FMCSA Insurance Filings Explained: BOC-3, BMC-91, Form E & More

What "filings" actually are

A filing is proof of insurance that your insurer submits directly to a government agency — the FMCSA federally, or a state agency — to show you carry the coverage the law requires. You don't file these yourself; your insurance company does, which is why it matters to work with one that knows trucking. Here's what each one is.

Federal filings (FMCSA)

BMC-91 / BMC-91X — public liability

This is the filing that proves you carry the required liability limits ($750,000 for most general freight, $1,000,000+ for hazmat). Your authority won't activate without it, and it travels with the MCS-90 endorsement on your policy.

MCS-90 — the public-liability endorsement

Attached to your liability policy, the MCS-90 guarantees the public can be paid up to federal minimums even when the policy otherwise wouldn't respond. It's often confused with the BMC-91 filing — see our full MCS-90 guide.

BMC-34 / BMC-91 (cargo) — for household-goods carriers

Carriers that move household goods must file federal proof of cargo insurance (historically Form BMC-34). Most general-freight carriers are not required to file cargo federally, but brokers and shippers frequently require cargo coverage by contract.

BOC-3 — process agents

Not an insurance filing, but required to activate authority: the BOC-3 designates a legal process agent in every state (plus D.C.) to receive legal documents on your behalf. A blanket filing covers all states at once.

State filings

Beyond the federal filings, some states require their own proof of insurance for intrastate authority:

• Form E — a uniform certificate of insurance a number of states require to prove liability coverage for intrastate operating authority.
• Form H — the state counterpart proving cargo coverage where required.
• SR-22 — a financial-responsibility filing some states require after certain violations.

Which ones apply depends on the states you run in and whether you operate interstate, intrastate, or both.

Which filings do you actually need?

The easy part

You don't have to track all of this yourself — the right insurer handles the filings for you. NITIC is an actual insurer that files federal and state proof of coverage for motor carriers, often the same day you bind a policy. See how MC authority comes together in our step-by-step authority guide, get a free quote, or call (800) 726-8376.