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Unladen Insurance: Liability Cost & Quotes From $11

Table of contents
1. What is Unladen Insurance? 1.1. Business Purposes vs Personal Purposes 2. What are the Most Important Considerations When You Buy Unladen Insurance? 3. Unladen Insurance Certificate: Saying You’re Insured Without Proof Won’t Make the Cut 4. Do Insurance Companies Offer Unladen Insurance Through a Business Owner’s Policy?5. The Alternatives: Non-Trucking Liability Insurance and Bobtail Liability Insurance5.1. Bobtail Liability Insurance5.2. Non-Trucking Liability Insurance6. Other Insurance to Get 6.1. Personal Injury Protection Coverage6.2. Medical Payments Coverage6.3. Emergency Roadside Assistance Coverage6.4. Physical Damage Coverage 6.5. Motor Truck Cargo Insurance6.6. Workers Compensation Insurance7. How Much Does Unladen Liability Insurance Cost? 8. Perform a Cheap Unladen Insurance Quote Comparison from Different Companies Online 9. Where to Buy Unladen Insurance: An On-Point Review of the Top Companies  9.1. CoverWallet Unladen Insurance 9.1.1. Why Get Insured by CoverWallet?9.1.2. Why Take CoverWallet with a Grain of Salt?9.2. Gallagher Unladen Insurance 9.2.1. Why Get Insured By Gallagher?9.2.2. Why Take Gallagher with a Grain of Salt?9.3. Northwoods Unladen Insurance 9.3.1. Why Get Insured By Northwoods? 9.3.2. Why Take Northwoods with a Grain of Salt?9.4. Trinity Unladen Insurance 9.4.1. Why Get Insured By Trinity? 9.4.2. Why Take Trinity with a Grain of Salt?9.5. OOIDA Insurance 9.5.1. Why Get Insured by OOIDA?9.5.2. Why Take OOIDA with a Grain of Salt?9.6. Does State Farm Offer Unladen Insurance? 9.7. Does Progressive Offer Unladen Insurance? 9.8. Unladen Insurance New York: Where to Get the Best Unladen Insurance in NYC? 10. Final Words: How Does Unladen Insurance Differ From Bobtail and Non Trucking Liability Insurance?

Unladen liability insurance or unladen liability policy is often confused with non trucking liability insurance and bobtail liability insurance . In truth, this policy is very different from the two policies we mentioned.  To shed better light on this matter, we’ll answer your questions such as what is unladen insurance and how much does it cost as well as what are the best unladen insurance companies, and more!


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What is Unladen Insurance?

The International Risk Management Institute defines unladen insurance policy as a, motor carrier or trucking liability coverage while a truck is operated with an attached empty trailer that is not hauling cargo (i.e., deadheading) or without any trailer (i.e., bobtailing), regardless of whether the truck is dispatched or not. Often used interchangeably with "bobtail " or "non-trucking liability, " but unladen liability has a broader scope since it includes both liability for deadheading or bobtailing regardless of dispatch status”. > Though complex, IRMI’s unladen insurance definition tells us that unladen insurance is:

  • A policy that offers protection for trucks with an attached empty trailer or not attached with a trailer

  • Unladen liability insurance has a broader scope than bobtail insurance or non trucking liability insurance


But here’s a simpler answer as to what is unladen liability insurance; Unladen liability coverage provides protection from any legal and financial responsibility to third parties when low bed trucks, semi-trucks, box trucks or any other similar power units - not pulling a trailer or pulling an empty trailer - caused an accident while being used for personal errands or for business purposes. This unladen insurance meaning points out the following important aspects about what does unladen insurance accomplish for the policyholder:

  • Unladen insurance coverage can be used to cover low bed trucks, semi-trucks, box trucks, or any other power unit capable of pulling a trailer for interstate or intrastate commerce

  • Unladen insurance provides coverage for the legal and financial responsibility to third parties resulting from an accident

  • Coverage only applies when such an accident happens while the vehicle in question is not pulling a trailer or pulling an empty trailer and is being used for business purposes or personal purposes. 


