Hotshot insurance cost
About $900 a month is what the two published figures say. Insureon says hotshot truckers pay $896 a month, $10,757 a year, for commercial auto; Progressive says its 2025 new for-hire transport truck policies averaged $926 a month per power unit. Your own price turns on your truck, cargo, distance, driving history and location. For comparison only, a new-MC hotshot Redoubt quoted in September 2026, one Pennsylvania truck and trailer with $1 million of liability and the federal filing, came back at $27,991 for the year paid in full, or $34,710 on a payment plan.
Updated . Written by Andre Beukers, principal at Redoubt, a commercial insurance agency in Salt Lake City, not a government office.
What do insurers publish for hotshot insurance cost?
Two national figures come from companies describing their own book. Insureon, an online agency, says "Hotshot truckers pay an average of $896 per month, or $10,757 per year, for commercial auto insurance," on a page updated June 2, 2025. The same page says its figures come from "the median cost of policies for hotshot businesses that apply for quotes with Insureon," so it calls one number both an average and a median.
Progressive Commercial looked at its own 2025 new for-hire truck policies. It says the national average monthly cost "ranged from $734 for specialty truckers to $926 for transport truckers," where transport means truckers "who haul goods, such as general freight and autos." Its disclosure says the figure is the new-policy premium per power unit for liability and physical damage, counting only policies with no driver violations. Progressive does not break hotshots out of that group.
Read the rest of Insureon's page with care. It says FMCSA "requires $75,000 in auto liability insurance and $5,000 in cargo coverage for truckers who cross state lines." FMCSA's own chart says otherwise: $750,000 of liability and $0 of cargo for for-hire non-hazardous property carriers at 10,001 pounds GVWR and up (49 CFR 387.9 places that $750,000 in interstate commerce), $5,000 of cargo only for household goods carriers, and $75,000 only as the surety bond or trust fund a broker or freight forwarder posts. Price a hotshot policy from FMCSA's numbers, not that sentence.
| Source | Per month | Per year | What the number is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insureon, page updated June 2, 2025 | $896 | $10,757 | Commercial auto for hotshot businesses that apply for quotes through Insureon |
| Progressive Commercial, 2025 new policies | $926 | Not stated | For-hire transport trucks, per power unit, liability and physical damage, no driver violations |
| One new-MC hotshot Redoubt quoted, September 2026 | Quoted by the year | $27,991 paid in full; $34,710 on a payment plan | One Pennsylvania truck and trailer, MC pending, $1 million liability with the federal filing; one quote, not an average |
How much is hotshot insurance per month?
Divide the annual premium by twelve only if you pay in full. On the one new-MC quote Redoubt got back above, paying in full works out to about $2,333 a month. The payment plan totaled $34,710, which is $6,719 or 24% more for the same coverage, about $2,893 a month averaged over the year. Progressive says of its own billing that "Most customers can save 10% or more when they pay their policy in full."
When you compare monthly quotes, compare the total for the year, the down payment and the number of installments, on the same liability limit, cargo amount and deductibles.
Progressive also prices with driving data. It says new customers who elect to enroll in its ELD-based Smart Haul program "can save an average of $1,261," a figure based on enrollment discounts it offered new customers from February to August 2025; it adds that savings are not guaranteed and that at renewal driving data could increase or decrease premiums.
How much is hot shot insurance per month in Texas?
Neither TxDMV's motor carrier registration page nor Progressive's Texas commercial truck insurance page prints a premium figure; Progressive's Texas page lists the filings it offers, such as "Texas state and federal insurance filings." The two published numbers above are national, and Progressive's hotshot page says "The city and state you live in can also influence your rates."
What Texas does set is the limit, and Progressive says "Generally, the more coverage you need, the more your trucking insurance will cost." A hotshot that stays inside Texas registers with TxDMV when it runs "a commercial motor vehicle (or a combination of vehicles)" over 26,000 pounds. TxDMV's minimum for private or for-hire carriers in excess of 26,000 pounds is $500,000, filed by your insurer on Form E, and TxDMV lists the Form E filing fee at $100. A hotshot hauling for hire across state lines answers to FMCSA instead: 49 CFR 387.9 sets $750,000 for for-hire, interstate carriers of non-hazardous property at 10,001 pounds GVWR and up. A broker can set the bar above both; TQL requires $1 million.
