Updated October 2026
Insurance sites sell you a policy. This page is written from the carrier side.
Here is exactly what Accelerated requires to sub-haul, what our side covers versus yours, and how to get your certificate accepted the first time.
These are our published requirements. Meet them and your certificate clears onboarding.
Two coverages do the real work: auto liability and cargo
Every car hauler needs two kinds of coverage to run: commercial auto liability and cargo insurance. Federal rules set a minimum liability level for carriers. Most carriers you sign with set the bar higher. Accelerated requires $1 million in auto liability.
Cargo coverage scales with how many cars your trailer holds. A loaded 8-car rig carries far more value than a 3-car setup. So the required limit rises with capacity. The exact tiers are in the table below.
New to hauling for us? Start with how to sub-haul for Accelerated, then come back for the coverage detail.
The four coverages every car hauler should understand
Before any carrier’s specific rules, know what each coverage is for. Two are table stakes, one protects your own equipment, and two add-ons decide whether a new-car claim goes through.
Commercial auto liability
Pays for damage or injury you cause to others on the road. It does not cover your own truck or the cars on your trailer. Accelerated requires $1 million, because one serious highway accident runs up fast.
Cargo insurance
Covers the vehicles on your trailer while they are in your care. Car haul is not dry van freight. You are carrying several finished vehicles at once, so the limit has to match your trailer’s full loaded value.
Physical damage
Covers your own truck and trailer. Your equipment sits on your policy, not the carrier’s, which is normal for a sub-haul deal. Lenders usually require it on financed equipment.
The two add-ons people skip
Constructive total loss pays when a vehicle is damaged past a set share of its value. Diminished value covers what a repaired new car loses at resale. Accelerated requires both to haul new cars.
Accelerated’s sub-hauler insurance requirements
These are our requirements in full, with the reason behind each one. Check your policy against them before you start the carrier packet. This is what our onboarding team reviews.
The baseline
- $1 million in auto liability. The baseline coverage to run our freight.
- Cargo coverage sized to your trailer capacity, per the table below, with Accelerated listed as certificate holder.
- Deductible of $2,500 or less on your cargo coverage. It keeps your out-of-pocket on a claim predictable.
What we do not accept
- On Hook or On Hook Cargo insurance. Not accepted.
- Accelerant Insurance. Not accepted.
- Certificates sent by carriers or customers. Your certificate must come from your insurance agent directly.
Cargo coverage by trailer capacity
To haul new cars, your certificate must also list Constructive Total Loss and Diminished Value. New-vehicle freight carries higher limits because a factory-fresh load is worth more, and some automakers set their own bar above ours.
| Trailer capacity | Used cargo coverage | New cargo coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 car trailers | $150,000 | $200,000 (some OEMs require $250,000) |
| 5 to 7 car haulers | $200,000 | $250,000 (some OEMs require $350,000) |
| 8 or more car haulers | $300,000 | $350,000+ (some OEMs require $500,000) |
| Deductible cap | $2,500 | $2,500 |
Not sure your policy qualifies?
Send us your current certificate and we will tell you what is missing before you commit to anything.
On the carrier packet, tell us how many cars your trailer carries and whether it is enclosed.
One more gate before insurance review: you need at least 6 months in business as a carrier. That lets us look at your track record. Once your packet and certificate are in, approval takes up to 24 hours. You get an email either way.
Requirements can change as OEM contracts change. This page is the current published set. The Updated date at the top shows when we last confirmed it.
Your policy versus the carrier’s
Insurance sites skip this part, because insurers do not run carrier contracts. Here is how coverage splits when you haul under Accelerated.
- Your policy covers your side. Your truck and trailer, the cars on your trailer, and the liability for how you drive. The freight is in your care, so your cargo policy responds to a damaged vehicle.
- Accelerated holds the contracts. We hold the automaker and shipper relationships. We do not insure your equipment or your loads, which is why our requirements are firm.
- One damage claim, in plain terms. A new vehicle gets damaged in transit. You report it, your cargo insurer handles the claim, and the constructive total loss and diminished value pieces are what let the automaker accept the outcome.
If your policy skipped those add-ons, the claim stalls and the exposure lands on you. That is the whole reason we require them for new cars.
What drives your car hauler insurance price
Car hauler insurance costs more than most trucking lines, because every load is a trailer full of finished vehicles. You cannot control the market. But three levers set where your price lands, and they are what underwriters price first.
Keep a clean MVR
Your driving record is the biggest lever on price. Underwriters price the driver before they price the truck.
Match the limit to your rig
More cars means more cargo value and a higher required limit. Insure for the capacity you run, not more, not less.
Use a car haul specialist
An agent who writes car haulers knows the limits carriers require and writes the certificate correctly the first time.
This is general market information, not a quote or coverage advice. Confirm your exact coverage and pricing with a licensed insurance agent.
Getting your certificate accepted the first time
Most onboarding delays are not about coverage. They are about the certificate. Get these three things right and you clear the first time.
Agent-issued only
The certificate must come from your insurance agent directly. We do not accept certificates sent by carriers or customers.
Right certificate holder
The certificate holder is The Descartes Systems Group, Inc., 2030 Powers Ferry Rd SE Ste 350, Atlanta, GA 30339-5066.
Right limits listed
Show the liability and cargo limits for your capacity, plus Constructive Total Loss and Diminished Value for new-car freight.
Have your agent email the certificate to mcp-coi@descartes.com, copy newcarrier@accelerated.com, or fax it to 818-401-0585. Already hauling for us and renewing? Same route. A certificate that misses one of the three points above comes back for a re-issue. That round trip is where most of the delay lives.
Car hauler insurance questions, answered
What insurance do I need to sub-haul for Accelerated?
You need $1 million in commercial auto liability, cargo coverage that matches your trailer capacity, and a cargo deductible no higher than $2,500. To haul new cars, your certificate must also list Constructive Total Loss and Diminished Value.
What cargo insurance do I need for an 8 or 9 car hauler?
For 8 or more car haulers, Accelerated requires $300,000 in cargo coverage for used vehicles and $350,000 or more for new vehicles, with some OEMs requiring $500,000. The deductible cannot exceed $2,500.
Does the carrier’s insurance cover sub-haulers?
No. When you sub-haul, the freight is in your care, so your own cargo and liability policies respond to a claim. The carrier holds the shipper contracts, not coverage for your truck or your loads. That is why we publish firm requirements.
How much is car hauler insurance per month?
There is no one number. Car hauler insurance costs more than most trucking lines because the cargo values are high, and your price depends on your driving record, your equipment, your capacity tier, and your deductible. Get a quote from a licensed agent who writes car haulers.
Why does Accelerated require Constructive Total Loss and Diminished Value?
New vehicles lose resale value even after a proper repair, and some can be damaged past a repairable threshold. These two coverages are what let an automaker accept a damage claim. Without them, a claim on new-car freight can stall.
How long does insurance approval take?
Approval takes up to 24 hours once we have your carrier packet and an agent-issued certificate, and you get an email either way. The fastest path is a certificate that shows the right limits and the right certificate holder the first time.
Requirements sorted? Start your onboarding
Complete your carrier packet through MyCarrierPackets and have your agent send the certificate. Then you are pulling contracted freight with ACH pay on terms you pick: 30-day free, 15-day for 2.5%, or 5-day for 5%. Hauling broker loads today? See our Central Dispatch alternative.