ServicesPrimary Auto Liability
Primary Auto Liability Insurance in Union City, GA
Primary auto liability pays for injuries and damage your truck causes to other people. Your MC authority depends on it. We line up limits and filings that fit what you haul, then put the scope and every pricing factor in writing before you sign.
What primary liability does and who needs it
If your truck hits a car, a guardrail or a storefront, primary auto liability is the policy that answers for it. It covers bodily injury and property damage to others. It does not fix your own truck or pay for the freight you're carrying. That's what physical damage insurance and motor truck cargo insurance are for.
For-hire motor carriers running interstate need it on file with FMCSA before their authority goes active. The minimum limit depends on what you haul, and many shippers and brokers ask for more than the minimum. Carriers running only inside Georgia have state filing rules of their own.
We write it for owner-operators under their own authority, new carriers, small fleets, and hotshot, box and dump truck outfits from Union City out to Fairburn, Palmetto and Douglasville. Before you commit, you get a written quote showing the limit, the filings, any deductible and what drove the premium.
What we set up with your liability policy
Limits that match your freight
We start with the federal minimum for your cargo class, then check what your brokers and shippers require in their contracts. If a customer wants a higher limit, we price it both ways so you can see the difference.
Federal and state filings
The insurance company files the BMC-91 or BMC-91X with FMCSA so your MC authority can go active or stay active. For intrastate work, we handle the Georgia filing too. We confirm the filing posted instead of assuming it did.
MCS-90 endorsement explained
Interstate for-hire policies carry this federal endorsement. We explain what it means for you in plain words, including that it can leave you paying the insurer back if it pays a claim the policy itself wouldn't cover.
Scheduled trucks and drivers
Every power unit and driver goes on the policy correctly. A truck or driver left off is a common reason claims get fought, so we go line by line with you.
Certificates of insurance
Brokers, shippers and job sites will ask for a certificate of insurance. We issue them and add certificate holders or additional insureds when a contract calls for it.
Signs it's time to look at your liability coverage
You're filing for new authority
FMCSA won't activate your MC number until liability is on file. If that's where you are, our New Authority Truck Insurance page covers the rest of the setup.
A broker turned down your certificate
Brokers often want higher limits than the federal minimum. If a load fell through over your limits, it's worth pricing the next step up.
You're coming off a lease
Leased owner-operators usually ride on the motor carrier's primary liability. Once you run under your own authority, you need your own policy. While you're still leased on, non-trucking liability may be the piece you need instead.
Your renewal jumped with no explanation
A big increase usually traces back to something specific, like a claim, a new driver, a ticket or a longer radius. We'll show you which one.
You added a truck or changed freight
New units, new drivers or a different commodity can change your required limits and your rating. The policy should be updated before the truck runs.
How we set up your liability coverage
- 1
Phone or video call
We go over your DOT number, MC authority, trucks, drivers, radius and what you haul. Have driver license details and any loss runs handy. Most of this happens by phone or video, and you're welcome at our office too.
- 2
We shop the market
We take your information to insurance companies that write trucking liability and compare what comes back.
- 3
Written quote
You get the limit, filings, endorsements, premium and payment terms in writing. Any fees are listed. If something could change the price later, like adding a driver mid-term, we say so up front.
- 4
Bind and file
Once you approve, we bind coverage, get the filing submitted and send your certificate of insurance. Then we check that your FMCSA record shows the filing.
- 5
Changes during the year
Add a truck, swap a driver or need a new certificate, and we handle it. We tell you what a change does to the premium before it's made.
What moves your liability premium
Liability is usually the biggest piece of a trucking insurance bill. The price comes from your operation, your drivers and the limits you pick. We spell out which factors moved your price so you're not guessing.
- Driver records and experience
- Motor vehicle records, years with a CDL and driver age all matter. One driver with recent violations can raise the premium for the whole policy.
- Time under authority and loss history
- New authorities cost more because there's no track record yet. Clean loss runs over a few years usually help at renewal.
- Radius and garaging
- Long-haul runs and heavy metro traffic carry more exposure than short local work. Trucks garaged around metro Atlanta often rate differently than trucks kept in rural areas.
- Freight and the limit you choose
- Hazmat and some commodities require higher federal limits. Higher limits that brokers ask for add premium, but they can open up better-paying loads.
- Truck type and safety record
- Tractors, dump trucks, hotshots and box trucks all rate differently. Your FMCSA safety scores and roadside inspection history can also come into play.
Primary liability questions we hear
Something not covered here? (770) 790-4033
Does primary liability cover damage to my own truck?
No. It pays for damage and injuries you cause to others. Repairs to your truck after a wreck fall under physical damage insurance, and the freight falls under motor truck cargo insurance. We can price all three together so you see one written breakdown.
What's the difference between primary liability and bobtail coverage?
Primary liability covers you while you're working under dispatch. Non-trucking liability, often called bobtail, covers a leased owner-operator using the truck when not under dispatch. Which one you need depends on whose authority you run under, and we'll sort that out on the call.
How long does my filing take to show up with FMCSA?
It varies. The insurance company submits the filing after the policy is bound, and FMCSA posts it on its own timeline. We watch for it and let you know when it shows on your record, so you're not guessing before you take a load.
Can I carry just the federal minimum limit?
Yes, if that fits your operation. Many brokers and shippers want more, so we'll ask who you haul for before you settle on a number. We can lay out both options side by side in writing.
Will my premium change during the policy term?
It can if your operation changes. Adding trucks or drivers, stretching your radius, or an audit on some policies can adjust the premium. We put that in writing at the start and walk you through any change before it's made.
Get your liability numbers in writing
Tell us about your trucks, drivers and freight. We'll come back with a written quote that shows the limit, the filings and what set the premium.