonstrated safe driving behavior with lower rates over time. These programs use GPS and telematics data to monitor driving patterns – speed, hard braking, cornering and hours driven – and adjust pricing based on actual performance rather than statistical averages. For a new operator who is confident in their driving habits, a telematics program can be a path to rates below what the standard new operator market would otherwise offer.

Review and Shop at Every Renewal

The surplus lines and non-standard markets that write new operators are competitive and carrier appetite for specific profiles changes year to year. At your first renewal – and every renewal thereafter – obtain at least three to five quotes rather than simply accepting the renewal offer. After 12 months of clean operation, you will have a loss run showing no claims, which is a meaningful asset when approaching new carriers. OLPolicy will shop your renewal across our full carrier network at no additional cost. Call (866) 757-5350 when your renewal is 60 days out.

 

Special Situations: Common New Operator Scenarios

Not every new operator fits the same profile. The following scenarios address some of the most common specific situations that arise for inexperienced operators seeking trucking insurance.

 

New CDL, No Prior Driving History at All

The most challenging scenario for underwriters is a brand-new CDL holder with no commercial driving history and no prior personal driving violations – but also no track record of any kind. In this situation, underwriters have only your personal MVR, your personal credit and your operating plan to evaluate.

Coverage is available, but it will be placed in the surplus lines market at the higher end of new operator rates. The most important things you can do in this situation are to maintain a clean personal MVR, choose lower-risk cargo and a limited operating radius, install a dashcam and work with a broker who has experience placing this specific profile.

Prior Personal Auto Accidents or Violations

Prior personal auto accidents or moving violations on your MVR complicate your new operator application significantly. Most underwriters consider your personal driving history as evidence of your overall risk profile, even if the incidents occurred in a personal vehicle rather than a commercial one. A DUI within the past five to seven years is particularly serious and may result in declination even from surplus lines carriers, or very high premiums if coverage can be obtained.

If your personal MVR has issues, be transparent with your broker. Attempting to conceal or minimize MVR history is grounds for policy rescission and potentially fraud. An experienced broker like OLPolicy can help you find carriers with the most reasonable underwriting guidelines for your specific history.

Prior CDL Experience But Long Gap in Driving

A driver who held a CDL years ago but has not driven commercially for an extended period – more than two to three years – may find that underwriters treat them similarly to a new driver. The driving skill may still be present, but the recent operating history that underwriters rely on is absent. In this situation, MVR history for the period you were driving is still available and still relevant, even if recent history is limited.

Experienced Driver From Another Country

Foreign commercial driving experience is generally not accepted by U.S. insurance underwriters as equivalent to U.S. CDL experience. If you hold commercial driving credentials from another country and are new to operating commercially in the United States, you will typically be treated as a new operator from an insurance standpoint regardless of your foreign experience. Some underwriters may consider a letter of reference from a foreign employer alongside your application, but this is carrier-dependent and not guaranteed.

New Authority After Years as a Company Driver

As noted earlier in this guide, an experienced company driver who is newly transitioning to their own authority is in a different position than a brand-new CDL holder. Your years of commercial driving experience are on your MVR and your CDL record and underwriters can see them. You are not starting from zero. Many standard market carriers will consider writing an experienced driver on a new authority – something they will not do for a truly new operator – and rates can be meaningfully better than the brand-new CDL scenario even in the first year of your own authority.

 

Not Sure Where You Stand? Let OLPolicy Assess Your Profile.

Every new operator situation is different. OLPolicy’s specialists will review your CDL history, MVR and operating plan and tell you exactly what markets are available, what coverage will cost and what you can do to improve your rate over time.

Call OLPolicy: (866) 757-5350   |   Visit: OLPolicy.com

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get trucking insurance with no CDL experience?

Yes, but your options are limited and your rates will be significantly higher than those available to experienced operators. Insurance for operators with no CDL experience – or less than one year of CDL tenure – is placed almost exclusively in the surplus lines and non-standard market. Coverage is available, FMCSA filings can be made and you can legally operate, but you will pay a premium for the lack of demonstrable safe driving history. Working with a specialist broker like OLPolicy, which has established relationships with markets that write new operators, is essential in this situation.

How much does trucking insurance cost for a new driver?