Also read: Tractor Insurance


Business Purposes vs Personal Purposes

The term “business purposes” in commercial  unladen insurance pertain to activities linked to business operations. On the other hand, “personal purposes” are those activities that only concern the ends of the person operating the truck. Here are some examples:

  • Business purposes - The truck is being driven by the driver, with an empty trailer attached or without a trailer attached, to get the next goods to be delivered

  • Personal purposes - The truck is being driven by the driver, with an empty trailer attached or without a trailer attached, to visit parents, fetch kids at school, or go to the nearest grocery store


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What are the Most Important Considerations When You Buy Unladen Insurance?

Now that you know what unladen insurance is, let’s talk about the things you have to think about when planning to purchase unladen liability insurance.


It’s important to inquire if there are limitations based on the radius of operations. In a nutshell, radius of operations is the distance a vehicle is covering during intrastate or interstate commerce. Note that some unladen insurance companies put exclusions on their policy based on this. For example, a company might deny your claim if the accident happened 1,000 kilometers away from the terminal.


Next, ask if you can treat unladen insurance as an automobile insurance unladen rider. Basically, what this means is that you can add it to your existing commercial auto insurance policies.


The third consideration is whether or not the unladen insurance company can cover your truck against physical damage. Note that, while this is not common, you can still find unladen insurance coverage that comes with comprehensive auto insurance or auto physical damage insurance.


Last and most important, see to it that you can instantly get an unladen liability insurance certificate the moment you get insured. Let’s discuss what is an unladen liability insurance certificate and why it’s important in the next section.


Also read: Heavy Equipment Insurance


Unladen Insurance Certificate: Saying You’re Insured Without Proof Won’t Make the Cut

Again, what is an unladen insurance certificate? To make it short, this is a document that proves you have an unladen insurance policy in force. Reflected on this are essential pieces of information such as:

  • Your policy number

  • Date when the policy started and when it will end

  • The number of vehicles covered

  • How much coverage you have


Is an unladen certificate of insurance important? For sure. Understand that a client will not sign a contract with you if you can’t show this document.


Remember that a certificate of insurance is free. And so, if your carrier asks for a fee the moment you request to get a copy, report them to the nearest department of insurance in the locality.


Also read: Dump Truck Insurance


Do Insurance Companies Offer Unladen Insurance Through a Business Owner’s Policy?

Unladen insurance is not commonly offered as an inclusion in a business owner’s policy. However, it can be included with other types of commercial auto insurance in a motor carrier policy. It is also available through a custom business insurance plan.


The Alternatives: Non-Trucking Liability Insurance and Bobtail Liability Insurance

The protection that unladen insurance provides might be obsolete for your business. This is why insurance companies offer less comprehensive options namely bobtail liability insurance and non-trucking liability insurance.


Bobtail Liability Insurance

Bobtail liability insurance is a type of insurance for motor carriers and owner-operators that covers bodily injuries and property damage caused by a semi-truck or any other power vehicle not pulling a trailer but on the way to get another load.


Non-Trucking Liability Insurance

Nontrucking liability insurance covers personal injuries and property damage caused by a semi-truck or any other power vehicle pulling a trailer or not pulling a trailer that is currently used by the driver for personal errands. In simple terms, non-trucking liability insurance covers accidents caused by a semi-trailer or any other related machines not used for business purposes.


Other Insurance to Get

Aside from unladen insurance, you might also find the following insurance policies useful for your business.


Personal Injury Protection Coverage

Personal injury protection covers the driver and passengers who got injured after the semi-truck or any other similar commercial vehicle caused an accident or got involved in an accident. This insurance will pay for medical bills, lost wages, transportation fees, ambulance bills, emergency treatment, and more. Personal injury protection can be bundled with unladen coverage in a motor carrier policy.


Medical Payments Coverage

Medical payments (MedPay) - MedPay also covers the driver and passengers of a semi-truck. However, it is least comprehensive when compared to personal injury protection because it only covers medical expenses and funeral costs. MedPay can be bundled with unladen coverage in a motor carrier policy.


Emergency Roadside Assistance Coverage

Emergency roadside assistance coverage is very useful for the owners of semi-trucks and other similar power vehicles. This coverage, which can be bundled with unladen insurance in a motor carrier policy, will cover the expenditures for battery jump-start, tire repair, gas delivery, tire delivery and replacement, and more.


