Florida truck insurance

Hauling across state lines

Interstate for-hire freight needs the federal set: USDOT number, operating authority (MC), BMC-91 or BMC-91X filed with FMCSA by your insurer, a BOC-3 and at least $750,000 of liability for general freight in vehicles rated 10,001 lbs GVWR or more. See the new authority guide.

Florida’s liability minimums by truck weight

Florida requires commercial motor vehicles — under s. 320.01, a vehicle of 26,001 lbs or more, one with three or more axles regardless of weight, or a combination over 26,001 lbs — and qualified motor vehicles to carry combined bodily injury and property damage liability of at least (F.S. 627.7415):

26,000 to under 35,000 lbs gross vehicle weight

$50,000 per occurrence

35,000 to under 44,000 lbs

$100,000 per occurrence

44,000 lbs or more

$300,000 per occurrence

Subject to 49 CFR 387, Subparts A and B

The federal minimum levels — for example $750,000 for interstate for-hire general freight in vehicles rated 10,001 lbs GVWR or more

A violation is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation. Read the numbers as written: the statute’s first tier starts at 26,000 lbs, while the commercial motor vehicle definition and the USDOT exemption both use 26,001 lbs.

USDOT numbers and safety rules for intrastate carriers

The Florida Highway Patrol says your company is required by law to register for a USDOT number and display it on its commercial motor vehicle power units. Registration fees can apply to interstate carriers but not to companies operating only inside Florida, and the registration must be updated every two years. Common exemptions include vehicles with a declared gross vehicle weight under 26,001 lbs hauling property that needs no placards, and agricultural, horticultural and forestry hauling during harvest seasons.

Florida applies the federal safety rules (49 CFR Parts 382–386 and 390–397, as they stood on December 31, 2023) to intrastate commercial motor vehicles, with state exceptions (F.S. 316.302):

• trucks with a gross vehicle weight, weight rating and combination rating all under 26,001 lbs, running only in Florida without placarded hazmat, are exempt from that adoption — but must still follow the federal drug and alcohol testing, driving and parts-and-accessories rules and basic inspection and maintenance rules;
• intrastate drivers without placarded hazmat may drive up to 12 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, not after the 16th hour on duty, and not after 70 hours in 7 days (80 in 8 if the carrier runs every day), with 34 consecutive hours off restarting the count;
• the federal minimum driver age of 21 (49 CFR 391.11(b)(1)) does not apply to intrastate drivers without placarded hazmat.

Moving household goods in Florida

Movers register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, show proof of insurance before they are registered, and must keep it in force for the whole registration period (F.S. 507.04):

• liability coverage of at least $10,000 per shipment for loss or damage to household goods caused by the mover’s negligence — a mover with two or fewer vehicles may keep a $50,000 performance bond or certificate of deposit instead;
• motor vehicle liability, combined, of at least $50,000 per occurrence for a commercial motor vehicle under 35,000 lbs, $100,000 from 35,000 to under 44,000 lbs, and $300,000 at 44,000 lbs or more.

Getting truck insurance quotes in Florida

• USDOT number, and MC number if you haul interstate for hire.
• For each truck: VIN, year, make, model, number of axles and gross weight — Florida’s tiers follow weight.
• Florida only, or across state lines — it decides whether the state tiers or the federal minimums apply.
• What you haul (household goods? placarded hazmat?) and where.
• Drivers’ license details and experience, and loss runs from recent insurers.

Running north too? See the Georgia guide.