Bobtail insurance covers truckers when they are operating a semi-truck without a trailer for business-related purposes. Bobtail insurance providers typically cover physical damage caused to other vehicles, medical fees, legal fees, and other related expenses. It’s important that you choose the best bobtail insurance companies for your needs in order to insure your business, vehicles, and truckers against expenses accrued after a collision.
Progressive Commercial: Insurance You Can Trust
With over 50 years’ experience, you can count on Progressive Commercial to provide customized vehicle protection & excellent service at competitive rates!
Best Bobtail Insurance Companies
Here are the top bobtail insurance companies offering top-tier services.
Progressive Commercial
- Best For: Overall Coverage
- Online Quotes: Yes
Progressive Commercial offers insurance for all types of commercial trucks. Also, Progressive offers low prices and customizable payment schedules to make commercial trucking insurance affordable. This insurance provider offers bobtail truck insurance coverage in all 50 states across the U.S.
Coverage Options:
- Bodily injury
- Liability
- Medical payments
- Uninsured motorist
- Collision
- Personal property damage
Special Features
- Customizable policy
- Free state and federal filings
- Specialized heavy truck claims
Benefits:
- Customizable policy
- Offers a variety of coverage options
- Available in all 50 states in the U.S.
- Discounts
Disadvantages:
- Varying coverages and features
- Potential for travel radius to apply
biBerk Commercial
- Best For: Direct, low-cost bobtail / non-trucking liability coverage
- Online Quotes: Yes
biBerk, a Berkshire Hathaway company, sells commercial truck insurance directly to small businesses and owner-operators. Through its commercial auto policies, biBerk can include non-trucking liability (bobtail) coverage to protect your tractor when you’re driving without a trailer and not under dispatch, such as returning from a load or using the truck for personal errands.
Coverage Options:
- Non-trucking liability (bobtail) coverage for third-party bodily injury and property damage when you’re not under dispatch
- Bodily injury liability
- Property damage liability
- Medical payments / personal injury protection (varies by state)
- Uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage
- Comprehensive and collision physical damage coverage for your tractor and eligible trailers
- Coverage available for many vehicle types, including truck tractors, box trucks, flatbeds, dump trucks, and dry van / refrigerated trailers
Special Features
- Direct-to-business model with online quotes, instant ID cards, and full policy management online
- Marketed savings of up to about 20% versus traditional agent-based carriers by cutting out the middleman
- Backed by Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group companies rated A++ (Superior) by AM Best
- Appetite for transportation and trucking companies for hire, including hotshot and local/long-haul operations
- Option to bundle bobtail/non-trucking coverage with other policies like general liability, workers’ comp, and umbrella
Benefits:
- Fast online quote and bind process tailored to small trucking businesses
- One carrier for both primary commercial auto and non-trucking / bobtail coverage
- Strong financial backing and long-term claims-paying history via Berkshire Hathaway
- Ability to insure multiple trucks and trailers on a single commercial auto policy
Disadvantages:
- Coverage options and availability (including bobtail/NTL) can vary by state, so not every setup is available everywhere
- Focuses on common small-business and trucking risks, so very specialized operations may need a niche carrier
- Direct online model means no local in-person agent relationship, which some truckers prefer
Infinity Insurance Agency (IIA)
- Best For: Bobtail & non-trucking coverage shopped through multiple carriers
- Online Quotes: Yes
Infinity Insurance Agency, Inc. (IIA) is an auto-focused insurance agency that works with more than 20 insurers to place commercial auto coverage for small businesses, owner-operators, and fleets. IIA can help arrange bobtail and non-trucking liability coverage that protects your tractor when it’s operated without a trailer or used for personal trips between loads.
Coverage Options:
- Bobtail coverage that protects your tractor when it’s operated without a trailer, whether or not it’s dispatched for a job
- Non-trucking liability coverage that pays for damage and injuries when your commercial vehicle is being used for personal use (off days, errands, etc.)
