What Trucking Insurance Requirements Apply in Minnesota?

For-hire property carriers hauling in Minnesota must have their insurer file Form E before providing transportation; MnDOT lists $100,000/$300,000 bodily-injury limits and $50,000 for damage to others' property, excluding cargo. Household-goods movers also need a separate $50,000 cargo filing, so match both filings to the permit and the work you actually do.

What Is Trucking Insurance?

Trucking coverage can address liability, damage to your trucks and cargo losses, but one quote may not include all three. If you haul goods for customers or yourself, compare those protections and check whether the quote needs motor-carrier or other commercial auto coverage. Read the national Trucking guide.

Minnesota Trucking Insurance Requirements

RequirementDetails
For-hire property carrier liability filing$100,000 one person / $300,000 one accident / $50,000 property damage other than cargo; Form E filed before transportation 1
Household-goods cargo filing$50,000 cargo insurance or cargo bond, filed with the commissioner under the mover's full permit name 2

What Should You Watch for With Trucking Insurance in Minnesota?

  • File Form E Before the First Load

    MnDOT says your insurer must file Form E before a for-hire property carrier begins transportation, and you cannot operate until you receive a Certificate of Registration. Ask your broker to confirm both filing acceptance and registration status before dispatching a Minnesota-only route. 1

  • Keep Cargo Outside the Liability Schedule

    MnDOT's $50,000 property-damage amount expressly excludes cargo; it is not a cargo limit. If you move household goods, Minnesota separately requires $50,000 of cargo insurance or a cargo bond, so have the proposal show that protection and its valuation terms apart from Form E liability. 1,2

  • Match the Household Mover Permit Name

    Minnesota requires the household-goods cargo certificate or bond to use the full and correct name of the permit holder whose operations are insured. Check the legal entity on the mover permit against the policy and cargo filing, especially before a renewal or entity change. 2

  • Classify the Hauling Operation

    MnDOT treats for-hire property carriers other than household-goods movers under its property-carrier registration process, while the statute gives household movers a distinct cargo-filing rule. Tell the broker whether you haul customer freight, household goods, or only your own business property so the right state process is addressed. 1,2

Which Trucking Insurance Providers Have Minnesota License Records?

No provider in our research has both a state license record and a listing for this coverage line. This does not establish that providers are unlicensed. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm availability with a provider when requesting a quote.

Who Regulates Insurance in Minnesota?

Minnesota Department of Commerce

The Minnesota Department of Commerce regulates insurance companies and producers, reviews rates and forms, and investigates complaints. You can use its state lookup or complaint service to check a license or raise an insurance issue. 3,4,5

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Minnesota

Reported tax rate. 3% of taxable gross premiums less return premiums, plus a 0.04% stamping fee on taxable premium when Minnesota is the insured's home state 6,9,7,8,10

When Minnesota is the insured's home state, 3% tax applies to taxable gross premiums less return premiums; the separate 0.04% stamping fee on taxable premium is paid by you to the broker. Minnesota requires a policy warning that insolvency loss payment by a nonadmitted insurer is not guaranteed. A diligent search generally applies unless a Minnesota-licensed producer unaffiliated with the surplus-lines broker refers the risk, which the statute deems unavailable from a licensed insurer; an exempt commercial purchaser also has a separate written-request route after the required admitted-market disclosure.

Minnesota Surplus Lines Association

What Should You Ask Before Buying Trucking Insurance in Minnesota?

  1. Has MnDOT accepted our Form E and issued the Certificate of Registration before our first Minnesota haul?
  2. Does our $50,000 property-damage filing exclude cargo, and what separate cargo limit and valuation basis apply to the goods we carry?
  3. If we move household goods, is the $50,000 cargo certificate or bond filed under the exact name on our permit?
  4. Does MnDOT classify our work as for-hire property carriage, household-goods moving, or private carriage?

Trucking Insurance in Minnesota: Frequently Asked Questions

What insurance filing does a Minnesota for-hire property carrier need?

Form E must be filed by the insurer before transportation begins. MnDOT lists $100,000 for one injured person, $300,000 for all people in an accident, and $50,000 for property damage other than cargo. 1

Does Minnesota require cargo insurance for household movers?

Yes. A household-goods mover must maintain and file $50,000 of cargo insurance or a cargo bond under the full and correct name of the permit holder. 2

Trucking Insurance Guides for Other States

Other coverage in MinnesotaEvery coverage guide for Minnesota, plus the regulator and surplus-lines details.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

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