Frequently Asked Questions

To activate your own MC authority, the FMCSA requires primary auto liability — a minimum of $750,000 for general freight, though most brokers and shippers require $1,000,000 before they'll work with you. Most carriers also expect motor truck cargo coverage (commonly $100,000). If your truck is financed, your lender will require physical damage coverage as well. Your insurance company must also submit the federal filing (BMC-91) that proves your coverage to the FMCSA — we handle that with the carrier as part of your policy.

It depends on how you operate. If you're leased to a motor carrier that provides primary liability, you typically only need bobtail/non-trucking liability and physical damage — often a few hundred dollars a month. Running under your own authority with a full package (liability, cargo, physical damage) generally runs from roughly $1,000 to $1,800+ per month for a single truck, depending on your driving record, years of experience, radius, the commodities you haul, and the value of your equipment. The fastest way to know your real number is a quote — we shop multiple A-rated carriers for you.

They're often confused, but they cover different situations. Bobtail insurance covers your tractor when you're driving without a trailer — whether or not you're under dispatch. Non-trucking liability (NTL) covers you when you're using the truck for non-business purposes, like driving home after dropping a load. If you're leased to a motor carrier, their primary liability only protects you while you're on dispatch — these coverages fill the gap the rest of the time.

The motor carrier's primary liability covers you while you're under dispatch, but you're usually still responsible for: non-trucking liability or bobtail coverage (for when you're not on dispatch), physical damage on your own tractor and trailer (the carrier's policy doesn't repair your equipment), and often occupational accident coverage. Check your lease agreement — it typically spells out exactly what you're required to carry.

Cargo insurance covers the freight you're hauling if it's damaged, lost, or stolen while in your care. Most brokers and shippers require $100,000 in cargo coverage before tendering a load. The right limit and policy depend on what you haul — refrigerated goods may need reefer breakdown coverage, and high-value or specialized commodities may need higher limits. Tell us what you haul and we'll match the coverage to it.

The biggest factors are your driving record and claims history, years of CDL and authority experience, your radius of operation, the commodities you haul, the value and age of your equipment, and the coverage limits and deductibles you choose. New authorities typically pay more for the first 1–2 years; rates usually improve as you build a clean record. We re-shop your policy at renewal so you're never stuck overpaying.

Yes — helping new ventures get started is one of the things we do most. We work with carriers that write first-year authorities, handle the federal and state filings your authority needs, and help you avoid the common mistake of buying the cheapest minimum policy that brokers won't accept. As your record builds, we move you into better-priced programs.

Most businesses start with general liability (injuries or property damage to others), and add commercial property coverage for your building, tools, or inventory — often bundled together in a Business Owner's Policy (BOP) to save money. If you have employees, workers' compensation is required in California and most states. Businesses that use vehicles need commercial auto, and businesses that give professional advice or services should consider professional liability. We'll walk through your operation and recommend only what fits.

A BOP bundles general liability and commercial property insurance into a single policy — usually at a lower price than buying them separately. It's designed for small and mid-size businesses and can be customized with add-ons like business interruption coverage. If you're buying two or more coverages separately, it's worth asking us to quote a BOP instead.

In California, yes — every employer with even one employee must carry workers' compensation, and penalties for going without it are severe. Requirements in other states vary by employee count and industry. Workers' comp covers medical care and lost wages for work-related injuries, and protects your business from related lawsuits. If you have employees in multiple states, we'll make sure you're covered in each one.

A direct insurer can only ever sell you their own product. As an independent agency, we shop multiple A-rated carriers and compare them for you — coverage, price, and claims reputation. You get one point of contact for all your policies, an advocate when you have a claim, and a yearly re-check to make sure you're still getting the best value. Our help costs you nothing extra — we're paid by the carrier you choose.

The most reliable ways: bundle your home and auto with the same carrier, raise your deductibles if you have savings to cover them, ask about discounts (good driver, security systems, paid-in-full, and more), and re-shop your coverage every year or two — loyalty doesn't always pay in insurance. That last one is exactly what we do for our clients at renewal.

A common starting point is 10–12 times your annual income, adjusted for your debts (mortgage, loans), future costs (college, childcare), and what you already have through work. For most families, affordable term life covers the years that matter most; whole life adds lifelong coverage and cash value at a higher cost. The right answer is personal — a short conversation with us will get you a real number and real quotes.

Submit a request and you'll hear from us within one business day — often sooner. For trucking, the fastest path is our full online application: it auto-fills your company info from your US DOT# and decodes your VINs, giving our team everything they need to start quoting right away.

Request it through our Certificate of Insurance request form or call us at 818-890-7500. Have the certificate holder's name and address ready, plus any special wording the contract requires. Most certificates are issued the same business day.

You can pay online any time through our Make a Payment page, or pay your insurance carrier directly using the billing information on your policy. If you're not sure who bills you, call us at 818-890-7500 and we'll point you the right way.

Wizard Insurance Services Inc. (License 0H93961) is licensed in CA, TX, AZ, CO, TN, NV, OK, and More. If you operate in multiple states — common for trucking — we can typically cover your whole operation under one roof.

For a truck: the VIN, year, make, value, and your lienholder's information if it's financed. For a driver: their full name, date of birth, CDL number and state, and years of experience. Call or email us with those details and we'll handle the change with your carrier — most updates are processed within one business day.