- Bodily injury and property damage liability while driving for business, subject to carrier and state rules
- Medical payments or Personal Injury Protection (PIP), where available
- Uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage
- Collision coverage for damage from a covered crash with another vehicle or object
- Comprehensive coverage for many non-collision losses, such as certain theft, vandalism, fire, animal strikes, and weather events
- Coverage that can extend to certain attached trailers and multiple vehicles, depending on the unit type, carrier, and occupation
Special Features
- Agency model that shops bobtail, non-trucking, and commercial auto coverage with 20+ insurers
- Affordable price points and options that can grow with your business
- Ability to work with drivers who have foreign licenses and less-than-perfect driving records
- Multiple coverage and payment options, including recurring card payments
- Automatic coverage for eligible newly hired employees who drive company vehicles (where offered by the carrier)
- Bilingual Spanish–English agents who understand commercial auto and trucking risks
Benefits:
- One agency to compare bobtail and non-trucking options across multiple trucking-friendly carriers
- Can combine bobtail / non-trucking liability with primary commercial auto coverage and physical damage
- Helpful if you need flexibility around foreign licenses, prior lapses, or growing from one truck to a small fleet
- Support and education via IIA’s Knowledge Center, glossary, and bilingual agents
Disadvantages:
- Coverage details, discounts, and bobtail / non-trucking options vary by partner insurer and by state
- Policies are issued by third-party carriers, so claims handling and filings depend on the underlying company
NEXT Insurance
- Best For: Small businesses and owner-operators who want Progressive commercial auto via a digital platform
- Online Quotes: Yes (via Progressive Commercial)
NEXT Insurance is a digital small-business insurer, but for commercial auto and truck coverage it acts as an agency. When you click to get commercial auto on NEXT’s site, you’re redirected to Progressive Commercial, which issues and services the actual policy for the cars, vans, trucks and trailers you drive for work. For truckers and owner-operators, any non-trucking liability or other truck-specific options come from Progressive’s commercial truck program, subject to its underwriting rules and state availability.
Coverage Options:
- Liability coverage for third-party bodily injury and property damage after a covered accident
- Medical bills after an accident involving your business vehicle
- Accidental physical damage (collision and comprehensive) to covered vehicles
- Towing and labor after a covered accident
- Uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage where required or available
- Rental reimbursement if a covered vehicle is in the shop after a covered loss
- Coverage available for many business vehicles, including cars, vans, light-duty trucks and eligible trailers used for work
- For eligible owner-operators buying through this path, access to Progressive’s truck coverages like non-trucking liability for off-dispatch personal use of the truck (availability varies by state and risk)
Special Features
- Commercial auto policies are placed with Progressive Commercial, which NEXT identifies as its trusted partner for business vehicle coverage
- Fully online quote path: start at NEXT, then quote and bind commercial auto directly on Progressive’s site
- Easy to combine with NEXT’s other small-business policies (general liability, commercial property, workers’ compensation, etc.) so your non-auto coverages live in one dashboard
- Commercial auto can cover personal as well as business use of a work vehicle, subject to policy terms and state rules
Benefits:
- Simple online way to end up with a Progressive Commercial auto/truck policy while still using NEXT as your small-business hub
- Broad protection options: liability, vehicle damage, towing, rental reimbursement, and underinsured motorists coverage
- Owner-operators can pursue non-trucking liability and other trucking coverages through Progressive’s truck program while keeping other business policies with NEXT
- Highly competitive pricing for commercial truck insurance in many states, with some independent analyses ranking NEXT / Progressive among the cheapest options
- Good fit if you already use NEXT for general liability or other lines and want your truck coverage handled by a major commercial auto carrier
Disadvantages:
- The commercial auto policy you get via NEXT is a Progressive policy, so billing, coverage changes, and claims are handled by Progressive, not NEXT
- Availability of truck-specific options (including non-trucking liability) depends on Progressive’s underwriting guidelines and state availability
- Coverage, limits, and eligible vehicle types vary by state; some more complex trucking operations may still need a dedicated trucking specialist
Liberty Mutual
- Best For: Flexible deductible savings options
- Online Quotes: Yes
Liberty Mutual provides robust bobtail insurance coverage tailored for commercial truck drivers operating without a trailer or cargo. A standout feature of Liberty Mutual's bobtail insurance is its deductible fund program, which allows policyholders to save on out-of-pocket costs for claims by gradually building a fund to cover their deductibles. This innovative feature provides financial flexibility and peace of mind, especially for truckers managing tight budgets.
