Is this carrier insured?
Beta: CarrierVet is in active testing. Verify critical decisions against FMCSA SAFER, and report anything that looks wrong to hello@carriervet.dev.
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For-hire interstate carriers must keep liability insurance on file with FMCSA, typically $750,000 for general freight and more for some hazardous materials. Insurers file proof electronically: BMC-91 or BMC-91X for bodily injury and property damage (BI&PD), BMC-34 for cargo where required, and BMC-84 or BMC-85 for a broker's bond or trust fund. When a policy is cancelled, the cancellation is filed too.
CarrierVet reads those filings and puts the result in the verdict. Missing or lapsed required insurance is a FAIL; an unknown status is a REVIEW. Verified against official FMCSA records.
What the insurance block shows
insurance.status | on_file, missing, lapsed or unknown |
|---|---|
bipd_on_file / bipd_required | Liability coverage on file, and the amount required |
cargo_on_file / cargo_required | Cargo filing, where the authority type requires one |
bond_on_file / bond_required | Bond or trust fund, for broker and forwarder authority |
effective_date / cancel_date | Dates from the filing, when available |
Insurance changes also appear in the carrier's dated change history, and a watchlist alert can tell you when a monitored carrier's insurance changes (paid plans, open after the beta).
From a terminal
curl -s https://carriervet.dev/v1/carriers/mc/MC123456 -H "authorization: Bearer $KEY"
The insurance object is inside carrier. The verdict_reasons list includes insurance_missing or insurance_lapsed when that check fails.
FAQ
Does 'on file' mean the carrier's policy covers my load?
No. It means the required filing is on record with FMCSA. It does not tell you policy exclusions, the cargo limit for your commodity, or whether a premium has been paid. Ask for a certificate of insurance naming you as certificate holder and confirm it with the agent.
Why would insurance show as lapsed?
A cancellation was filed and no replacement filing is on record. Carriers sometimes switch insurers and the new filing arrives later, which is why a watchlist alert and a re-check before tender are useful.
What does 'unknown' mean?
CarrierVet could not confirm the insurance status for this lookup, for example because an FMCSA source did not answer. The verdict is REVIEW, not PASS, and the response's data_quality block says which source was missing.
Can I prove I checked insurance before booking?
Each lookup returns a receipt_id. The receipt is a dated, saved copy of the response with its SHA-256, readable by any key on your account at no cost.
Is it free?
The free plan includes 50 lookups a month with no card.
Get a free API key 50 lookups a month, no card. Paid plans open after the beta.
Related
Not a consumer report. Carrier data is derived from records maintained by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). It is provided as-is, may be delayed or incomplete, and is not a consumer report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Do not use it to evaluate a natural person for credit, insurance, employment, or any other purpose covered by the FCRA. Carriers can request a review of a record or flag. Questions: hello@carriervet.dev.