Understand your coverage away from a load
Bobtail insurance starts with how you use your truck.
Understand bobtail and non-trucking liability, then review your lease and policy wording to identify the protection your operation needs.
Compare coverageExplore coverage and quote preparationFig. 01: Bobtail insurance
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Distinguish trailer status from business use
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Options for leased owner-operators
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Review policy requirements with a specialist
Your operation
Start with the work you do.
Bobtail describes a truck being driven without a trailer. It does not, by itself, say whether the trip is business or personal. Start with those two facts separately, then review the lease and the exact policy being offered.
No trailer, still working
Going to collect a trailer or completing a dispatch can involve a tractor alone. Explain the trip's purpose instead of using trailer status as shorthand for the coverage you need.
Personal use
For a genuinely personal trip, ask how non-trucking liability applies under the proposed wording. Confirm any conditions associated with your lease and use of the truck.
Coverage to compare
Know what each part protects.
01
Bobtail wording
Ask which trips the specific coverage includes or excludes and whether dispatch status affects the answer.
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Non-trucking liability
This concerns liability during qualifying non-business use. It is not interchangeable with a promise to cover every trip made without a trailer.
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Truck physical damage
Review damage to your own tractor separately from liability for injury or damage you cause to others.
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Carrier-provided protection
Reconcile the coverage you buy with the motor carrier's policies and your lease responsibilities.
This is general buying guidance. Available coverage depends on the insurer, your operation, and underwriting. The issued policy and endorsements determine what is covered.
Understanding cost
What shapes your quote.
- The coverage actually requested and the lease arrangement.
- Truck use, location, driving history, and losses.
- Liability limits and any separate physical-damage selections.
Compare equivalent limits, deductibles, and operations before choosing on price. Your quote should explain both the cost and the coverage it buys.
Quote preparation
Have these details ready.
- Complete lease and carrier insurance requirements.
- Examples of dispatch, empty-trailer, and personal trips.
- Truck and driver details, existing policies, and effective dates.
Start with the short form below. These details help with the follow-up review; you do not need to enter them all to get in touch.
Common questions
Before you choose a policy.
Are bobtail and non-trucking liability the same?
No. One concerns driving without a trailer; the other concerns non-business use. Product labels can be used loosely, so ask for the actual coverage form and a written explanation of the trips you described.
Does an empty trailer make a trip personal?
No. Explain why the trip is being made and how it relates to dispatch or the carrier's business. Have that use checked against the relevant policies.
Get Started
Get your quotes. It starts with a USDOT number.
Tell us about your operation so our team can review your insurance needs and help you compare available options.
- Coverage options for your operation
- Help reviewing your insurance requirements
- A quote request, with no obligation to buy
Keep exploring
Related coverage questions.
Review the full leased-operator coverage picture.
Semi-truck insuranceConsider protection for the tractor itself.
Coverage availability, limits, and pricing vary by carrier and underwriting eligibility.