Last reviewed: November 1, 2026 · By VetCarrier
What the insurance row shows
The “Insurance on file” row prints the liability amount FMCSA lists for the carrier and, under it, the amount FMCSA requires. When the amount on file is zero, or lower than the requirement, the result opens with a red flag. When FMCSA lists no requirement and no coverage, it shows an amber note asking for a certificate.
For a for-hire carrier of general freight in interstate commerce, using vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more, the federal minimum for public liability is $750,000; some hazardous materials require $1,000,000 or $5,000,000. A for-hire carrier may not operate in interstate commerce, and its authority may not be issued or stay in force, until that evidence is filed with and accepted by FMCSA.
What it does not show
- The insurer’s name, the policy number or the policy’s dates.
- Cargo coverage. FMCSA’s cargo filing requirement covers household goods carriers only.
- Whether a cancellation is under way. A filing stays on record until 30 days after a notice of cancellation is filed with FMCSA, so the amount on file can still appear while a policy is ending.
- Whether the certificate in your inbox is genuine. The FBI reports criminals updating a real carrier’s insurance information as part of cargo theft schemes.
How to confirm a certificate of insurance
- Run the check above and note the liability amount on file and the amount required.
- Open the carrier’s filings on FMCSA’s Licensing and Insurance site if you want the filing history; that site covers interstate for-hire carriers that hold authority or have applications pending.
- Look up the insurance agent or company yourself, not from the certificate, and ask it to confirm the policy, the named insured, the limits and the dates.
- Check that the named insured matches the legal name on the FMCSA record. Federal rules require filings to be issued in the full and correct name of the company that holds the authority.
- Proof of the required financial responsibility is public information, and a carrier must produce it on reasonable request. It is fair to ask for the endorsement as well as the certificate.
The full process, including what to look for on the certificate, is in How do I verify a carrier’s insurance?.
Common questions
Does VetCarrier verify a carrier’s insurance policy?
No. It shows the liability amount on file with FMCSA and the amount required. It does not verify a policy, a certificate, coverage dates, a cancellation or the insurer; confirm those with the insurer or the carrier’s agent.
Why can the FMCSA filing still show coverage after a policy is cancelled?
Under 49 CFR 387.313, a filing cannot be cancelled until 30 days after a notice of cancellation is filed with FMCSA.
Does the check show cargo insurance?
No. It shows the liability filing only. FMCSA requires a cargo filing from household goods carriers only.
Criminals copy real carrier records, so a clean check does not prove the caller is that carrier: always confirm their phone, email and address another way. A VetCarrier check is not a guarantee that a carrier is safe or legitimate.