On a Texas hotshot file Redoubt worked in September 2026, the markets' answer was not a price: "The underwriters passed because the truck and trailer aren't in the LLC's name."
What makes a hotshot quote go up or down?
The insurers name the same inputs. Progressive's hotshot page lists "the type and size of your truck, the cargo you haul, the distance you travel, and your driving history." Insureon adds "the type of trailer (bumper pull, gooseneck, flatbed, etc.)," how often and where the truck is driven, and the driving history of your employees.
The coverages you are asked to carry set the base. FMCSA's chart shows $750,000 of liability and $0 of cargo for for-hire non-hazardous property carriers at 10,001 pounds GVWR and up; 49 CFR 387.9 places that $750,000 in interstate commerce. TQL requires "Minimum $1 million auto liability insurance" and "Minimum $100,000 cargo insurance policy" to haul for it, so a hotshot hauling for TQL has to carry those limits, and Progressive says cargo coverage "can raise your truck insurance rate." On a financed truck or trailer, Progressive's suggestion is to raise the physical damage deductible: "To reduce your total cost, you could simply raise your deductible."
How you run matters too. Progressive says "Leasing to a company is usually cheaper than working under your own authority," because the company you are leased to typically covers primary liability while you are under its dispatch.
How do you get a hotshot trucking insurance quote?
Send an underwriter a file with no contradictions in it. These are the questions that came back on Redoubt's September 2026 hotshot files. A wholesaler told us: "The main thing to look for is that the DL matches up with the state that the entity is set up." On a Texas file, "The underwriters passed because the truck and trailer aren't in the LLC's name." On a financed truck and trailer, the underwriters needed to know whether a lienholder existed.
Our one pending-MC hotshot file was quoted while the MC number was still pending. FMCSA "will not grant operating authority registration until the registrant has in effect the minimum levels of financial responsibility on file with FMCSA," and Progressive says of its own practice: "Once you file for authority, we can issue filings for you."
Have the file below ready before you ask for a number; a quote priced on the wrong name, state or limit has to be redone.
What to send for a hotshot quote
One file, with every name, state and VIN agreeing.
- 1.The business's legal name exactly as it appears on the truck and trailer titles and with FMCSA
- 2.The state the LLC or corporation is registered in, and each driver's license state
- 3.USDOT and MC numbers, or the date you applied for authority
- 4.Year, make, model and VIN for the truck and every trailer, with the trailer type (bumper pull, gooseneck, flatbed)
- 5.The lender's name and address for anything financed
- 6.Each driver's name, license number and years of driving experience
- 7.Where you run: one state, a region, or nationwide, and your longest regular haul
- 8.What you haul and the most valuable load you expect to carry
- 9.The liability and cargo limits your brokers or shippers require, from their carrier packets
- 10.Any prior commercial auto policy and its loss runs
- 11.Whether you plan to pay in full or on a payment plan
Is hotshot insurance cheaper than semi truck insurance?
Progressive says it generally costs more to cover a heavy semi truck than a lighter pickup carrying the same product, because the semi can cause more damage in an accident. Its published $926 average does not split hotshots from semis, so ask each market to price your actual truck and trailer.
Can I get a hotshot quote before my MC number is active?
Our one pending-MC hotshot file was quoted in September 2026 while the MC number was still pending; that is one file, not a rule. FMCSA will not grant the authority until the required insurance is on file with it.
Where these answers come from
Each entry carries the exact words of the source so you can check it yourself. Forms, rules and carrier pages change; read the current version before acting.
