What Trucking Insurance Requirements Apply in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island will not issue or keep a motor-carrier certificate or permit in force without proof of $250,000 per person/$500,000 per accident bodily-injury liability, $25,000 property damage excluding cargo, and at least $25,000 cargo coverage unless the administrator exempts the commodity. The filing must stay continuous and cancellation requires 30 days’ written notice to the administrator.

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.

Rhode Island Trucking Insurance Requirements

Requirement	Details
Motor-carrier public liability	$250,000 per person / $500,000 per accident / $25,000 property damage excluding cargo ¹
Cargo loss or damage	$25,000 unless the administrator has exempted the commodity ¹

What Should You Watch for With Trucking Insurance in Rhode Island?

Separate Property Damage From Cargo
Rhode Island sets bodily-injury limits of $250,000 per person and $500,000 per accident, plus $25,000 in property damage excluding cargo. Cargo has its own $25,000 minimum unless the administrator has exempted the commodity, so make sure the policy and filings show both protections. ¹
Keep Your Filing Continuous
A Rhode Island carrier certificate or permit cannot be issued or remain in force until the administrator receives proof of financial responsibility; each insurance certificate, bond, or other security must show continuous coverage until canceled. Ask the insurer to coordinate any replacement with the filing authority so there is no lapse in the carrier record. ¹
Build In Rhode Island’s 30-Day Cancellation Notice
Rhode Island requires 30 days’ written notice to the administrator before an insurance certificate or bond is canceled or withdrawn, measured from the date the office receives notice. Verify the carrier endorsement uses the state’s receipt-based notice period, not only a policyholder notice date. ¹
Confirm Any Cargo Exemption Before Removing Cargo Coverage
The $25,000 cargo requirement does not apply to commodities the administrator declares exempt after notice and hearing. Ask the broker or carrier authority to confirm an exemption for the specific commodity before relying on it; otherwise keep cargo coverage in the filing. ^1,²
Check Federal Limits For Interstate Loads
Rhode Island’s filing minimum does not replace federal financial-responsibility rules when your operation is subject to 49 CFR Part 387. Compare each interstate haul and hazardous-material category with the FMCSA schedule before relying on the state minimum. ^1,³

Which Trucking Insurance Providers Have Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?

Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Insurance Division

The DBR Insurance Division provides an online public verification service for producers, adjusters, surplus-lines brokers, and other licensees, and accepts insurance complaints online. Contact the Division for help determining whether it has authority over a particular policy or dispute. ^4,^5,⁶

Website: Regulator website
License lookup: Search licensed producers
Complaints: File a complaint

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Rhode Island

Reported tax rate. 4% of net taxable premium; 2018 filing guide excludes listed broker, carrier and inspection fees ^7,⁸

Rhode Island’s 2024 return applies 4% to net taxable premium (gross premium less returned premium); its 2018 filing guide excludes broker, carrier, and inspection fees from the base. Confirm fee treatment with the Division of Taxation if your bill separates those charges, because no newer official fee-base guidance was located.

What Should You Ask Before Buying Trucking Insurance in Rhode Island?

Does the Rhode Island certificate show $250,000/$500,000 bodily injury and $25,000 property damage, excluding cargo?
Has the state administrator exempted any commodity we carry from the $25,000 cargo requirement?
Will the insurer keep our filing continuous and provide 30 days’ written cancellation notice to the administrator?
Do interstate routes or hazardous materials require a higher federal limit than Rhode Island’s filing amount?

Trucking Insurance in Rhode Island: Frequently Asked Questions

What insurance does a Rhode Island intrastate motor carrier need?

Rhode Island requires at least $250,000 per person and $500,000 per accident for bodily injury, $25,000 for property damage excluding cargo, and $25,000 cargo coverage unless a commodity is exempted. ¹

How much notice is required to cancel a Rhode Island motor-carrier insurance filing?

Thirty days’ written notice must be given to the administrator, and the period begins when the office receives the notice. ¹

Are Rhode Island’s intrastate limits enough for interstate trucking?

Not always. Federal 49 CFR Part 387 may require higher limits for an interstate property carrier or a carrier of regulated hazardous materials, depending on the operation. ³

Sources for Trucking Insurance in Rhode Island

1
Rhode Island General Laws § 39-12-27: Security for Protection of the Public. Rhode Island General Assembly; § 39-12-27: bodily-injury, property-damage and cargo minimums; continuous filing and 30-day cancellation notice. Accessed 2026-09-29.
2
Motor Carrier Forms. Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission; Property Carrier Application and intrastate motor-carrier forms. Accessed 2026-09-29.
3
Insurance Filing Requirements. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; Motor Carrier of Property filing chart: federal liability by category. Accessed 2026-09-29.
4
rhode-island insurance regulator. State insurance regulator; DBR Insurance Division overview links to complaint, license lookup, statutes, and regulations. Accessed 2026-09-28.
5
DBR License Status Verification. State insurance regulator; Official page identifies online NAIC-partnered status checks for producers, adjusters, motor vehicle appraisers, surplus-lines brokers, and reinsurance intermediaries. Accessed 2026-09-28.
6
DBR Insurance Consumers. State insurance regulator; Official consumer page explains the division's regulated insurance lines and online complaint route. Accessed 2026-09-28.
7
2025 T-71A Surplus Line Broker Return of Gross Premiums. Rhode Island Division of Taxation; 2025 return, p. 1, lines 1–4: net taxable premium is gross premium less returned premiums; 4% tax; filing due April 1, 2026. Accessed 2026-09-28.
8
Guide to Tax Filings for Surplus Lines. Rhode Island Division of Taxation; 2018 Guide to tax filings, surplus-lines section: gross premium for tax purposes excludes carrier, broker, and inspection fees; no newer official fee-base instruction located as of 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
9
Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
10
Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
11
Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
12
About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
13
Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
14
Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

What Trucking Insurance Requirements Apply in Rhode Island?

What Is Trucking Insurance?

Rhode Island Trucking Insurance Requirements

What Should You Watch for With Trucking Insurance in Rhode Island?

Separate Property Damage From Cargo

Keep Your Filing Continuous

Build In Rhode Island’s 30-Day Cancellation Notice

Confirm Any Cargo Exemption Before Removing Cargo Coverage

Check Federal Limits For Interstate Loads