The short answer
A good truck insurance renewal starts 90 days out: pull loss runs and MVRs, update your driver and equipment lists, review your contracts, then get quotes at 60 days, compare them line by line at 45, decide by 30 and send new certificates on day one. This checklist walks through every step.
Renewal is the one time each year you have real leverage. Treat it like a project with a timeline and you'll avoid surprises and give yourself options. This truck insurance renewal checklist covers what to gather, when to shop and what to compare.
The renewal timeline
Renewal timeline that keeps you in control
Days before your policy renews
- 90 daysPull your loss runs and MVRs
- 60 daysBook a policy review; quotes start
- 45 daysCompare quotes line by line
- 30 daysDecide; sign new forms if switching
- 0 daysNew certificates to every broker
90 days out: gather your documents
- Loss runs from your current insurer and any prior insurers for the last 3–5 years
- MVRs for every driver
- Driver list with names, dates of birth, CDL numbers, hire dates and experience
- Equipment schedule with VINs, years, makes and current values
- Current declarations page and all endorsements
- Broker and shipper agreements with insurance requirements
- Mileage and revenue for the past year, plus your projection for next year
What to check on your loss runs
Loss runs can contain errors: claims that were closed but show as open, claims that belong to someone else, or reserves that never came down. Review them now and ask your insurer to correct mistakes before a new underwriter sees them.
75 days out: review your operation
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Have your commodities changed? | Affects cargo coverage and pricing |
| Has your radius or state list changed? | Affects liability rating |
| Have you added or removed drivers or trucks? | Affects every coverage |
| Do your contracts require new limits? | Affects what you must buy |
| Have you had any claims this year? | Be ready to explain what changed |
60 days out: start the market
Give your agent everything above and ask them to approach several insurers. Ask which ones they're approaching and why. A FairlyCover policy review can happen here.
45 days out: compare quotes line by line
Use the same checklist for every quote:
- Insurer name and financial rating
- Auto liability limit (usually $1,000,000)
- Cargo limit, form, commodity exclusions and reefer breakdown
- Physical damage stated values and deductibles
- General liability and trailer interchange, if needed
- Radius, driver and territory restrictions
- Fees, taxes and total cost including financing
Our guides on reading a truck insurance quote and red flags in a quote explain each line.
30 days out: decide and sign
If you're staying, review any changes your current insurer made. If you're switching, sign the new application, pay the down payment and schedule the effective date for the moment the old policy ends. Don't cancel anything yet.
Day one: certificates and filings
- New policy documents and ID cards in every truck
- New BMC-91X filing showing on FMCSA's system (if you switched insurers)
- New certificates of insurance to every broker, shipper and lienholder
- Old policy canceled in writing only after the new one is active
How to present a claim at renewal
If you had a claim, don't hide it; it's on your loss runs anyway. Prepare a short explanation: what happened, what it cost, and what you changed (training, equipment, routes, hiring). Underwriters respond better to a clear story than to silence.
After renewal
Put next year's 90-day date on your calendar now. Keep a folder for loss runs, MVRs and contracts so next year's renewal starts with everything in one place.
Questions truckers ask
When should I start my truck insurance renewal?
About 90 days out to gather documents, with quotes starting around 60 days before expiration.
What are loss runs?
Reports from your insurers showing your claims history, usually for the past 3 to 5 years. New insurers require them.
Should I shop my truck insurance every year?
Reviewing the market each year is a good habit, especially if your premium rose or your operation changed.
What should I do if I had a claim?
Prepare a short explanation of what happened and what you changed. Underwriters respond better to a clear story.
Written by the FairlyCover Editorial Team. This guide explains how coverage generally works. It isn't legal or insurance advice, and your policy wording always decides what's covered. How we write and review content.