Coverage Options:
- Bobtail liability
- Physical damage
- Collision coverage
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist
- Medical payments
Special Features:
- Nationwide coverage
- Flexible policy options tailored for owner-operators
- Dedicated claims support team for commercial auto
Benefits:
- Available across most states
- Discounts for safe driving and bundling policies
- Competitive rates tailored to trucking needs
Disadvantages:
- Coverage availability may vary by state
- Limited options for bundling with personal insurance policies
- Specific requirements for policy eligibility may apply
OOIDA
- Best For: Owner-Operators
- Online Quotes: No
OOIDA offers bobtail liability insurance in all 50 states. The company also recommends various insurance options that can cover trucking businesses against liabilities using transportation modalities. This insurance company provides a comprehensive range of coverage and policy alternatives specifically for small trucking businesses.
Coverage Options:
- Physical damage
- Rental reimbursement
- Personal property
- Liability
- Trailer interchange
- Medical benefits
- Cleanup and towing
- Gap insurance
Special Features
- Identity theft management and resolution service
- Truck to success program
Pros & Cons:
Pros:
- Several economical commercial truck insurance options
- Up-to-date trucking news and information
- Personal property protection
Cons:
- No online quotes
- Must be members of OOIDA to take advantage of insurance options
- Only accepts owner-operators and small trucking businesses
State Farm
- Best For: Pricing and Discounts
- Online Quotes: Yes
State Farm provides a variety of coverage alternatives that can be combined into a single affordable policy. Their bobtail truck insurance coverage is available in 48 states. The company is highly respected for its excellent customer service and affordable auto insurance rates.
Coverage Options:
- Rental reimbursement
- Collision
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist
- Property damage
- Liability
- Medical payments
Special Features
- None
Pros & Cons:
Pros:
- Coverage for individual or fleet vehicles
- Availability of online quotes
- Several discount bundles
Cons:
- No new policies in Massachusetts or Rhode Island
- No gap insurance
The Hartford
- Best For: Motor Carriers
- Online Quotes: No
The Hartford is a bobtail insurance company that offers special programs and discounts to fleets. The risk engineering team at Hartford Insurance teaches fleet owners how to increase their safety measures while reducing the risk of accidents. This insurance company received A+ ratings from top credit rating companies A.M. and S&P.
Coverage Options:
- Rental reimbursements
- Collision
- Gap insurance
- Liability
- Medical payments
- Personal injury protection
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist
Special Features
- Fleet management program
Benefits:
- Fleet management programs
- Discounts
- Insurance coverage in all 50 states
- Special risk engineering services for fleets
Disadvantages:
- Limited coverage options for single customers
- No online quotes available
Sentry
- Best For: Single Truck Businesses
- Online Quotes: No
Sentry Insurance prioritizes single truck customers even though the company also provides coverage to owner-operators and trucking fleets. However, only designated agencies that specialize in trucking are authorized to offer the sentry commercial trucking insurance.
Coverage Options:
- Collisions
- Liability
- Comprehensive
- Medical payments
- Physical damage
Special Features
- Cyber damage coverage
Pros & Cons:
Pros:
- Flexible coverage options
- Available in all 50 states
- Specializes in bobtail coverage for owner-operators
- Specializes in personal use liability
Cons:
- Must work with a local agent if you are an individual
What Is Bobtail Insurance?
