Budget Insurance Agency
Auto, Commercial Auto, Home, and Renters Insurance Agency in Macon, GA | - Budget Insurance Agency
Budget Insurance Agency · Trucking · Owner-Operator Insurance
Owner-Operator Insurance, Built Around How You Actually Run
Leased to a carrier or running your own authority — the coverage you actually need looks completely different either way. We compare 12+ carriers to build the right stack, not a generic policy.
★★★★★ Rated 4.8/5 on Google · No Pressure, Ever
Carriers compared
0
+
States served
0
Years in business
0
+
Google rating
0
Same day
Coverage available
Why Budget
Insurance shopping, minus the runaround
We’re not a call center reading a script, we’re your neighbors, doing the comparison work you don’t have time for.
Independent & Unbiased
We work for you, not one insurance company, so the recommendation is actually about your best rate.
35+ Years of Experience
Real expertise finding coverage that fits — not just the cheapest number on the page.
No-Pressure Process
Compare your options, ask questions, take your time. No hard sell, ever.
Fast & Simple
Get a real quote in minutes, online or on the phone with a licensed agent.
Coverage Options
Which pieces you need depends on how you run
Primary Liability
The core coverage FMCSA requires — pays for bodily injury and property damage you cause to others.
Own-authority operators need this directly. Leased operators are typically covered under the carrier’s policy while dispatched.
Cargo Insurance
Not federally required for most carriers, but almost impossible to get loads without it.
Typically $100,000 minimum. Leased operators are usually covered by the carrier; own-authority operators carry it themselves.
Physical Damage
Covers your own truck and trailer for collision and comprehensive losses.
Your responsibility either way — the carrier’s policy doesn’t cover your equipment even when you’re leased on.
Bobtail / Non-Trucking Liability
Covers you when driving without a trailer or outside dispatch.
Essential if you’re leased on — the carrier’s policy stops covering you the moment you’re off-dispatch.
Occupational Accident
Covers injury-related medical costs and lost income for independent contractors.
You’re not a carrier employee, so standard workers’ comp doesn’t apply — this is the real substitute.
General Liability
Covers non-vehicle business risks — a loading dock injury, freight-handling damage.
Not always required, but often requested by shippers before they’ll work with an independent authority.
Owner-operator insurance isn’t one policy — it’s a stack, and which pieces you need depends almost entirely on one decision: are you leased to a motor carrier, or running under your own authority? Lease on, and the carrier’s insurance covers primary liability and cargo while you’re dispatched, which means your own coverage is really just filling gaps — non-trucking liability, physical damage, occupational accident. Run under your own authority, and you’re responsible for the entire stack yourself, including that $750,000 federal minimum (most brokers actually want $1,000,000). That single decision is the difference between paying $3,000 a year and $15,000 a year — and it’s not always obvious which one actually makes more financial sense for your specific situation.
The Real Split
Leased-on or own authority — it changes everything
Leased-On
The motor carrier's primary liability and cargo policy covers you while dispatched. Your own coverage fills the gaps: non-trucking liability, physical damage, and occupational accident insurance — since as an independent contractor, you don't qualify for the carrier's workers' comp. Typical cost: $3,000 to $7,000 a year.
Own Authority
You're responsible for the entire coverage stack yourself — primary liability, cargo, physical damage, often general liability. FMCSA won't issue your operating authority until you can prove adequate coverage. Typical cost: $9,000 to $17,000 a year for established operators.
Just Starting Out?
What new authorities should know
Starting your own authority costs more to insure than it will in a year or two — that’s not a pricing trick, it’s how the risk actually works. Insurers price new authorities higher because there’s no claims history to price against yet, often $12,000 to $18,000 a year for the first 12 months.
The good news: rates typically drop 15 to 25% after your first claims-free year, and continue improving through year three, when access to preferred carrier programs usually opens up. If the first-year cost is what’s holding you back from going independent, it’s worth running the leased-on numbers side by side before deciding.
What Affects Your Rate
Every quote is personal — here's what goes into it
CSA Safety Score
Years of Experience
Cargo Type
Radius of Operation
Driving Record
Truck Age & Type
We Shop These Carriers So You Don’t Have To
$1,000,000
The federal minimum is a floor, not a target
FMCSA requires $750,000 in liability to operate under your own authority — but most owner-operators carry $1,000,000, because that’s what shippers and brokers actually require before assigning loads. If you’re leased on, your carrier’s policy typically already meets this; the number that matters more to you is what gaps their policy leaves open.
Source: FMCSA — 49 CFR Part 387
How It Works
Three steps. No headaches.
1
Compare
Tell us a little about you — we shop 12+ carriers for your best rate.
2
Choose
Review your options with a real agent — no jargon, no pressure.
3
Get Covered
Finalize your policy and drive with confidence, often same-day.
Online Tools vs. A Local Agent
Fast isn't always the same as complete
| What matters | Online Quote Tools | Budget Insurance Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Instant | ✓ Minutes, by phone or online |
| Compares multiple carriers | Sometimes — often just one | ✓ 12+ carriers, every time |
| Catches coverage gaps | Rarely flagged | ✓ Reviewed by a licensed agent |
| Explains what you're buying | Self-service only | ✓ Real person, plain language |
| Follow-up if something's wrong | Call center queue | ✓ Direct line to your agent |
Why this matters: Online tools often quote based on your ZIP code and home value alone — they don't ask about your roof's age, your claims history, or whether your dwelling coverage actually matches today's rebuild costs. A licensed agent catches these gaps before they become a denied claim, not after.
Smart Savings
Ways to lower your premium without cutting coverage
Keep your CSA score clean — it affects your rate more than almost anything else
Bundle multiple trucks under one policy
Complete a defensive driving or safety certification program
Ask about a claims-free or safety-record discount
Compare rates every year — pricing shifts with market conditions
If you're leased on, confirm what your carrier's policy already covers before buying extra
What Drivers Say
Real reviews from real customers
FAQs
Common questions about trucking insurance
Should I stay leased on or get my own authority?
It depends on your numbers, not a general rule. Leased operators pay less directly for insurance but give up a share of revenue to the carrier. Own-authority operators keep more revenue but absorb the full insurance cost themselves — often $9,000 to $17,000 more a year.
What insurance do I need if I'm leased to a motor carrier?
Typically non-trucking liability, physical damage, and occupational accident insurance. The carrier’s policy covers primary liability and cargo while you’re dispatched.
Why is insurance so much more expensive for new authorities?
Insurers have no claims history to price against, so new authorities (under 12 months) get priced higher — often $12,000 to $18,000 a year versus $9,000 to $15,000 for operators with a few clean years behind them.
Does my carrier's insurance cover me when I'm not hauling their freight?
Usually not. That’s exactly what non-trucking liability and bobtail coverage are for — the miles you drive off-dispatch or for personal use aren’t covered by the carrier’s policy.
What is occupational accident insurance, and do I need it?
It covers injury-related medical costs and lost income. Leased owner-operators are independent contractors, not carrier employees, so standard workers’ comp doesn’t apply — this fills that gap.
How much does owner-operator insurance typically cost?
Leased operators typically pay $3,000 to $7,000 a year. Own-authority operators typically pay $9,000 to $17,000, with new authorities on the higher end of that range.
More From Budget
Bundle and save on the coverage you already need
Ready to see your best rate?
It takes less than 2 minutes — no obligation, no pressure, no spam calls.