Between June and September of 2026, we constructed a weighted model of fleet insurance costs coverage benchmarks, rate trends, and claims information. The average cost of fleet insurance for the year so far came out to be $10,200 per vehicle per year for a small fleet of 2 to 5 vehicles (the most common fleet size among U.S. commercial operators). Per-vehicle costs range from $6,600 for enterprise fleets above 100 vehicles to more than $18,000 for new fleets operating in high-litigation states. The sections below break down where these numbers come from, what moves them, and how they are factored into the 2020-2026 comparison table.
Average Cost of Fleet Insurance by Coverage Type
Fleet insurance is not one policy. It is a stack of separate coverages, and the table below shows what each layer costs per vehicle in a typical fleet program.
| Coverage Type | Avg. Annual Cost per Vehicle | Share of Total Premium | Primary Cost Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Auto Liability | $5,500 | 54% | Nuclear verdicts and rising claim severity industry-wide |
| Physical Damage | $2,450 | 24% | Vehicle replacement values and parts and labor cost inflation |
| Motor Truck Cargo | $920 | 9% | Broker-required minimums and the value of freight hauled |
| General Liability | $510 | 5% | Non-vehicle claims such as loading injuries or yard incidents |
| Trailer Interchange & Other Endorsements | $410 | 4% | Liability for third-party trailers pulled under interchange agreements |
| Non-Trucking Liability / Hired & Non-Owned Auto | $410 | 4% | Personal-use and off-duty exposure for company-assigned vehicles |
The data reveals that primary auto liability carries more than half of a fleet’s total premium at 54%, more than double the next largest line item. Motor truck cargo costs far less by comparison, but most freight brokers will not tender a load without at least $100,000 in cargo coverage on file, so it functions as a required cost even when it is technically optional. General liability, trailer interchange, and non-trucking liability together make up just 13% of the total, yet each protects against a distinct exposure that a bare auto policy does not cover.
Average Cost of Fleet Insurance by Fleet Size
Fleet size changes the per-vehicle rate a carrier will offer. The table below compares five common fleet tiers and what drives the difference between them.
| Fleet Tier | Avg. Annual Premium per Vehicle | Typical Total Program Cost | Primary Cost Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-Vehicle / Owner-Operator (1 vehicle) | $11,800 | $11,800 | Full liability stack rests on one unit with a thin claims history |
| Small Fleet (2 to 5 vehicles) | $10,200 | $20,400 to $51,000 | Blended safety record across a small driver pool |
| Mid-Size Fleet (6 to 25 vehicles) | $8,700 | $52,200 to $217,500 | Underwriting efficiencies and dedicated safety programs |
| Large Fleet (26 to 100 vehicles) | $7,600 | $197,600 to $760,000 | Stronger carrier leverage and more claims data at renewal |
| Enterprise Fleet (100+ vehicles) | $6,600 | $660,000 and up | Self-insured retentions and captive program structures |
The data reveals that per-vehicle cost drops as fleet size grows, even as total program cost climbs. An enterprise fleet pays roughly 44% less per vehicle than a single-vehicle operator mainly because insurers can spread risk across more units and a longer claims record. That does not make scaling automatically cheaper in absolute terms, since a 100-vehicle fleet at the enterprise rate still carries a program cost near $660,000 a year.
Average Cost of Fleet Insurance by State
State of domicile and primary operating region are among the most significant cost variables in any fleet insurance program. The table below groups all 50 states into five regions and shows the average annual premium per vehicle for each.
