At a glance
- State liability minimum
- $35,000 per person, $70,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage — policies issued or renewed from January 1, 2026.
- Interstate for-hire
- $750,000 federal minimum for general freight in vehicles rated 10,001 lbs GVWR or more.
- Safety rules
- FMCSA regulations apply to interstate and intrastate operations; FMCSA lists New Jersey among states requiring intrastate USDOT numbers.
- Tow trucks
- $750,000 (under 32,000 lbs) or $1,000,000 (over 32,000 lbs) to register.
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.
New Jersey’s insurance minimum since 2026
A 2022 law raised New Jersey’s minimum liability limits in two steps. According to the Department of Banking and Insurance, policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2023 needed $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage. For new and renewal policies issued on or after January 1, 2026, the minimums are $35,000 per person and $70,000 per accident, with property damage staying at $25,000 (N.J.S.A. 39:6B-1). The Department asked commercial auto insurers that offer coverage at the minimum limits to file rates for the new amounts.
For a truck the state minimum is only a floor: interstate for-hire carriers must meet the federal minimums, and contracts can require more.
Safety rules, USDOT and commercial registration
NJDOT says FMCSA regulations apply to both interstate and intrastate operations, and FMCSA lists New Jersey among the states that require intrastate registrants to obtain a USDOT number.
At the Motor Vehicle Commission, a commercial truck or tractor (registration code 11) gets “commercial” plates and must carry a clearly visible sign or nameplate (N.J.S.A. 39:4-46), in letters at least three inches high, showing:
- the name of the owner, lessee or lessor;
- the municipality of the principal place of business;
- the GVWR, or the combined rating, if the vehicle is 26,001 lbs or more and registered or principally garaged in New Jersey.
Vehicles registered at 55,000 lbs or more upload IRS Form 2290 (heavy vehicle use tax) for online renewal.
Tow trucks and movers
- Light–medium tow truck (under 32,000 lbs)
- A certificate of insurance for at least $750,000, with the MVC as certificate holder, to register
- Heavy-duty tow truck (over 32,000 lbs)
- At least $1,000,000
- Licensed public movers
- A certificate of insurance filed with the Division of Consumer Affairs, including cargo coverage at $1.00 per pound per article — at least $25,000 per vehicle per accident and $50,000 per occurrence (N.J.A.C. 13:44D-4.7)
More on towing in the tow truck guide.
Getting truck insurance quotes in New Jersey
- USDOT number, and MC number if you haul interstate for hire.
- For each truck: VIN, year, make, model, GVWR and registration code (commercial, tow truck, aggregate hauler).
- Where the trucks are garaged and which states you run.
- Drivers’ license details and experience, and loss runs from recent insurers.
- Contract insurance requirements and certificate holders.
Running into New York too? See the New York guide.
Questions truckers ask
What is the minimum auto insurance in New Jersey in 2026?
For policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026: $35,000 per person and $70,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage (N.J.S.A. 39:6B-1).
Is the state minimum enough for interstate trucking?
No. For-hire carriers hauling general freight across state lines need at least $750,000 of liability for vehicles rated 10,001 lbs GVWR or more, filed with FMCSA by their insurer.
Do New Jersey intrastate trucks need a USDOT number?
FMCSA lists New Jersey among the states that require intrastate commercial vehicle registrants to obtain a USDOT number, and NJDOT says FMCSA regulations apply to intrastate operations too.
What lettering does a New Jersey commercial truck need?
The owner’s, lessee’s or lessor’s name, the municipality of the principal place of business and — for vehicles of 26,001 lbs or more registered or garaged in New Jersey — the GVWR, in letters at least three inches high.
How much insurance does a tow truck need in New Jersey?
To register it: a certificate of insurance for at least $750,000 for tow trucks under 32,000 lbs, or $1,000,000 for heavy-duty tow trucks over 32,000 lbs, with the MVC as certificate holder.
What cargo insurance do New Jersey movers need?
Licensed public movers file a certificate of insurance that includes cargo coverage at $1.00 per pound per article — at least $25,000 per vehicle per accident and $50,000 per occurrence.
Sources
- NJ Department of Banking and Insurance — Bulletin 25-06: minimum auto limits from January 1, 2026
- NJDOT — Trucking: licensing and registration
- NJ Motor Vehicle Commission — Commercial vehicle and registration information (lettering, tow trucks)
- N.J.A.C. 13:44D — Public movers and warehousemen (13:44D-4.7 insurance)
- IRS — About Form 2290, Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax
- FMCSA — Do I Need a USDOT Number?
- FMCSA — Insurance Filing Requirements (chart of minimums and forms)
Checked September 28, 2026. Rules and fees change — confirm with the agency that regulates you before you rely on a number. General information, not legal advice.