New Authority Insurance Quote Checklist: What Underwriters Need
A complete submission gets more useful quotes. A vague one gets a conservative price, a list of follow-up questions, or no market at all.
The short answer
- Give the agent one consistent operating profile: equipment, radius, commodity, states, and expected mileage.
- Prepare driver history, CDL details, MVR authorization, prior coverage, and loss runs before requesting quotes.
- Do not hide a prior cancellation, business relationship, or planned operation; mismatches can invalidate the quote or filing.
- Compare the quote, exclusions, radius, deductibles, down payment, and minimum earned premium—not just the annual premium.
A new authority does not have years of loss history to help an underwriter price the risk. The submission has to do that work instead. When the facts arrive in fragments—one radius in the application, another on the website, and a third in the phone call—the market prices uncertainty as if the worst version is true.
The operating profile to finalize first
- Equipment type, year, value, ownership or lease status, and whether a trailer is included.
- Normal and maximum operating radius, states entered, and whether the operation is regional or long-haul.
- Commodity and cargo value, including temperature-controlled, household-goods, hazmat, or specialized freight.
- Expected annual mileage, loaded-versus-empty pattern, and whether another carrier or shipper controls dispatch.
- Number of power units, drivers, owner-operators, and planned hiring date.
Driver and business documents
Build the submission packet
Send one consistent packet to the licensed agent so every market sees the same risk profile.
- 1
Business identity
Provide the exact legal name, EIN, address, formation date, operating name, and planned start date.
- 2
Driver history
Prepare CDL details, years of experience, MVR authorization, driver list, and explanations for tickets, accidents, or gaps.
- 3
Equipment schedule
List each unit, VIN if available, stated value, lienholder, garaging address, and physical-damage deductible preference.
- 4
Prior insurance
Include declarations, current or prior policy dates, cancellation details, and loss runs when available. Never replace a missing record with a guess.
- 5
Operating plan
Describe the lanes, commodities, radius, dispatch model, and broker or shipper relationships you expect to use.
How to compare quotes
| Term | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Primary liability limit | The broker requirement and the limit that responds to third-party injury or property damage. |
| Cargo limit and exclusions | The policy may not cover every commodity, theft scenario, reefer loss, or unattended vehicle. |
| Deductibles | A lower premium can create a cash problem when physical damage or cargo claims occur. |
| Down payment and installments | The first payment can determine whether authority activation is affordable. |
| Minimum earned premium | Cancelling early may not return the unused portion of the premium. |
| Radius and territory | A policy that excludes the work you plan to accept is not a cheap policy. |