Truck insurance for operators who are done guessing

Stop shopping blind. Know what your file says.

Your rate is not just a number. It is drivers, losses, inspections, cargo, radius, filings, COIs, and how clean your story looks to the market. DOT or no DOT, start in the right lane.

Start My Insurance RequestTake the Trucking Readiness Quiz
Instant COIs: complete certificate requests should never wait more than 5 minutes. Not a quote. Underwriting still decides.
New authorityRenewalsInstant COIsTow / wreckerHeavy towNon-DOT local autoIntrastate / localLocal courierPort / UIIABox truckCargo / Sprinter vanHotshotReeferDry vanHazmatCar haulerSand / dirt / gravel

Operator readiness board

What is the market seeing?

Insurance gets ugly when your file looks messy. Bring the proof before the renewal panic, broker COI, port gate, tow rotation, or first load puts you on the clock.

Missing detailsReview-ready
Tow / wreckerRollback, on-hook, garage, storage, equipment value.Non-DOT local autoLocal routes, drivers, garaging, certificates.Instant COIsComplete requests: never wait more than 5 minutes.New DOT?Know what the underwriter will ask for.Renewal jumped?Do not wait until expiration week.Cargo / SprinterCourier, final-mile, contracts, cargo.HotshotPickup, gooseneck, radius, load value.Port / UIIAFilings, interchange, certificate pressure.Ready nowSend the file.Hazmat / car haulerCargo, filings, values, certificates.
No quote theater
No COI waiting game
Proof beats guessing

Find your lane fast

See your lane? Tap it.

Tow, courier, hotshot, box truck, port, hazmat, dump, reefer, dry van. The point is simple: do not make a trucker hunt for proof that you understand the operation.

Tractor / dry vanOTR, regional, local, cargo, radius, and filings. ReeferTemperature-sensitive cargo, radius, brokers, and cargo value. Box truckFinal-mile, local delivery, route type, and cargo questions. Cargo / Sprinter vanCourier, expediting, Amazon-style routes, radius, and cargo. HotshotPickup, gooseneck, flatbed, cargo value, and driver experience. Car haulerAuto transport, trailer type, cargo exposure, and broker needs. HazmatCommodity, placarding, filings, driver history, and certificates. Sand / dirt / gravelDump work, aggregates, jobsite exposure, and local radius. Tow / wreckerRollback, on-hook, garage exposure, storage, rotation work, and equipment value. Heavy towBig equipment, high values, radius, contracts, and loss history. Port / UIIAContainer, chassis, trailer interchange, and certificates. Non-DOT local autoIntrastate, local service, courier, contractor, and certificate-heavy accounts.

Start in the right lane

DOT number or local operation?

Pick the real path. DOT carrier, non-DOT local auto, or learn first. If there is no truck, no route, no driver, and no plan, this is not application time yet.

Do not force every operator into the same box.

Tow trucks, local couriers, service vehicles, and intrastate accounts may not have DOT/MC. That does not make them fake. Planning-only shoppers go learn first.

Yes, I have DOT/MC Start the trucking app Motor carrier, new authority, renewal, OTR/regional, port, hotshot, hazmat, car hauler, dump, reefer, dry van, box truck, cargo/Sprinter van. No DOT, real local operation Start local commercial auto Local tow, rollback, wrecker, courier, contractor, service vehicle, intrastate, certificate-heavy accounts. Not sure / planning only Learn first. Come back real. No route, no driver, no vehicle, no DOT plan? Do the homework before asking for pricing.

Certificates without the waiting game

COI waiting kills money.

Broker, shipper, port, jobsite, dealer, lender, dispatch. If the certificate request is complete, you should not be sitting around. Garden Mutual’s standard: never wait more than 5 minutes.

Broker COIs

Holder, address, wording, limits, endorsements. Send it clean.

Port / UIIA pressure

Gate waiting? Chassis waiting? Paperwork cannot drag.

Jobsites and contracts

Dump, tow, hotshot, car hauler, local auto. Proof first.

Fast needs complete

Bad info creates back-and-forth. Clean info moves.

Cheap without proof is weak

You want a lower premium. What proof are you bringing?

Markets do not care that you hate the bill. They care what the file says: drivers, losses, inspections, vehicles, cargo, radius, safety, claims, and COI needs.

Have this before asking for cheaper.

Not someday. Not “I can get it later.” Have it ready.

