Requirements
What is a Form E insurance filing and who needs one?
If you haul only within one state, a state agency rather than FMCSA usually checks your insurance, and Form E is how it does that. Below is what the filing proves, who needs one, minimum limits in key states, how to get it filed and what happens when it is cancelled.
What a Form E filing is
Washington s Utilities and Transportation Commission calls Form E the standard proof of insurance form, issued by your insurance company, with the full name Uniform Motor Carrier Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Certificate of Insurance. It is one of a set of uniform forms from the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC); Colorado s motor carrier rules, for example, define Form E by reference to the NARUC certificate.
Progressive Commercial describes Form E as certifying that your liability insurance complies with the state s financial responsibility laws, filed with the agency in your home state that regulates intrastate trucking. The matching change to the policy itself is a Form F endorsement.
Form E is the state counterpart of federal filings: interstate carriers prove coverage to FMCSA with a filing such as the BMC-91X, backed by the MCS-90 endorsement on the policy.
Form E, Form H, Form K and the other filings
State agencies and insurers refer to these filings by letter.
Searches for Form D insurance usually come from the same lettering. Form D is not one of the uniform insurance filings; Colorado s rules, for example, use Form D-1 for a uniform identification cab card. If an agency asks for a form you don t recognize, ask it exactly which certificate your insurer should file.
| Form | What it does |
|---|---|
| Form E | Certifies liability insurance to the state |
| Form F | Endorsement that conforms the policy to state law |
| Form G | Surety bond filed instead of liability insurance |
| Form H | Certifies cargo insurance (Texas uses Forms H and I) |
| Form K | Cancels an insurance filing |
| Form L | Cancels a surety bond filing |
| BMC-91X and MCS-90 | Federal filing and endorsement for interstate carriers |
Who needs a Form E
Intrastate carriers in states that register and insure intrastate trucking. Who counts depends on the state, the vehicle s weight, whether you haul for hire and what you carry:
- Texas: TxDMV requires intrastate carriers to register and file proof of insurance if they haul household goods for pay or run any of these: vehicles over 26,000 pounds, placarded hazmat, farm vehicles of 48,000 pounds or more, vehicles for more than 15 passengers or school buses. Private carriers are included, not just for-hire.
- Georgia: the Department of Public Safety s instructions for Georgia Intrastate Motor Carrier registration say Form E is required for for-hire carriers only.
- Washington: every company applying for a UTC permit, certificate or registration needs proof of liability insurance on file, and household goods movers also need cargo insurance.
- North Carolina: under G.S. 20-382.1, for-hire intrastate carriers must verify to the Division of Motor Vehicles that each vehicle is insured and file an annual list of vehicles.
Minimum liability limits in key states
The Form E only proves you meet the state minimum, so your policy limit has to be at least that high.
These are legal floors. Shippers, brokers and general contractors can require higher limits in their contracts, so check those before you choose a limit.
| State | Who it applies to | Minimum liability |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Private or for-hire carriers over 26,000 lb | $500,000 |
| Texas | Household goods movers under 26,000 lb | $300,000 |
| Texas | Hazardous materials and oil | $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 |
| Washington | Common carriers under 10,000 lb | $300,000 CSL |
| Washington | Common carriers over 10,000 lb | $750,000 CSL |
| Washington | Hazardous materials | $1 million to $5 million CSL |
How to get a Form E filed, step by step
Texas publishes the clearest process, and most states follow a similar order:
Washington accepts a certificate of insurance or binder for up to 60 days, after which it must be replaced by a Form E. The filing fee is small next to the liability premium behind it, so the real savings come from comparing insurers that make filings in your state. A broker such as Florin can compare quotes from several of them.
- Get a USDOT number. TxDMV tells carriers that operate only within Texas to register with USDOT as intrastate, not interstate.
- Apply for state authority: TxMCCS in Texas, the Department of Public Safety in Georgia, the UTC in Washington. TxDMV reviews applications within 24 48 business hours, plus 7 business days if you are linked to a previous authority.
- Buy a liability policy at or above the state minimum from an insurer that makes filings in your state.
- Ask the insurer to file Form E, and Form H if cargo insurance is required. Georgia says the insurance company, not your agent, must file, and the details must match your application.
- Pay state fees. Texas charges $100 for the Form E filing, a $100 application fee for an annual certificate and $10 per vehicle a year.
- Keep the cab card in the truck. Texas requires a current copy where law enforcement can see it on request.
What happens when a Form E is cancelled
When a policy ends, the insurer files a Form K with the state. The uniform Form E and Form K copies on file with the Alabama Public Service Commission say cancellation takes effect no sooner than 30 days after the commission receives the notice. TxDMV says it emails carriers 30 days before an insurer cancels, if a current email address is on file.
In Texas, failing to keep continuous proof of insurance can lead to administrative penalties, sanctions and revocation of your certificate. TxDMV also notes that although the insurer submits the filings, you are responsible for keeping your insurance record in TxMCCS active.
Most lapses are avoidable. Pay premiums on time, keep your email current with the state and, if you switch insurers, have the new insurer file its Form E before the old policy s cancellation takes effect.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file a Form E myself?
No. TxDMV says only your insurance company can file proof of insurance or a cancellation, and Georgia requires the insurance company rather than your agent to file.
How long does a Form E filing take?
It depends on the state and the insurer. In Texas, the insurer files after TxDMV approves your application, which is usually reviewed within 24 48 business hours, so ask your insurer how quickly it submits filings.
Is a Form E the same as a certificate of insurance?
No. A certificate of insurance is a summary you give customers, while Form E is filed with the state. Washington accepts a certificate or binder for only 60 days before it must be replaced by a Form E.
Do I need a Form E if I have an MC number?
An MC number covers interstate authority, and its insurance proof goes to FMCSA. If you also run intrastate loads in a state that registers intrastate carriers, check with that state s agency whether it requires its own filing.
Figures are third-party estimates and examples, not quotes. Coverage depends on the policy terms and underwriting, and rules vary by state.