Truck insurance cost estimator

By Fernandez · Updated October 2026

Get a planning range for truck insurance before you call agents for quotes.

Your rig

Miles per year

Years under your own authority

Cargo limit needed

Youngest driver's age

Your adjustment for the factors below

ASSUMPTION; set from real quotes

New authority: usually priced higher until you have a record.

Estimated yearly premium range

$7,420 to $15,900

Per month, middle

$883

Industry average used

$0.106 per mile

Anchor: ATRI, An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, 2026 update (2025 data), as reported by FleetOwner, 2025 data, an average across carriers. The band (70% to 150% of the middle) is deliberately wide. Not a quote: get quotes from licensed agents for your dry van, authority and record.

Insurance near $883 a month is a fixed cost. Steady loads cover it; our dispatchers find them.

Our dispatchers find and negotiate the loads; you approve each one and sign the rate con. 5% of gross for one truck with an MC 6 months or older, no setup fee.

Start dispatch

What insurance does not cover

Liability, cargo and physical damage pay for accidents and losses, not for a failed engine, transmission or aftertreatment system. A breakdown protection plan covers those repairs for eligible class 3 to 8 trucks. It is not insurance and does not replace any coverage you are required to carry. Read our guide to the best semi truck extended warranty before choosing one.

How the estimate works

Anchor = ATRI's 2025 average insurance cost per mile x your yearly miles.
Middle = anchor x (1 + your adjustment), which you set from the factors listed and any quotes you have.
Range = 70% to 150% of the middle, deliberately wide.

Factors that usually raise premiums appear as you enter them: a new authority, drivers under 25, cargo limits over $100,000 and hazmat. Federal minimum liability limits for for-hire carriers are set in 49 CFR 387.9.

Worked example

Item	EXAMPLE
Miles per year	100,000
Industry average	$0.106 a mile
Anchor	$10,600
Adjustment	0%
Range	about $7,400 to $15,900 a year

EXAMPLE only. Real quotes can fall outside this range.

Related tools

Check what a truck is worth for physical damage cover with the semi truck value estimator, and build insurance into your budget with the how much truck can I afford calculator. The truck financing guide and commercial truck financing rates explain lender insurance requirements.

Insurance mistakes owners make

Buying the truck before the quote. Get a quote on the exact truck, drivers and operation before you sign for the truck.
Comparing price only. Check limits, deductibles, exclusions and the cargo the policy actually covers.
Underinsuring cargo. Some shippers and brokers require cargo limits above what a cheap policy carries.
Letting the policy lapse. A lapse can deactivate your authority and raise future premiums.

Insurance is fixed; loads cover it

The premium is due whether the truck rolls or not. We keep it rolling at rates that cover the fixed costs.

Cover my fixed costs

YOUR NUMBERS, EXAMPLE

Payment: $1,715 /mo
Our fee: 5% of gross
YOU KEEP: the rest

Questions

How much is truck insurance for an owner-operator?

It varies more than almost any other cost. ATRI's study put average insurance premiums at about 10.6 cents per mile for 2025, across the carriers it surveyed. New authorities, young drivers, hazmat and high cargo limits usually pay more. Use the estimator for a planning range, then get real quotes.

How do I get a commercial truck insurance quote?

Contact licensed insurance agents or brokers who write commercial trucking, with your USDOT and MC numbers, the truck's VIN and value, drivers and their records, the cargo you haul and your radius. Ask several agents, and compare the coverages and deductibles, not only the price.

What is box truck insurance cost compared with a semi?

Often lower, because box trucks are lighter, run fewer miles and carry smaller loads, but it depends on the operation and the cargo. The ATRI average used here comes mostly from heavy trucks, so treat the estimate loosely for a 26 ft box truck and get quotes for your truck.

Why are truck insurance quotes higher for new authorities?

Insurers price risk partly from history, and a new authority has none. Premiums often come down after a year or two of clean operation. Keeping a clean safety record, good driver files and no claims helps when you renew, and shopping several agents each year keeps the price honest.

What does truck insurance not cover?

Liability, cargo and physical damage pay for accidents and losses. They do not pay for a failed engine, transmission or aftertreatment system from normal wear. That is a repair risk, covered by your own reserve or a breakdown protection plan, not by insurance.