What Is an MCS-90 Endorsement?
The MCS-90 is a federal endorsement attached to a motor carrier’s liability policy that guarantees the public will be paid for injury or property damage up to the federal minimum — even if the policy would otherwise not respond. It is a public safety net required for FMCSA operating authority, not a substitute for your liability coverage.
What the MCS-90 actually does
The MCS-90 is an endorsement the federal government requires on the liability policy of most interstate for-hire motor carriers. It guarantees that members of the public injured by your truck are paid up to the federal minimum, even in situations where your policy might otherwise deny the claim.
If your insurer pays a claim under the MCS-90 that your policy would not normally cover, you are obligated to reimburse the insurer. In other words, it protects the public first — not the carrier.
How much coverage the MCS-90 guarantees
For general freight, the federal minimum is $750,000, though $1,000,000 is the practical market standard. Hauling certain hazardous materials raises the minimum to $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 depending on the commodity.
The MCS-90 guarantees the federal minimum — it does not raise your actual policy limit. Your underlying liability limit is still what protects your business.
Do you need one?
If you operate under interstate for-hire authority, FMCSA requires proof of financial responsibility on file, and the MCS-90 is how most liability policies satisfy it. Intrastate Texas carriers file separately through TxDMV.
When we place your liability coverage, the filing and the MCS-90 are handled as part of activating your authority — you should never be operating without it.
Frequently asked
- Is the MCS-90 the same as my liability insurance?
- No. The MCS-90 is an endorsement on top of your liability policy that guarantees the public is paid up to the federal minimum. Your liability limit is the coverage that actually protects your business; the MCS-90 is a federal safety net, and you may have to repay the insurer for anything it pays that your policy would not.
- How much does the MCS-90 cost?
- The MCS-90 itself is an endorsement included with a filed interstate liability policy — there is no separate premium for the endorsement. You pay for the underlying liability coverage and any filing fees.