| Rank | State | Avg. Annual Premium per Vehicle | Rate Tier | Primary Cost Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | $3,552 | Low | Rural freight corridors and a contained litigation environment |
| 2 | Wyoming | $4,927 | Low | Very low traffic density and minimal litigation activity |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $5,447 | Low | Strong state rate regulation and lower claim severity |
| 4 | Iowa | $5,615 | Low | Stable, competitive local insurance market |
| 5 | Arizona | $6,102 | Low | Low congestion outside the Phoenix metro area |
| 6 | Nebraska | $6,259 | Low | Rural freight corridors and low claim frequency |
| 7 | North Dakota | $6,456 | Low | Low population density and contained litigation |
| 8 | Montana | $6,501 | Low | Rural operating profile and low traffic volume |
| 9 | Kansas | $6,645 | Low | Stable, competitive local insurance market |
| 10 | South Dakota | $6,689 | Low | Rural corridors and low claim severity |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $6,714 | Low | Stable, competitive local insurance market |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $6,817 | Low | Low population density and a favorable tort climate |
| 13 | Idaho | $6,887 | Low | Rural operating profile and low congestion |
| 14 | Alaska | $6,915 | Low | Low traffic volume offset by a high repair cost index |
| 15 | Vermont | $6,937 | Low | Low population density and low claim frequency |
| 16 | Ohio | $7,094 | Moderate | Stable, competitive local insurance market |
| 17 | Colorado | $7,294 | Moderate | Growing urban corridors and moderate weather exposure |
| 18 | New Mexico | $7,298 | Moderate | Elevated uninsured motorist rate |
| 19 | North Carolina | $7,450 | Moderate | Contributory negligence law keeps verdict sizes contained |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $7,536 | Moderate | Plaintiff-friendly Philadelphia courts pull the average up |
| 21 | Missouri | $7,646 | Moderate | Mixed urban and rural risk profile |
| 22 | Illinois | $7,704 | Moderate | Chicago traffic density pulls the average up |
| 23 | Indiana | $8,430 | Moderate | Stable market offset by rising repair costs |
| 24 | Oregon | $8,484 | Moderate | Urban congestion in the Portland metro area |
| 25 | Washington | $8,484 | Moderate | Urban congestion in the Seattle metro area |
| 26 | Michigan | $8,910 | Moderate | No-fault claims environment still working through loss data |
| 27 | Utah | $9,121 | Moderate | Growing urban corridors along the Wasatch Front |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $9,376 | Moderate | Severe weather exposure and rising claim severity |
| 29 | South Carolina | $9,390 | Moderate | Rising litigation activity |
| 30 | Maine | $9,535 | Moderate | Low population density offset by a high repair cost index |
| 31 | Tennessee | $9,592 | Moderate | Growing freight corridor traffic |
| 32 | Minnesota | $9,669 | Moderate | No-fault claims environment |
| 33 | Virginia | $9,957 | Moderate | Contributory negligence law offset by I-95 corridor density |
| 34 | Alabama | $10,284 | High | Elevated uninsured motorist rate |
| 35 | Texas | $10,533 | High | Severe weather exposure and large plaintiff verdicts |
| 36 | Nevada | $10,681 | High | Las Vegas traffic density and litigation activity |
| 37 | Arkansas | $10,973 | High | Rising litigation activity and severe weather exposure |
| 38 | Maryland | $11,112 | High | Baltimore-Washington corridor density |
| 39 | Kentucky | $11,555 | High | Rising claim severity |
| 40 | West Virginia | $11,687 | High | Difficult terrain and rising claim costs |
| 41 | California | $11,834 | High | High repair cost index and claim severity |
| 42 | Florida | $12,872 | High | Plaintiff-friendly litigation and hurricane exposure |
| 43 | Rhode Island | $14,046 | High | Small state with concentrated urban litigation |
| 44 | Hawaii (est.) | ~$15,000 | Very High | High repair cost index and limited carrier competition |
| 45 | Georgia | $15,200 | Very High | Nuclear verdict environment |
| 46 | Connecticut | $16,946 | Very High | Dense corridors and litigation-heavy courts |
| 47 | New York | $16,949 | Very High | Urban traffic density and elevated state minimum limits |
| 48 | Delaware | $17,351 | Very High | Corporate litigation environment |
| 49 | Louisiana | $19,736 | Very High | Plaintiff-friendly courts and a history of large jury awards |
| 50 | New Jersey | $20,763 | Very High | Highest state minimum liability requirement ($1.5 million) and nuclear verdicts |
The data reveals that state-level variance is one of the largest cost levers in this entire report. A fleet domiciled in Mississippi pays less than a fifth of what an identical fleet pays in New Jersey, and the seven Very High-tier states share a common profile of dense urban corridors, high-cost legal environments, and elevated liability mandates. The Midwest and Great Plains states consistently anchor the low end, benefiting from lower traffic density and courts that have historically produced smaller verdicts. For the complete 50-state ranking, see the Related Reading section below.
