Car hauler insurance for every car on the deck.
Primary auto liability, cargo written for vehicles and physical damage for auto transporters, from a dually with a single-car wedge to a 7 to 10 car stinger.
By Sam Alishahi · CA Insurance License #4348151 · Reviewed November 2026 · En español · How this page is researched
Your cargo has a VIN
A car hauler's cargo is someone else's vehicle, and the claims are specific: scratches and dents found at delivery, damage while loading and unloading, and the value of a full deck of newer cars. Cargo policies for auto haulers usually have a per-vehicle limit and a per-load limit, and both need to fit what you carry.
I place car haulers with carriers that write the class, check the cargo form for the conditions that matter to auto transport, and send the certificates dealers, auctions and brokers ask for.
- Primary auto liabilityInjuries and damage you cause, with the FMCSA filing for interstate authority.
- Motor truck cargoThe vehicles you're carrying, per car and per load.
- Physical damageYour truck and your car-hauling trailer.
- General liabilityClaims at dealer lots, auctions and customers' homes.
What underwriters will ask
Having these ready means I can go to market on the first call. The quote form asks for the same things, and anything you don’t know yet can wait.
- Rig: truck and trailer year, make, VIN, type and value.
- Capacity: how many cars you carry and the most valuable load you'd take.
- Drivers: names, dates of birth, license class and car-hauling experience.
- Authority: USDOT and MC numbers, or that you're applying.
- Customers: dealers, auctions, brokers or private owners, with rough percentages.
- History: any prior policy and loss runs.
How many tiedowns a car needs
When a car shifts on the deck and hits the one in front of it, how it was tied down is one of the first things anyone looks at. The federal cargo securement rules set the minimum, and which rule applies depends on what the hauled vehicle weighs.
- Cars, light trucks and vans that individually weigh 10,000 lb or less. 49 CFR 393.128 requires each one to be restrained at both the front and the rear against lateral, forward, rearward and vertical movement, using a minimum of two tiedowns.
- Where the straps attach. Tiedowns designed to fasten to the vehicle's structure must use the mounting points built specifically for that purpose. Tiedowns designed to fit over or around the wheels must restrain the vehicle laterally, longitudinally and vertically. Edge protectors aren't required where synthetic webbing touches the tires.
- Heavier vehicles and equipment. 49 CFR 393.130 covers wheeled or tracked vehicles, equipment and machinery that individually weigh 10,000 lb or more: accessory equipment such as hydraulic shovels completely lowered and secured, articulated machines restrained so they can't articulate in transit, and a minimum of four tiedowns, each as close as practicable to the front and rear or at mounting points designed for that purpose.
- Checking the load on the road. Under 49 CFR 392.9, the driver of a truck or truck tractor makes sure the cargo is secured before driving, inspects the cargo and its securement devices within the first 50 miles of a trip, and reexamines them whenever the driver changes duty status, or the truck has been driven 3 hours or 150 miles, whichever comes first. The rule exempts a sealed vehicle the driver has been ordered not to open, and a load that makes inspection impracticable.
The 10,000 lb line is the weight of each hauled vehicle, and 393.128 sends any vehicle heavier than that to 393.130. If you're moving up to equipment, see heavy haul trucking insurance.
The condition report at pickup and delivery
A damage dispute on a car load usually comes down to one question: was that scratch there before it went up the ramp? The federal paperwork rule doesn't answer it for you. Under 49 CFR 373.101, a for-hire, non-exempt motor carrier must issue a receipt or bill of lading for property it accepts for interstate or foreign transportation, showing the names of the consignor and consignee, the origin and destination points, the number of packages, a description of the freight, and the weight, volume or measurement when that applies to how the freight is rated. Nothing on that list asks for the vehicle's condition, so the condition report is a habit you build.
What I tell haulers to do on every car:
- Walk the car with the shipper or the dealer's lot staff before it's loaded. Mark every chip, dent, scuff and cracked lens on the report, and get it signed.
- Photograph all four sides, the roof, the wheels and the odometer, with time stamps, in daylight or under good light.
- Write the VIN on the report so the photos tie to the right car.
- Repeat the walk with the receiver at delivery, before they sign, and note anything new on the spot rather than days later.
- Keep the reports with the bill of lading for every load.
Claims can also stall over policy wording, not just paperwork. Read why cargo claims get denied before your first loss, not after.
Car hauler insurance, answered
How much cargo coverage does a car hauler need?
Enough for the most valuable load you'll carry, both per vehicle and per load. Brokers and dealers often set a minimum, but a deck of late-model trucks can be worth far more than a common limit.
Is damage during loading and unloading covered?
Often, but cargo forms differ. Some restrict loading and unloading damage or apply a separate deductible, so I check that wording before you bind.
Does the car owner's insurance cover their car on my trailer?
Don't count on it. Shippers, dealers and brokers expect the carrier's cargo coverage to respond to damage in transit.
Do I need MC authority to haul cars?
Hauling other people's vehicles for pay across state lines generally requires USDOT registration and MC authority, which isn't active until your insurer files proof of liability. Carriers running only in California may need a CA number and a Motor Carrier Permit from the DMV.
Can a new car hauler get insured?
Yes. New authorities have fewer markets, and carriers look closely at driving experience, especially with trailers. A clean record and a realistic cargo limit help.
Do you offer car hauler insurance outside California?
Yes. Clients across the country send the same quote form. Sam Alishahi is licensed in all 50 states and Washington, DC and places policies there directly. The shopping across carriers works the same way. Rules, minimums and markets differ by state — see truck insurance by state or insurance requirements by state.
Official sources
- 49 CFR 393.128 - Securement of automobiles, light trucks and vans (Cornell LII)
- 49 CFR 393.130 - Securement of heavy vehicles, equipment and machinery (Cornell LII)
- 49 CFR 392.9 - Inspection of cargo, cargo securement devices and systems (Cornell LII)
- 49 CFR 373.101 - Motor carrier bills of lading (Cornell LII)
- California Vehicle Code 35401.3 - Stinger-steered combinations (california.public.law)
- California Vehicle Code 35406 - Front load extension (california.public.law)
- California Vehicle Code 35250 - Height limit (california.public.law)
- Caltrans Legal Truck Access - Overhang
- FMCSA SAFER Company Snapshot
- FMCSA L&I carrier search
Send your rig and your loads. I'll shop it.
Truck and trailer details, how many cars you carry and your authority status are enough to start.
Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, California License #4348151. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage; coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued. Some policies may be placed with nonadmitted (surplus lines) insurers, which are not members of the California Insurance Guarantee Association (CIGA).
Tell me how to reach you. I’ll take it from there.
Takes about 30 seconds. Your next step comes by email, and you get an update at every step until your quotes are ready.
(877) 711-4545Answered 24/7 · CA License #4348151
Get a reminder before your renewal.
Tell me when your policy renews and I’ll email you about six weeks before, when it’s worth comparing. One email, no calls.