- 1. Insureon, How much does hotshot insurance cost?, commercial auto
“Hotshot truckers pay an average of $896 per month, or $10,757 per year, for commercial auto insurance.”
insureon.com, accessed October 3, 2026. What Insureon, an online agency, says of its own applicants. Page shows "Updated: June 2, 2025". - 2. Insureon, How much does hotshot insurance cost?, how the figures are calculated
“Our figures are sourced from the median cost of policies for hotshot businesses that apply for quotes with Insureon.”
insureon.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 3. Insureon, How much does hotshot insurance cost?, the sentence this page disputes
“Additionally, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires $75,000 in auto liability insurance and $5,000 in cargo coverage for truckers who cross state lines.”
insureon.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Quoted as what Insureon says. FMCSA's Insurance Filing Requirements chart contradicts both figures for a for-hire carrier of general freight. - 4. Insureon, How much does hotshot insurance cost?, rating factors
“That includes the type of truck, the type of trailer (bumper pull, gooseneck, flatbed, etc.), how often they are driven, where they are driven, your cargo, and the driving history of your employees.”
insureon.com, accessed October 3, 2026. The sentence before it: "Insurers look at several factors when determining commercial vehicle insurance rates." - 5. Progressive Commercial, Commercial Truck Insurance Cost, 2025 averages
“The national average monthly commercial truck insurance cost with Progressive Commercial ranged from $734 for specialty truckers to $926 for transport truckers.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. A carrier's statement about its own book. The page says the figures come from "our 2025 new for-hire truck policies." - 6. Progressive Commercial, Commercial Truck Insurance Cost, what transport means
“For-hire transport: Truckers who haul goods, such as general freight and autos.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 7. Progressive Commercial, Commercial Truck Insurance Cost, disclosure for the averages
“2025 new policy premium per power unit for liability and physical damage coverage for policies with no driver violations.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. The disclosure marked ‡‡ on the page. - 8. Progressive Commercial, Commercial Truck Insurance Cost, paid in full discount
“Paid in full discount: Most customers can save 10% or more when they pay their policy in full.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Progressive's disclosure: not available in all states and situations. - 9. Progressive Commercial, Commercial Truck Insurance Cost, physical damage on financed trucks
“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.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 10. Progressive Commercial, Commercial Truck Insurance Cost, coverage requirements
“Generally, the more coverage you need, the more your trucking insurance will cost.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 11. Progressive Commercial, Commercial Truck Insurance Cost, cargo
“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.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 12. Progressive Commercial, Commercial Truck Insurance Cost, truck type
“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.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 13. Progressive Commercial, Commercial Truck Insurance Cost, USDOT authority
“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.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Two lines of a list as the page prints them. - 14. Progressive Commercial, Hotshot Trucking Insurance, how much is hotshot insurance
“Various factors affect hotshot insurance costs, including the type and size of your truck, the cargo you haul, the distance you travel, and your driving history. The city and state you live in can also influence your rates.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. The page publishes no hotshot premium figure. - 15. Progressive Commercial, Hotshot Trucking Insurance, Smart Haul
“With our Smart Haul® program, new customers who elect to enroll can save an average of $1,261”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. The disclosure: "Average savings for Smart Haul based on enrollment discounts offered to new Progressive customers between February 2025 and August 2025." It adds that savings are not guaranteed and that at renewal driving data could increase or decrease premiums. - 16. Progressive Commercial, Hotshot Trucking Insurance, filing requirements
“Progressive Commercial makes this step easy. Once you file for authority, we can issue filings for you.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. A carrier's statement about its own filing practice. - 17. Progressive Commercial, Texas Commercial Truck Insurance and Filings
“Progressive Commercial offers Texas state and federal insurance filings.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Read in Chrome and by curl. The page prints no truck insurance premium; the only dollar figures on it are site-wide menu items for other products (renters, motorcycle, business owners, auto). - 18. FMCSA, Insurance Filing Requirements, chart, Motor Carrier of Property, for-hire non-hazardous row
“For-Hire Property Carriers (Non-Hazardous) GVWR ≥ 10,001 pounds $750,000 $0 $0 BMC-91, or BMC-91X, or BMC-82”
fmcsa.dot.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Table cells; the columns are BIPD insurance, cargo insurance, surety bond or trust fund, and forms. Read in a browser; fmcsa.dot.gov returns 403 to curl. Page last updated March 26, 2026. - 19. FMCSA, Insurance Filing Requirements, chart, household goods row
“For-Hire Carriers of Household Goods GVWR ≥ 10,001 pounds $750,000 $5,000 $0 BMC-91, or BMC-91X, or BMC-82 and BMC-34 or BMC-83”
fmcsa.dot.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Table cells, same columns as the property row. Read in a browser. - 20. FMCSA, Insurance Filing Requirements, chart, brokers and freight forwarders
“Broker of Property and/or Household Goods N/A $0 $0 $75,000 BMC-84 or BMC-85”
fmcsa.dot.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Table cells; the $75,000 sits in the surety bond or trust fund column. The freight forwarder rows carry the same $75,000. Read in a browser. - 21. FMCSA, Insurance Filing Requirements, overview
“FMCSA will not grant operating authority registration until the registrant has in effect the minimum levels of financial responsibility on file with FMCSA.”
