"Owner-operator" covers two very different insurance situations. If you run under your own MC authority, you buy everything a motor carrier needs. If you lease your truck onto another carrier, that carrier's policy usually covers liability while you're under dispatch — and you fill in the gaps.
Running under your own authority
- Primary auto liability filed with FMCSA ($750k minimum; $1M is standard).
- Motor truck cargo (typically $100k).
- Physical damage on the tractor (and trailer if you own one).
- Optional: general liability, trailer interchange, reefer breakdown, occupational accident or workers' comp.
Leased onto a motor carrier
- Non-trucking liability (NTL) or bobtail — covers you when you're driving the truck outside of dispatch.
- Physical damage on your own equipment (the carrier's policy usually doesn't cover your truck).
- Occupational accident insurance, since leased owner-operators usually aren't covered by the carrier's workers' comp.
- Read your lease: some carriers sell you these coverages through their program and deduct them from settlements — compare that price to an outside quote.
Which is cheaper?
Leasing on is far cheaper on insurance and is how many drivers build the clean history underwriters want. Running your own authority pays more per mile but requires carrying the full liability premium. Many owner-operators lease on for a year or two, then move to their own authority once they qualify for better rates.
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Get quotes Check a DOT/MC numberFrequently asked questions
Do I need my own liability insurance if I'm leased onto a carrier?
The carrier's primary liability covers you while you're operating under its dispatch. You still need non-trucking liability (or bobtail, if your lease requires it) for the times you're not under dispatch, plus physical damage on your truck.
Is occupational accident insurance the same as workers' comp?
No. Occupational accident is a lower-cost policy that pays medical and disability benefits if you're hurt on the job; it isn't governed by state workers' comp law and usually has lower limits.
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Reviewed October 2026. General information only — not insurance or legal advice. Coverage terms vary by insurer and state.