A new CDL holder operating under their own authority with dry van general freight on a regional basis can expect to pay $14,000 to $20,000 or more per year for a full coverage package in their first year. This includes primary liability, physical damage, cargo and ancillary coverages. A new operator leased to a carrier – where the carrier’s policy covers primary liability – will pay substantially less, typically $4,500 to $8,000 per year for the coverages they need independently. These are national averages; your specific rate depends on your MVR, operating plan, truck value and the markets your broker can access.

What insurance do I need to start a trucking company?

To start a trucking company and activate an FMCSA motor carrier authority, you need at minimum a primary auto liability policy with a BMC-91 filing on record with the FMCSA. The liability minimum is $750,000 for most non-hazmat freight operations, but the practical market standard is $1,000,000. Beyond primary liability, you will need motor truck cargo insurance (required by virtually all freight brokers), physical damage coverage (required if your truck is financed) and occupational accident insurance (essential since owner-operators cannot access workers’ compensation). Physical damage, cargo and occupational accident are not FMCSA requirements but are functionally required by the freight market and your own financial protection needs.

Will insurance companies deny me because of no experience?

Standard market admitted carriers frequently decline new operators with less than one to two years of CDL experience. This is not a universal ban on coverage – it is a market segmentation that directs new operators to the non-standard and surplus lines segment, where carriers specialize in writing higher-risk profiles. The surplus lines market will generally write new operators who have a clean personal MVR, a reasonable operating plan and no disqualifying factors such as DUIs or recent at-fault accidents. Being declined by a standard carrier does not mean you cannot get covered; it means you need access to the right markets, which a specialist broker provides.

How long until I can get cheaper trucking insurance?

Most new operators see meaningful rate improvement at two specific points: after 12 months of clean operation (loss-free, no violations), which opens some standard market carriers and qualifies you for loss-free credits and after 24 to 36 months, at which point the full standard market becomes competitive for your profile. The rate reduction from first-year non-standard rates to third-year standard market rates can be 30 to 50 percent for operators with clean records. Every at-fault accident or serious violation resets this timeline partially, which is why protecting your loss history is the single most valuable thing you can do for your long-term insurance cost.

Can I get trucking insurance the same day?

In many cases, yes. Binding a commercial trucking policy on the same day you apply is possible when your documentation is complete, your profile does not require extended underwriting review and your broker has authority to bind with the relevant carrier. The BMC-91 filing typically follows within one to two business days of binding. Same-day binding is more common for lower-complexity profiles – experienced drivers on standard cargo with clean MVRs. Very new operators, hazmat profiles, or applications with adverse history may require more underwriting review time. OLPolicy can give you a realistic timeline based on your specific profile when you call (866) 757-5350.

Does leasing to a carrier affect my ability to get insurance later?

Leasing to a carrier is a positive factor when you eventually apply for your own authority insurance. The period you spend as a leased operator generates verifiable operating history – your CDL record, your safety performance data and in many cases a letter of reference from the carrier – all of which contribute to a stronger underwriting profile when you apply for your own authority. Underwriters can see the operating history even though you were under the carrier’s authority and it counts in your favor. In short, leasing first is not a detour from getting good insurance rates on your own authority – it is one of the most reliable ways to get there faster.

 

Conclusion: Getting Started the Right Way

Getting trucking insurance with no experience is a challenge, but it is a surmountable one. The key is understanding what the market looks like for new operators, setting realistic cost expectations, making smart decisions about your operating structure and cargo profile and working with a broker who has genuine access to the markets that serve your segment.

The first year is the hardest and most expensive. That is not a reason to be discouraged – it is a reason to approach the first year with a clear strategy: keep your MVR clean, operate within a manageable radius, install safety technology and protect your loss history as though each clean renewal is money in the bank. Because over three to five years, it is exactly that.

OLPolicy works with new operators at every stage – from pre-authority planning and first-day coverage to renewal shopping as you build your record. Our commercial transportation specialists understand the markets, know the underwriting criteria and will work to get you the best available rate for your specific profile from day one.

 

Ready to Get Your Trucking Insurance? Call OLPolicy.

New operator or experienced driver starting fresh – OLPolicy has the market access and expertise to get you covered, get your BMC-91 filed and get your authority activated. Compare quotes from multiple carriers with one call.

Call OLPolicy: (866) 757-5350   |   Visit: OLPolicy.com

 

 

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, regulatory, or insurance advice. Coverage availability, rates and underwriting guidelines vary by carrier and are subject to change. Always consult a licensed commercial insurance professional for advice specific to your operation. OLPolicy is a licensed insurance agency.