Average Cost of Fleet Insurance by Experience
Operating history is the one major cost factor a fleet can improve simply by staying in business and keeping a clean record. The table below shows how average premiums shift across five experience tiers.
| Experience Tier | Avg. Annual Premium per Vehicle | Typical Range | Primary Cost Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Fleet, Under 1 Year | $16,200 | $14,200 to $18,500 | No claims history and limited carrier options at first renewal |
| 1 to 2 Years Operating History | $12,400 | $10,800 to $14,200 | Early loss-run data with a still-narrow carrier pool |
| 2 to 3 Years Operating History | $10,800 | $9,400 to $12,600 | Improving safety data, though rates still reflect early-stage risk |
| 3 to 5 Years, Clean Record | $9,600 | $8,400 to $11,000 | Verified loss history begins qualifying the fleet for standard-market pricing |
| 5+ Years, Established Fleet | $8,400 | $7,200 to $9,800 | Multi-year clean loss runs and full access to standard and preferred markets |
The data reveals that operating history moves the premium almost as much as state does. A new fleet pays roughly 93% more per vehicle than an established fleet with five or more years of clean claims history, even when both operate identical equipment in the same state. Carriers treat the first 12 months as the highest-risk phase of any fleet’s life cycle simply because there is no track record yet to underwrite against.
Fleet Insurance Cost Trends: 2020 to 2026
Every input in this report has moved in the same direction since 2020. The table below tracks that movement year by year for the national blended rate, followed by the anchor table using category by category across the full six-year window (baseline to current).
| Year | Avg. Cost per Mile (National Blended) | Y-Y Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $0.084 | – |
| 2021 | $0.086 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $0.088 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $0.099 | +12.5% |
| 2024 | $0.102 | +3.0% |
| 2025 | $0.106 | +3.9% |
| Category | 2020 | 2026 | Y-Y Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Auto Liability (per vehicle) | $3,770 | $5,500 | +46% |
| Physical Damage (per vehicle) | $1,670 | $2,450 | +47% |
| Motor Truck Cargo (per vehicle) | $650 | $920 | +42% |
| General Liability (per vehicle) | $390 | $510 | +31% |
| Trailer Interchange & Other Endorsements (per vehicle) | $290 | $410 | +41% |
| Non-Trucking Liability / HNOA (per vehicle) | $310 | $410 | +32% |
| Single-Vehicle / Owner-Operator (full package) | $8,100 | $11,800 | +46% |
| Small Fleet, 2 to 5 Vehicles (per vehicle) | $7,000 | $10,200 | +46% |
| Mid-Size Fleet, 6 to 25 Vehicles (per vehicle) | $5,950 | $8,700 | +46% |
| Large Fleet, 26 to 100 Vehicles (per vehicle) | $5,200 | $7,600 | +46% |
| Enterprise Fleet, 100+ Vehicles (per vehicle) | $4,520 | $6,600 | +46% |
| Midwest Region (annualized per vehicle) | $5,718 | $7,319 | +28% |
| Southwest Region (annualized per vehicle) | $6,308 | $8,327 | +32% |
| West Region (annualized per vehicle) | $6,426 | $8,739 | +36% |
| Southeast Region (annualized per vehicle) | $7,986 | $11,021 | +38% |
| Northeast Region (annualized per vehicle) | $8,728 | $12,131 | +39% |
| New Fleet, Under 1 Year (per vehicle) | $11,100 | $16,200 | +46% |
| 1 to 3 Years Operating History (per vehicle) | $7,800 | $11,600 | +49% |
| 3+ Years, Established, Clean Record (per vehicle) | $6,200 | $9,000 | +45% |
| Excess Liability, $5M to $10M Layer (cost per mile)† | $0.0118 | $0.0158 | +34% |
| Excess Liability, $10M to $15M Layer (cost per mile)† | $0.0072 | $0.0105 | +45% |
| National Blended Insurance Cost per Mile‡ | $0.084 | $0.106 | +26% |
| Insurance Share of Total Fleet Operating Cost | 3.4% | 4.6% | +1.2 points |
| Total U.S. Nuclear Verdict Value, All Industries§ | $14.5B | $31.3B | +116% |
†Excess liability layer figures reflect the 2021 to 2024 study period, the most recent confirmed data available for that metric.
‡National blended figure reflects full-year 2025 data, the most recent confirmed figure available.
§Nuclear verdict value compares 2023 to 2024, the most recent year-over-year figures published.