Bobtail insurance is a type of commercial trucking insurance that solely covers truck owner-operators' liabilities when they are not actively towing anything. When a truck driver is involved in an incident without a trailer attached, and if the accident then results in property damage or personal harm, bobtail insurance is applied.
How Does Bobtail Insurance Work?
Bobtail insurance only applies when individuals operate their trucks without the cargo trailer attached to and from the terminal. The bobtail coverage is only applicable if the truck is used for business by the individuals listed on the insurance policy. Bobtail insurance protects an insured vehicle from theft, vandalism, fire, and collision.
This insurance covers liability, medical expenses, legal fees, personal property, and others. Some insurance companies refer to a combination of physical damage insurance and non-trucking liability insurance as bobtail insurance. Owner-operators should verify that the insurance company's policies are a great fit for the policies their trucking business needs.
Is Commercial Truck Insurance Coverage Required for Bobtails?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) does not specifically require insurance for bobtail trucks. Instead, bobtail trucking insurance is a supplemental policy that protects trucking businesses and owner-operators when driving a truck without a trailer attached for non-business purposes, and it is not explicitly required by federal regulations.
However, motor carriers or contracting companies may require owner-operators to have bobtail insurance as part of their agreements to ensure liability coverage during non-business-related driving. In such cases, it becomes a contractual requirement, not an FMCSA mandate.
What Factors Affect the Price of Bobtail Coverage?
Here are three main factors that contribute to the total cost of bobtail insurance:
- Driving History: The more experience a driver has driving a truck, the lower the insurance provider's monthly premium rate will be.
- Policy Limits: The policy limit determines the maximum amount of money that the insurance provider will pay towards claims on each type of coverage you select. The bobtail insurance cost often increases with the level of coverage you choose.
- Insurance History: If you have a history of frequent claims on your past insurance policies, you will likely pay more for your bobtail insurance.
What to Consider With Bobtail Insurance
There are many factors to consider when looking into your bobtail insurance options, including coverage, types of trucks covered, deductibles, monthly premiums, policy limits and the bobtail insurance company’s financial standing.
Coverage Options
The bobtail coverage option determines which incidents, expenses, and damages will be covered by the insurance provider. Truckers should verify that the insurance company's coverage options meet their trucking business needs.
Trucks Covered
The type of trucks that a business operates will likely determine the cost and the coverage options that are available to them. Bobtail insurance providers tend to consider the size of the vehicle and the type of vehicle being driven when they are determining the costs of coverage. That said, some insurance providers do not offer bobtail insurance for specific types of trucks.
Deductible
The deductible is the amount of money that a trucking company or a trucking business must pay towards their claim before the bobtail truck insurance coverage will go into effect.
Monthly Premium
A monthly premium is the amount of money that individuals or trucking business owners must pay in order to retain their insurance company policy and the coverage that comes with it. You can think of it like rental payments, but instead of paying for a place to live, you are paying to insure your trucks and drivers every month. Truckers should make sure they are financially able to afford the monthly premium of a certain type of coverage before agreeing to an insurance plan.
Policy Limit
A policy limit determines the maximum amount of money your insurance provider will pay for claims on each type of coverage that you select. You should make sure your selected policy limits completely cover the needs of your business. Doing so will help you avoid additional expenses.
Provider's Financial Standing
A company's financial standing will affect the type of bobtail insurance coverage level that they can apply for. A company must make sure it can afford the bobtail insurance policy in the long run to avoid experiencing a loss.
FAQ
How Much Is Bobtail Insurance per Month?
The average cost of bobtail insurance is between $30 and $40 per month.
What Does Bobtail Coverage Mean?
Bobtail coverage is a commercial trucking insurance that solely covers the liabilities of truck owner-operators when they are not towing anything behind them.
How to Get Bobtail Insurance?
Select a bobtail insurance provider that offers coverage options with features that meet the needs of your trucking business. Register with the insurance provider and apply for their quote.
