MCS-90 Endorsement
An endorsement attached to a motor carrier's liability policy guaranteeing that the insurer will pay a final judgment for public liability up to FMCSA's required minimums — typically $750,000 for general freight — even if the policy wouldn't otherwise cover the loss. It protects the public, not the carrier.
Learn moreWhat is MCS-90 Endorsement?
The MCS-90 is the Endorsement for Motor Carrier Policies of Insurance for Public Liability, required under the federal financial responsibility regulations for for-hire interstate carriers of property. Attached to the carrier's auto liability policy, it obligates the insurer to pay any final judgment against the insured for negligence-caused bodily injury, property damage, or environmental restoration — up to the required minimum, typically $750,000 for general freight and higher for oil and certain hazardous materials — regardless of whether the policy itself would have covered the claim. In effect, the MCS-90 converts the insurer into a surety for the public: even if the carrier violated policy conditions, used an unscheduled vehicle, or the claim fell into a coverage exclusion, an injured member of the public can still recover. The insurer then has a right of reimbursement against the carrier for anything paid that the underlying policy didn't actually cover. The MCS-90 is what stands behind the BMC-91/BMC-91X filings that keep a carrier's operating authority active — an insurer filing with FMCSA is certifying that endorsed coverage exists. CarrierOk surfaces each carrier's on-file BIPD coverage against its required minimum, so a carrier filed below its requirement is flagged before it becomes your problem.
Why does mcs-90 endorsement matter?
Insurance Underwriters
The MCS-90 means you can owe a judgment your policy language would otherwise exclude — price for the surety exposure, scrutinize unscheduled-vehicle and named-driver risk, and remember reimbursement rights against an insolvent carrier are often worthless.
Freight Brokers
The MCS-90 guarantees a floor of recovery for the public, but only up to the federal minimum — a nuclear verdict blows through $750,000 instantly, which is why verifying actual coverage amounts, not just active status, matters.
Developers & Platforms
Compare insurance_bipd_on_file against insurance_bipd_required to flag carriers filed at or below their federal minimum — bare-minimum coverage is a well-established financial-stress signal worth surfacing in onboarding flows.
Key values & thresholds
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Applies To | For-hire interstate property carriers |
| General Freight Minimum | $750,000 |
| Protects | The public, not the insured carrier |
| Insurer Recourse | Reimbursement from the carrier |
MCS-90 Endorsement in the CarrierOk API
This data is available via the /v2/profile endpoint. The following fields are returned in the carrier profile:
/v2/profileinsurance_bipd_on_fileinsurance_bipd_requiredFrequently asked questions
What does the MCS-90 endorsement actually do?
The MCS-90 obligates the insurer to pay any final judgment against the carrier for public liability — bodily injury, property damage, or environmental restoration caused by negligent operation — up to the FMCSA-required minimum, even when the underlying policy would not have covered the claim. It exists to protect the public, not the carrier: if the carrier breached policy conditions or the vehicle wasn't scheduled on the policy, the injured party still recovers, and the insurer then seeks reimbursement from the carrier for amounts the policy didn't truly cover.
Is the MCS-90 the same as the BMC-91 filing?
No, but they work together. The MCS-90 is the endorsement physically attached to the carrier's liability policy, creating the insurer's obligation to the public. The BMC-91 (or BMC-91X) is the certificate the insurer files with FMCSA certifying that qualifying coverage is in place, which is what keeps the carrier's operating authority active. FMCSA's public systems show the filing, not the policy — CarrierOk surfaces the on-file coverage amount and the required minimum so you can verify a carrier is filed at or above its requirement.
Does the MCS-90 increase the carrier's coverage limits?
No. The MCS-90 does not add coverage on top of the policy — it guarantees payment up to the federal minimum financial responsibility level, typically $750,000 for general freight, when the policy would otherwise not respond. If the policy limit already exceeds the federal minimum and the claim is covered, the MCS-90 never comes into play. Its practical effect appears in gap scenarios: excluded claims, unscheduled vehicles, or lapsed conditions, where it converts the insurer into a surety for the public up to the required minimum.
Related terms
Operating Authority
FMCSA-granted permission for a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder to operate in interstate commerce. Authority types include common (general for-hire), contract (specific shippers), and broker. CarrierOk tracks authority status changes same-day and flags monitored carriers when authority lapses or is revoked.
BIPD (Bodily Injury & Property Damage)
The primary liability insurance every interstate motor carrier must file with FMCSA. Minimum coverage ranges from $750,000 for general freight to $5,000,000 for certain hazmat. CarrierOk shows current BIPD coverage amounts, insurer names, policy numbers, and effective dates via API.
Cargo Insurance
Insurance that protects the value of goods in transit against damage, theft, or loss. Unlike BIPD (which covers third-party liability), cargo insurance covers the freight itself. FMCSA requires minimum cargo coverage for certain authority types. CarrierOk reports cargo insurance amounts and insurer details via API.
Nuclear Verdict
A jury award in a trucking accident lawsuit that dramatically exceeds compensatory damages, often surpassing $10 million. Nuclear verdicts have reshaped trucking insurance economics, with average verdicts above $20 million. Courts increasingly hold brokers and shippers liable for negligent carrier selection — making data-driven vetting with tools like CarrierOk essential.
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