Physical Damage Coverage

Physical damage coverage covers the parts repair or replacement of the semi-truck or any other commercial vehicle that an owner-operator or motor carrier owns. It has two types - collision and comprehensive. Collision physical damage coverage will cover costs if a commercial vehicle incurred damage after colliding with a vehicle or an object. On the other hand, comprehensive physical damage coverage will cover parts repair or replacement if the commercial vehicle becomes damaged due to fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils


Motor Truck Cargo Insurance

Insurance companies offering coverage for for-hire motor carriers allow motor truck cargo insurance to be bundled with unladen insurance. Motor truck cargo insurance allows an owner-operator or for-hire motor carriers to reimburse the losses of clients whose cargo got lost or damaged during the trip as caused by malicious mischief, fire, and other covered perils.


Workers Compensation Insurance

Just like unladen coverage, workers' compensation insurance is very useful for motor carriers and owner-operators. This provides protection against the resulting expenses when a work-related injury or illness happens. The coverage of workers' compensation insurance includes the following:

  • Medical treatment/procedure - Workers' compensation insurance helps motor carriers or owner-operators cover the cost of surgeries, therapies, and other treatments or procedures the employee needs to recover from a work-related injury or illness

  • Hospitalization - Workers' compensation insurance covers hospital bills if an employee needs intensive care. Coverage applies regardless of how costly hospital fees are and where the employee is admitted

  • Medication - Expenses for the medicines the attending physician wants the employee to buy is also covered by workers' compensation insurance

  • Rehabilitation - Workers' compensation insurance covers expenses for therapists’ services, equipment, and others if an injured or sick employee needs to undergo rehab to fully recover

  • Lost income compensation - Workers' compensation insurance compensates lost income if an employee can’t go to work because of a work-related injury or disease. Compensation for lost income is a weekly allowance equal to two-thirds of the average weekly wage

  • Death benefits - If an employee dies because of a work-related injury or disease, workers' compensation insurance covers funeral expenses and provides cash aids to the deceased’s dependents



How Much Does Unladen Liability Insurance Cost?

So how much is unladen liability insurance? Before telling you the estimates, know that the rates of unladen insurance depend on different factors. Such factors that affect unladen liability insurance cost are:

  • Driving record

  • Specialty driving license or certificate (affects cost because having a specialty driving license or certificate affects your eligibility for discounts)

  • Radius of operations

  • Type of business operations - interstate or intrastate

  • Types of goods to deliver


Refer to this bullet showing what does unladen insurance cost:

  • Unladen insurance for rv transport costs $95 a month or $1,140 a year for a $1 million coverage

  • Trucking businesses pay $98 a month or $1,176 a year for a $1 million unladen truck insurance

  • The cost of $500,000 unladen liability insurance policy is $82 a month or $984 a year

  • A $1,000,000 unladen insurance for moving businesses is $85 a month or $1,020 a year


Here’s a table showing unladen insurance cost based on the best unladen insurance companies many recommend:


Monthly RateAnnual RateBest for
CoverWallet$43.85$526.2 Unladen insurance with the minimum limit required by the FMCSA
Gallagher$50$600Affordable $1 million combined single limit unladen insurance
Northwoods Insurance$89$1,068Unladen trucking insurance having $500,000 limit or $1 million limit
Trinity Insurance$207.5$2,490Unladen insurance for light to medium duty vehicles
OOIDAContact an OOIDA representative for accurate pricing
Contact an OOIDA representative for accurate pricing
Membership-based unladen insurance


Perform a Cheap Unladen Insurance Quote Comparison from Different Companies Online

Take the time to use our free online quote comparison tool. We are committed to helping you, and the best way to do that? Provide you with all the cheap unladen insurance quotes of different carriers which are the leading companies in that sector so that you make the smartest buying decision. Start by clicking the "Get Quotes " and filling up the form.

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Where to Buy Unladen Insurance: An On-Point Review of the Top Companies


CoverWallet Unladen Insurance


Why Get Insured by CoverWallet?

  • Policy limit starts at the minimum amount required by the FMCSA

  • Has an online quote comparison tool

  • The cheapest carrier on our review

Why Take CoverWallet with a Grain of Salt?

  • Policies you buy from CoverWallet are underwritten by its partners


CoverWallet includes unladen liability on its insurance program for owner-operators, which also offers bobtail liability and non trucking liability policies. These policies come from CoverWallet’s partners which then it customizes to offer specialty insurance products for customers. Policy limits start at $750,000 which is the minimum insurance requirement the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association wants truck operators to have.