MVRs and driver listNames, license details, CDL status, experience, violations, and who is actually driving.
Loss runsCurrent and prior carrier history, open claims, large losses, and what changed since the loss.
Equipment schedulePower units, trailers, cargo/Sprinter vans, box trucks, values, lenders, garaging, and usage.
ELD or paper logsHours-of-service discipline, radius, route pattern, and whether the story matches the operation.
Dash cam or telematicsSafety tech can help defend claims and may support discount conversations when paired with real management.
Inspection historyRoadside inspections, violations, maintenance patterns, out-of-service issues, and corrective action.
DataQs awarenessIf FMCSA or state data looks incomplete or incorrect, know how to request a review instead of ignoring it.
Claims response planPhotos, dash cam footage, police report, witness info, carrier contact, and one clear timeline.

Give the market a reason.

“I need cheaper” is not a strategy. A cleaner file is.

  • Clean driver selection and documented safety habits.
  • Organized loss runs and a clear explanation of big losses.
  • Inspection corrections, maintenance records, and DataQs follow-up when data is wrong.
  • ELD, dash cam, telematics, or safety program details if available.
  • Accurate cargo, radius, garaging, filings, and certificate needs.
Score My Price Readiness

Tap to play

Can your file survive the first look?

Ten quick taps. Get a score. Find the holes before the market finds them for you.

Can your operation support a better insurance conversation?
Pick one answer per row. Your score updates instantly.
0/20 pts

1. What is the first thing you should know before asking for truck or commercial auto insurance?

2. A new authority usually worries underwriters because…

3. Which operation detail can change the market fast, especially for hazmat, car haulers, or dump work?

4. Port, container, rail, tow rotation, or jobsite work may create questions about…

5. If your renewal jumped, the smartest first move is…

6. Physical damage is often tied to…

7. The best application gives Garden Mutual…

8. What proof helps when a trucker says, “I need a cheaper price”?

9. If an inspection or crash record looks wrong, DataQs can be used to…

10. After a big claim, the best insurance story includes…

Readiness badge

Answer the quiz to unlock your badge.

Your badge will appear here. Then you can copy a bragging-rights caption or start with the DOT yes/no screen.

Use My Score to Start the Request

Built around your lane

Pick your lane before you waste another quote call.

Tow, courier, port, hotshot, box truck, hazmat, car hauler, dump, reefer, dry van, or non-DOT local auto. If the operation is real, the file needs to look real.

Tow / wrecker

Rollback, wheel-lift, on-hook, garage exposure, storage, police rotation, jobsite calls, and equipment value.

Heavy tow

Big equipment, high values, radius, contracts, driver skill, loss history, and certificate needs.

Non-DOT commercial auto

Local business vehicles, service routes, contractors, intrastate work, certificates, drivers, and garaging.

Local courier / intrastate

Courier, expediting, final-mile, Sprinter vans, cargo, contracts, local radius, and driver setup.

New DOT / new authority

FMCSA filings, operation details, and what underwriters review before a first policy.

Renewal shoppers

Premium jump, carrier appetite change, loss runs, deadlines, and apples-to-apples review.

Port / UIIA / drayage

Container, chassis, trailer interchange, certificates, and port-related requirements.

Hotshot

Pickup, gooseneck, flatbed, radius, driver experience, and cargo value questions.

Cargo / Sprinter van

Courier, expediting, final-mile, contracts, local radius, and cargo details.

Box truck

Final-mile, local delivery, route type, GVW, driver setup, and cargo questions.

Hazmat

Commodity, placarding, radius, filings, driver experience, and certificate requirements reviewed carefully.

Car haulers

Auto transport, cargo exposure, trailer type, radius, vehicle values, and broker requirements.

Sand / dirt / gravel

Dump trucks, aggregates, jobsite exposure, local radius, and equipment schedules.

Dry van / reefer

OTR, regional, dedicated, temperature-sensitive cargo, broker needs, and filings.

Tractor operations

Power units, trailers, drivers, garaging, radius, commodities, and loss history.

Before you submit

Do not send a half-built file.

Operation facts

  • DOT/MC if applicable
  • Business name and garaging ZIP
  • Local, intrastate, OTR, port, tow, or dedicated radius
  • Cargo, vehicle use, broker/COI requirements

Policy facts

  • Current policy and renewal date
  • Units, trailers, tow, rollback, cargo/Sprinter, box, car hauler, dump, wrecker
  • Drivers, CDL if applicable, experience
  • Loss runs, filings, UIIA, on-hook, garage, certificates

Coverage availability, filings, limits, timing, and pricing depend on underwriting review and carrier eligibility. Garden Mutual does not bind, change, cancel, or promise carrier acceptance from this page.

Start in the right lane.

DOT trucking file or local non-DOT commercial auto. Pick the path, bring the proof, and stop shopping blind.

Start With DOT Yes/No
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