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Kentucky trucking insurance: use weight, cargo and route classes

Kentucky’s motor-carrier statute sets liability bands for property vehicles at or below versus above 18,000 pounds and a separate $1 million single limit for specified hazardous material. Household-goods certificate holders must also file cargo protection for shipper property in their custody, tied to a federal rule and Kentucky endorsement. The statute concerns filed proof and legal minimums; it does not settle how a shipment loss is valued under the carrier contract or what the policy covers.

What Is Trucking Insurance?

Trucking coverage can address liability, damage to your trucks and cargo losses, but one quote may not include all three. If you haul goods for customers or yourself, compare those protections and check whether the quote needs motor-carrier or other commercial auto coverage. Read the national Trucking guide.

Kentucky Trucking Insurance Requirements

RequirementDetails
Property-vehicle liability bandKRS §281.655 lists $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident and $50,000 property damage for property vehicles at or below 18,000 pounds; above 18,000 pounds it lists a $600,000 per-accident bodily-injury amount with $100,000 per person and $50,000 property damage. Verify gross weight and operation class. 1
Specified hazardous-material single limitExcept for the statute’s separately treated small-bulk-petroleum category, a vehicle transporting hazardous material as defined in KRS 174.405 must have at least $1 million single-limit liability for damages from one occurrence. Confirm the commodity definition and applicable federal filing. 1
Household-goods cargo evidenceBefore a household-goods certificate is issued or renewed, the holder must file cargo coverage or bond compensating customers for goods in the carrier’s possession, at amounts referenced to 49 C.F.R. §387.303(c), with a Kentucky cargo endorsement. 1,2

What Should You Watch for With Trucking Insurance in Kentucky?

  • The truck liability schedule does not value the shipment

    Kentucky separately requires HHG cargo protection, and the Cabinet cautions that customer recovery can depend on the agreement with the mover. Review declared or excess valuation, bill of lading, cargo policy limit and claim conditions together; statutory filing is not a promise of full replacement value. The statutory amount cross-reference needs current KYTC confirmation because the current eCFR note records an indefinite suspension of §387.303. 1,2,3

  • Schedule every vehicle operated under the certificate

    The statute requires blanket coverage for all equipment operated under a certificate or permit. Reconcile owned, leased and replacement power units/trailers with the carrier’s authority and policy schedule when fleets change. 1

  • Interstate household moves follow a different authority

    KYTC states its household-goods license applies to moves within Kentucky and that interstate moves fall under FMCSA jurisdiction. Ask the broker to match state and federal filings to the actual route; one state credential does not establish interstate authority. 2

  • Check for an agency exemption and current federal adoption

    The statute lets the department exempt a carrier in whole or part if financial ability assures payment of damages, and separately authorizes the Secretary to adopt federal Part 387 financial-responsibility levels for Kentucky carriers. Confirm whether either applies before using the listed vehicle bands. 1

Which Trucking Insurance Providers Have Documented Kentucky Licenses?

No provider in our research documents both a state license record and this coverage line. This does not establish that providers are unlicensed. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm availability with a provider when requesting a quote.

Who Regulates Insurance in Kentucky?

Kentucky Department of Insurance

The Kentucky Department of Insurance licenses agents and insurers, monitors the insurance market, and accepts complaints about insurance companies and agents. You can use its state lookup or complaint service to check a license or raise an insurance issue. 4,5,6

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Kentucky

Reported tax rate. 3% on Kentucky-home-state premiums and other premium consideration; separate 1.8% surcharge on eligible risks located in Kentucky, subject to statutory exceptions; applicable local-government premium tax may also apply 7,10,8,9,11

When Kentucky is the insured's home state, the state tax is 3% of premium and other consideration treated as premium; local-government premium taxes may also apply. A separate 1.8% surcharge generally applies to Kentucky risks, but state law exempts multistate nonadmitted risks and specified government and nonprofit premiums. The broker must make a diligent effort to place coverage with an admitted carrier before using surplus lines.

What Should You Ask Before Buying Trucking Insurance in Kentucky?

  1. What are each vehicle’s gross weight, commodity class and route, and which Kentucky liability band or federal filing applies?
  2. If we move household goods within Kentucky, does the insurer file the Kentucky cargo endorsement and required Form H evidence?
  3. What current cargo amount does KYTC require under the statute’s federal cross-reference, and what do our bill of lading, declared-value options and policy provide if goods are lost or damaged?

Trucking Insurance in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions

Does Kentucky’s HHG cargo filing guarantee full shipment value?

No. The statute requires a cargo policy or bond for goods in the carrier’s possession, but KYTC says recovery can depend on the mover’s agreement and declared valuation. Review the bill of lading and policy terms together. 1,2,3

Does a Kentucky household-goods certificate cover interstate moves?

KYTC says it regulates household-goods moves within Kentucky, while FMCSA has jurisdiction over interstate household-goods moves. Verify authority and insurance filings for the full route. 2

Sources for Trucking Insurance in Kentucky

  1. Kentucky Revised Statutes §281.655, Insurance required for motor carriers. Kentucky Legislature; 2025 current statute PDF, subsections (1), (3)-(11), effective July 15, 2024; opened 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. Household Goods. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Motor Carriers; Intrastate HHG vs interstate jurisdiction, insurer-filed Form E/H/K, consumer agency guidance; opened 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. 49 CFR §387.303, Security for the protection of the public: Minimum limits. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Office of the Federal Register; Current display §387.303(c), plus Effective Date Note (lines 152-167): eCFR states the section was again suspended indefinitely in 2019; opened 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  4. Kentucky Department of Insurance. Kentucky Department of Insurance; Homepage and consumer telephone. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  5. Insurance License Lookup. Kentucky Department of Insurance; State-designated producer/company search. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  6. File an Insurance Complaint. Kentucky Department of Insurance; Official DOI consumer complaint page accepts complaints involving general liability and disputes with insurers, agents or adjusters. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  7. KRS 304.10-180. Kentucky General Assembly; KRS 304.10-180(1): Kentucky-home-state; 3% applies to premiums, assessments, fees, charges or other premium consideration; local premium tax is separate. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  8. Local Government Premium Taxes. Kentucky Department of Insurance; Current local tax schedules. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  9. KRS 304.10-090. Kentucky General Assembly; KRS 304.10-090 requires policy notice that nonadmitted insurer is not a Kentucky Insurance Guaranty Association member and its benefits are unavailable upon insolvency. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  10. KRS 136.392. Kentucky General Assembly; KRS 136.392(1),(5)-(6): $1.80 per $100 on premium/other charges for Kentucky risks; named government/nonprofit exceptions; multistate nonadmitted risks exempt. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  11. Surplus Lines. Kentucky Department of Insurance; Full page states licensed surplus-lines brokers must make a diligent effort to place with an admitted carrier before exporting coverage. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  12. Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
  13. Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
  14. Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  15. About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  16. Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  17. Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  18. Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, email The General Average with a supporting source.

Trucking Insurance Guides for Other States

Other coverage in KentuckyEvery coverage guide for Kentucky, plus the regulator and surplus-lines details.

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