Best for: Unladen insurance with the minimum limit required by the FMCSA

Average cost: $39per month

Our rating: 10/10

Certificate of unladen insurance: Available




Gallagher Unladen Insurance


Why Get Insured By Gallagher?

  • Offers $1 million combined single limit unladen insurance

Why Take Gallagher with a Grain of Salt?

  • Doesn’t provide its own unladen insurance


Gallagher, a transportation business company, offers unladen insurance with Zurich. The company’s unladen insurance offers a $1 million combined single limit.


Best for: Affordable $1 million combined single limit unladen insurance

Average cost: $50per month

Our rating: 8/10

Certificate of unladen insurance: Available




Northwoods Unladen Insurance


Why Get Insured By Northwoods?

  • Offers $500,000 and $1 million unladen insurance

Why Take Northwoods with a Grain of Salt?

  • Payment is done on a monthly basis only

  • It’s not easy to cancel your policy

  • Monthly premiums include a policy fee


Northwoods offers unladen liability insurance through its motor carriers insurance program. This company offers two options. You can go for $500,000 unladen insurance, which costs $95 a month or $1 million unladen insurance, which costs $128 a month.


Best for: Unladen trucking insurance having $500,000 limit or $1 million limit

Average cost: $89per month

Our rating: 7/10

Certificate of unladen insurance: Talk with a Northwoods agent or customer service representative.




Trinity Unladen Insurance


Why Get Insured By Trinity?

  • Offers numerous payment options

  • Unladen insurance is for light to medium-duty vehicles

Why Take Trinity with a Grain of Salt?

  • Expensive

  • Only offers unladen insurance for permanently leased owner-operator

  • Doesn’t offer unladen trucking insurance


Trinity offers commercial unladen insurance for light to medium vehicles such as camp haulers, automobile haulers, and flatbed haulers. Just like Northwoods Insurance, it has $500,000 and $1 million unladen liability insurance each costing $115 a month and $150 a month respectively. You might like this company as it offers flexible payment options. You can pay your premiums via Visa, Mastercard, and Discover card.


Best for: Unladen insurance for light to medium duty vehicles

Average cost: $207.5per month

Our rating: 7/10

Certificate of unladen insurance: Talk with a Trinity agent or customer service representative



OOIDA Insurance


Why Get Insured by OOIDA?

  • Underwrites different kinds of insurance products useful to motor carriers and owner-operators

  • Comprehensive unladen insurance coverage

Why Take OOIDA with a Grain of Salt?

  • Not an insurance company but an organization for truckers that’s selling insurance solutions


OOIDA is an organization that offers insurance solutions to small trucks and startup motor carriers. This company’s unladen insurance is offered together with physical damage coverage, roadside assistance coverage, passenger accident coverage, and many more.


Best for: Membership-based unladen insurance

Average cost: Contact an OOIDA representative for accurate pricing

Our rating: 6/10


Does State Farm Offer Unladen Insurance?

During the course of our research, we discovered that State Farm doesn’t offer unladen insurance. Even a simple search using the terms unladen insurance offered by statefarm or "unladen " insurance offered by statefarm doesn’t bring out results. The same also goes for state farm unladen insurance definition or statefarm unladen insurance definition . We asked agents in forums and other online platforms and truly confirmed that the company doesn’t offer unladen insurance right now.


Does Progressive Offer Unladen Insurance?

There’s no such thing as progressive unladen insurance. The company, Progressive , only offers related coverage, non trucking liability insurance. Other policies you can avail are cargo insurance , and motor carrier general liability insurance.


Unladen Insurance New York: Where to Get the Best Unladen Insurance in NYC?

We suggest you try CoverWallet for your ny unladen insurance. This company has a lot of partners. Therefore, it can certainly cover you no matter which location you might be in the United States.


Final Words: How Does Unladen Insurance Differ From Bobtail and Non Trucking Liability Insurance?

Bobtail insurance only kicks in if you drive a trailerless vehicle for business purposes.

On the other hand, non trucking liability kicks in if you’re driving a truck for personal purposes. This policy doesn’t care whether or not there’s a trailer attached.

As for unladen insurance, its coverage applies even if the trailer is attached or not. Also, it’s not a question of whether or not the accident happened while the truck is being used for business purposes or personal purposes. In a way, one can say that non trucking liability insurance seemingly functions as non trucking liability and bobtail insurance at the same time.

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