Does Ohio set its own trucking insurance minimums?

The stored record marks state and federal minimums as different. Review the operation-specific rows and source notes; the difference does not establish one amount for every carrier.

Do federal insurance minimums still apply to an Ohio carrier?

Federal insurance requirements depend on the vehicle, commodity and operation. Review the federal table and its cited regulation alongside the applicable state requirements; state location alone does not settle coverage or filing scope.

What insurance does a new Ohio carrier line up first?

Review the liability, cargo and filing requirements for your operation before comparing coverage. The source notes identify the stored state and federal scope; insurer and contractual requirements need their own check.

Where do these figures come from?

The tables show stored amounts with their recorded sources. A field marked "Not confirmed" is a verification gap. Review its note; that label does not establish that the agency publishes no amount or that no requirement applies.

Ohio Trucking Insurance Requirements (2026)

By Haul Handbook editorial team· Updated Jul 25, 2026

What Ohio requires

These are the state-level rules attached to Ohio intrastate operating authority. A field reading "Not confirmed" means this guide has not confirmed that value. The note explains the gap; unknown is not evidence of absence.

Liability minimum: $750,000 liability for for-hire property carriers; the operation-type table below lists each class
Cargo minimum: $5,000 (Ohio Adm.Code 4901:2-13-03(B) requires cargo liability only of for-hire carriers transporting household goods in intrastate commerce: $5,000 for loss of or damage to household goods carried on any one motor vehicle, and $10,000 for loss or damage, or an aggregate of losses or damages, occurring at any one time or place. General freight carriers file no cargo minimum under this rule.)
Differs from federal: Yes

Minimum liability by operation type

Review the operation-specific scope and source notes before relying on a coverage amount.

Ohio minimum liability coverage by operation type
Operation type	Minimum liability	Minimum cargo	Set by	Notes
For-hire property carrier, intrastate commerce (general freight)	$750,000		Ohio Adm.Code 4901:2-13-03(A)
For-hire property carrier operating exclusively vehicles under 10,001 lb GVWR or GCWR	$300,000		Ohio Adm.Code 4901:2-13-03(A)
For-hire passenger carrier, vehicles seating sixteen or more including the driver	$5,000,000		Ohio Adm.Code 4901:2-13-03(C)(1)
For-hire passenger carrier, vehicles seating fifteen or fewer including the driver	$1,500,000		Ohio Adm.Code 4901:2-13-03(C)(2)
High-risk hazardous materials (Class 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 explosives; Class 2.3 Hazard Zone A gases; Class 6.1 Packing Group I Hazard Zone A poisons; hazardous substances in cargo tanks, portable tanks or hopper vehicles over 3,500 water gallons; Class 2.1 or 2.2 in containment systems over 3,500 water gallons; highway route controlled quantities of Class 7 radioactive material)	$5,000,000		Ohio Adm.Code 4901:2-13-03(D)	Applies to for-hire and private motor carriers alike.
Oil and other hazardous materials, wastes and substances not listed in paragraph (D)	$1,000,000		Ohio Adm.Code 4901:2-13-03(E)	Applies to for-hire and private motor carriers alike. PUCO advises that a trailer hauling tractors falls in this tier, because the hauled tractors have a combustible engine and the ability to carry fuel.
Household goods mover, cargo liability per vehicle	Not applicable	$5,000	Ohio Adm.Code 4901:2-13-03(B)(1)
Household goods mover, cargo liability aggregate at any one time or place	Not applicable	$10,000	Ohio Adm.Code 4901:2-13-03(B)(2)

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Who files the proof of insurance

The rows identify stored proof-of-coverage filings. Confirm which filing applies to your authority and who submits it before requesting a form.

Liability proof: Form E
Household goods cargo: Forms E and H

The carrier does not file proof of insurance itself. The insurance company electronically files a Form E for a motor carrier, or Forms E and H for a household goods mover, with the PUCO. Self-insured motor carriers file with FMCSA instead. Rule 4901:2-21-05 conditions certificate approval on proper insurance filing under Ohio Adm.Code Chapter 4901:2-13.

The federal minimums, for contrast

Federal financial-responsibility requirements depend on the operation, vehicle and commodity. Review the rows and exclusions in 49 CFR Part 387 (property carriers 387.303, brokers and freight forwarders 387.307, endorsements 387.15), as displayed on FMCSA's insurance filing requirements page; the filing mechanics live in our BMC-91 and BMC-34 insurance filings guide.

Federal minimum public liability levels by operation (49 CFR Part 387)
Operation	Vehicle	Liability minimum
For-hire property carrier, non-hazardous	GVWR under 10,001 lb	$300,000
For-hire property carrier, non-hazardous (general freight)	GVWR 10,001 lb or more	$750,000
For-hire carrier of certain hazardous materials	Any	$1,000,000
For-hire and private carriers of explosives, poison gas, or radioactive materials	Any	$5,000,000
For-hire carrier of household goods	GVWR 10,001 lb or more	$750,000
For-hire carrier of passengers	15 or fewer passengers	$1,500,000
For-hire carrier of passengers	16 or more passengers	$5,000,000
Broker of property or household goods	None	None
Freight forwarder of property	None	None
Freight forwarder of household goods	None	None

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Where insurance fits in the Ohio launch

Coverage sits early in the sequence: the federal filing sequence needs your insurer's proof of coverage on file before authority activates, and the state rules above attach to the credential covered on the Ohio intrastate authority page. For the full order of operations, work through start a trucking company in Ohio.