Does North Carolina set its own trucking insurance minimums?

North Carolina's published pages do not confirm a standalone intrastate minimum for every case. Where the state publishes no figure, this page says so instead of guessing, and the note beside each field explains what the state does require.

Do federal insurance minimums still apply to a North Carolina carrier?

Interstate operations file proof of coverage with FMCSA under 49 CFR Part 387 no matter which state the carrier is based in. The state rules on this page govern intrastate-only operations; the federal table shows the levels an interstate filing must meet.

What insurance does a new North Carolina carrier line up first?

Primary liability comes first: the state and federal filings both ride on an active liability policy. Cargo coverage follows where the state or your shippers require it, and physical damage on the truck is a lender requirement rather than a state rule.

Where do these figures come from?

Every dollar amount renders from the state agency publication or statute cited beside it, or from the federal regulation for the contrast table. When an agency publishes no figure, the field reads "Not confirmed" with a note on what the agency does say.

North Carolina Trucking Insurance Requirements (2026)

By Evan Reid, Founder of Haul Handbook · Updated Jul 29, 2026

What North Carolina requires

These are the state-level rules attached to North Carolina intrastate operating authority. A field reading "Not confirmed" means the agency publishes no figure; the note explains what the agency does say.

Liability minimum: From $750,000; the operation-type table below lists each class
Cargo minimum: No cargo insurance minimum is published for general intrastate freight. Cargo coverage is required of household goods movers through the Form H filing described in the operation-type table below.
Differs from federal: No

Minimum liability by operation type

General freight is not the floor for every carrier; buy against the row that matches what you haul.

North Carolina minimum liability coverage by operation type
Operation type	Minimum liability
Any commercial motor vehicle registered in North Carolina, including intrastate and private operation	$750,000
Household goods mover, vehicles of 26,000 lb GVW or less, NCUC Form E filing	$100,000
Household goods mover, vehicles over 26,000 lb GVW, NCUC Form E filing	$750,000
Motor carriers holding a Utilities Commission certificate or broker's license, statutory floor for bodily injury or death of one person	$50,000
Interstate for-hire property carriage, nonhazardous property, filed with NCDMV before an apportioned plate issues	$750,000
Passenger carriage, vehicle seating 15 passengers or less	$1,500,000
Passenger carriage, vehicle seating 16 passengers or more	$5,000,000

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Who files the proof of insurance

Your insurance company makes these filings with the state, not you. Ask for them by form name when you bind coverage.

Liability proof: Form E, Uniform Motor Carrier Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Certificate of Insurance
Household goods cargo: Form H, Uniform Motor Carrier Cargo Certificate of Insurance

Filings are made by the insurance company. NCDMV requires a Form BMC-91 from each motor carrier regulated by the Federal Highway Administration and a Form E from each for-hire interstate motor carrier before an apportioned plate is issued, and requires the registrant to notify the Division of any change in liability coverage.

The federal minimums, for contrast

Cross a state line for hire and the federal financial-responsibility levels take over, filed with FMCSA by your insurer. The amounts below render from 49 CFR Part 387 (property carriers 387.303, brokers and freight forwarders 387.307, endorsements 387.15), as displayed on FMCSA's insurance filing requirements page; the filing mechanics live in our BMC-91 and BMC-34 insurance filings guide.

Federal minimum public liability levels by operation (49 CFR Part 387)
Operation	Vehicle	Liability minimum
For-hire property carrier, non-hazardous	GVWR under 10,001 lb	$300,000
For-hire property carrier, non-hazardous (general freight)	GVWR 10,001 lb or more	$750,000
For-hire carrier of certain hazardous materials	Any	$1,000,000
For-hire and private carriers of explosives, poison gas, or radioactive materials	Any	$5,000,000
For-hire carrier of household goods	GVWR 10,001 lb or more	$750,000
For-hire carrier of passengers	15 or fewer passengers	$1,500,000
For-hire carrier of passengers	16 or more passengers	$5,000,000
Broker of property or household goods	None	None
Freight forwarder of property	None	None
Freight forwarder of household goods	None	None

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Where insurance fits in the North Carolina launch

Coverage sits early in the sequence: the federal filing sequence needs your insurer's proof of coverage on file before authority activates, and the state rules above attach to the credential covered on the North Carolina intrastate authority page. For the full order of operations, work through start a trucking company in North Carolina.

Frequently asked questions

Does North Carolina set its own trucking insurance minimums?: North Carolina's published pages do not confirm a standalone intrastate minimum for every case. Where the state publishes no figure, this page says so instead of guessing, and the note beside each field explains what the state does require.
Do federal insurance minimums still apply to a North Carolina carrier?: Interstate operations file proof of coverage with FMCSA under 49 CFR Part 387 no matter which state the carrier is based in. The state rules on this page govern intrastate-only operations; the federal table shows the levels an interstate filing must meet.
What insurance does a new North Carolina carrier line up first?: Primary liability comes first: the state and federal filings both ride on an active liability policy. Cargo coverage follows where the state or your shippers require it, and physical damage on the truck is a lender requirement rather than a state rule.
Where do these figures come from?: Every dollar amount renders from the state agency publication or statute cited beside it, or from the federal regulation for the contrast table. When an agency publishes no figure, the field reads "Not confirmed" with a note on what the agency does say.

Haul Handbook publishes educational information about trucking registration and compliance requirements. This is not legal, financial, or tax advice. Rules, fees, and deadlines change; confirm with the agency before you file or pay.