The data reveals that every category in this table moved in the same direction over the past six years: up, and mostly by a wide margin. Physical damage and the 1-to-3-year experience tier posted the steepest increases, both climbing 47% to 49%, which lines up with reporting that physical damage coverage jumped nearly 15% in a single year during the period studied. Insurance’s share of total fleet operating cost rose by 1.2 points even though crash rates fell over the same window, which points to litigation and claim severity, not crash frequency, as the primary force behind these numbers.
Conclusion
Coverage type, fleet size, state, and operating history each move a fleet’s premium independently of one another, and in practice they stack. A new fleet running five vehicles out of New Jersey faces a materially different renewal than an established 25-vehicle fleet based in Iowa, even though both operate under the same federal rules. Crash rates have fallen for three consecutive years, yet premiums keep climbing, and the data throughout this report points to the same underlying cause: nuclear verdicts, state-specific liability mandates, and a commercial auto insurance market that has posted an underwriting loss in most of the past fourteen years. Fleets that can document a clean loss history, retain more risk in primary layers, and choose domicile and operating territory carefully are the ones best positioned to keep 2026 renewal increases below the averages shown here.
Contact Truck Writers to review your current coverage against these benchmarks and confirm your fleet is not overpaying for its size, state, or operating history.
Sources
- American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI). “Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2026 Update.” ATRI. July 15, 2026. https://truckingresearch.org/about-atri/atri-research/operational-costs-of-trucking/
- American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), reported by Commercial Carrier Journal. “Why Truck Insurance Premiums Rose in 2025 Despite Fewer Crashes.” CCJ Digital. July 21, 2026. https://www.ccjdigital.com/business/insurance/article/15830169/why-truck-insurance-premiums-rose-in-2025-despite-fewer-crashes
- American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), reported by TruckersReport. “ATRI Releases Insurance Cost Research to Help Fleets Manage Risk.” TruckersReport.com. May 26, 2026. https://www.thetruckersreport.com/news/atri-releases-insurance-cost-research-help-fleets-manage-risk/
- American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), reported by The Trucker. “Trucking Is Getting More Expensive: ATRI Report Explains Why.” TheTrucker.com. August 2026. https://www.thetrucker.com/trucking-news/business/trucking-is-getting-more-expensive-atri-report-explains-why
- American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), reported by FleetOwner. “ATRI Report Breaks Down Class 8 Truck Operating Costs by Region and Expense Category.” FleetOwner. July 22, 2026. https://www.fleetowner.com/operations/article/55392569/atri-report-breaks-down-class-8-truck-operating-costs-by-region-and-expense-category
- American Trucking Associations (ATA). “Economics and Industry Data.” ATA. 2026. https://www.trucking.org/economics-and-industry-data
- Progressive Commercial. “How Much Is Truck Insurance?” Progressive Commercial. 2026. https://www.progressivecommercial.com/commercial-auto-insurance/truck-insurance/commercial-truck-insurance-cost/
- Insureon. “Commercial Truck Insurance Costs: Get Free Quotes.” Insureon. 2026. https://www.insureon.com/trucking-business-insurance/cost
- The Zebra. “2026 State of Insurance: Auto Trend Report.” The Zebra. January 29, 2026. https://www.thezebra.com/state-of-insurance/auto/2026/
- Geotab. “Commercial Truck Insurance Cost: Rates by State + How to Save.” Geotab. August 6, 2025. https://www.geotab.com/blog/commercial-truck-insurance-cost/
- AtoB. “Owner Operator Truck Insurance Cost Statistics for 2026.” AtoB. February 10, 2026 (updated March 18, 2026). https://www.atob.com/blog/owner-operator-truck-insurance-cost-statistics
- CBIZ. “Commercial Auto Insurance Market Outlook for 2025.” CBIZ. April 2, 2025. https://www.cbiz.com/insights/article/commercial-auto-insurance-market-outlook-for-2025
- SambaSafety. “Why Are Commercial Auto Insurance Costs Rising?” SambaSafety. April 10, 2026. https://sambasafety.com/blog/why-is-commercial-auto-insurance-expensive
- Insurance Navy. “Fleet Insurance Costs: Factors, Premiums, Size.” Insurance Navy. June 4, 2026. https://www.insurancenavy.com/insurance-coverage/commercial-auto-insurance/fleet/
- Truck Writers Research Study. Truck Writers. Blaine, MN. August 2026.