fmcsa.dot.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Read in a browser; fmcsa.dot.gov returns 403 to curl. - 22. 49 CFR 387.9, schedule of limits, row 1, eCFR
“For-hire (In interstate or foreign commerce, with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 or more pounds) Property (nonhazardous) $750,000”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 23. TQL, Carrier FAQs, what do I need to start hauling for TQL
“To haul for TQL we require: Valid MC or US DOT number Minimum $1 million auto liability insurance Minimum $100,000 cargo insurance policy”
tql.com, accessed October 3, 2026. A broker's own requirement, printed as a list. - 24. TxDMV, Motor Carrier Registration (TxDMV Number), who must register
“You must register as a motor carrier when you: Operate a commercial motor vehicle (or a combination of vehicles) with a gross weight, registered weight or gross-weight rating exceeding 26,000 pounds”
txdmv.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. The list continues with placarded hazmat, heavy farm vehicles, vehicles for more than 15 passengers, school buses and household goods movers. - 25. TxDMV, Motor Carrier Registration (TxDMV Number), insurance requirements table
“All Others Private or for-hire motor carriers with a gross weight, registered weight or gross weight rating in excess of 26,000 pounds $500,000”
txdmv.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Table cells. Other rows set higher figures for hazmat, passengers and school buses. - 26. TxDMV, Motor Carrier Registration (TxDMV Number), required insurance filings
“The following forms are provided by and must be filed electronically by your insurance company underwriter: Form E – Proof of liability insurance”
txdmv.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 27. TxDMV, Motor Carrier Registration (TxDMV Number), registration fees
“Insurance Filing (Form E) $100 $100 $100 $100”
txdmv.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Table cells; the four columns are 7-day, 90-day, annual and biennial registration. - 28. Redoubt text to a Pennsylvania hotshot client, MC pending, first quote
“Your quote came back and it's attached: $27,991 for the year if you pay in full, or $34,710 on a payment plan.”
Redoubt agency records, accessed September 29, 2026. Redoubt's own experience. The record describes the quote as "first quote for $1M liability, federal filing, truck and trailer" for a hotshot with its MC pending. Client name withheld; the record marks this as Redoubt's message (R). - 29. Pennsylvania hotshot client's text to Redoubt, financed truck and trailer
“Yes I have a loan on the Ram and trailer”
Redoubt agency records, accessed September 30, 2026. The record's trigger: underwriters need to know whether a lienholder exists. Client name withheld. - 30. Wholesaler email to Redoubt on a hotshot submission
“The main thing to look for is that the DL matches up with the state that the entity is set up.”
Redoubt agency records, accessed September 29, 2026. What a market told Redoubt; not a published rule of any insurer. - 31. Redoubt text to a Texas hotshot client, underwriters' response
“The underwriters passed because the truck and trailer aren't in the LLC's name.”
Redoubt agency records, accessed September 29, 2026. Redoubt relaying what the markets said. Client name withheld.
A new authority is being quoted and the price decides whether the business starts
First-year carriers, hotshots and expediters: what new venture policies cost, who writes them, and what moves the number.
Elsewhere on the site
Pricing a hotshot setup?
Text Redoubt your USDOT or MC number, the truck and trailer, whose name is on each title, and the limits your brokers ask for. We will talk through what an underwriter will look at first and what to line up before anything goes to market.
This is general insurance information, not legal advice or a coverage determination. The policy forms, the endorsements the carrier issues, and the requirement in writing from whoever is asking control.