How to Meet Amazon Relay Insurance Requirements and Get Instant Approval

You’re ready to grow your business by hauling for Amazon Relay, but first, you have to get past the application process. 

The insurance requirements are a common roadblock, often causing frustrating insurance verification delays that slow down your Amazon Relay approval.

Think of this blog as your pre-application insurance checklist to ensure you have the right coverage from day one, helping you get approved faster and on the road where you make your money.

The "Big Five": Your Mandatory Insurance Checklist

First things first, Amazon requires every carrier in its network to have five specific insurance policies. Without these exact coverages, your application won't move forward. 

Getting these right is the foundational step to a successful application

• Commercial General Liability: You’ll need a policy with limits of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in aggregate. This covers non-vehicle incidents, like a slip-and-fall accident at a loading dock.  

• Auto Liability: A minimum of $1,000,000 per occurrence is required. This is the essential coverage that pays for bodily injury and property damage your truck may cause to others in an accident.  

• Motor Truck Cargo Coverage: You must have at least $100,000 in coverage. This policy protects the value of the Amazon goods you are hauling against theft, loss, or damage during transit.  

• Workers’ Compensation: This is required in every state where your company operates, covering medical costs and lost wages for employees injured on the job.  

• Employer Liability: Working alongside workers' comp, you need a minimum of $100,000 per occurrence to protect against employee lawsuits that fall outside of standard workers' comp claims.

Critical Details That Cause Delays

Meeting the "Big Five" is step one, but the details are where many applications get stuck.

According to Amazon, the most common reason for a delayed Amazon Relay approval is the insurance validation process, especially errors in COI submission. 

Focusing on the following three points can save you weeks of waiting.

First, your Auto Liability policy must specifically include $50,000 for trailer replacement or

trailer interchange coverage. This is non-negotiable. Because many Relay loads are "power-only," you'll be hauling Amazon's trailers. This coverage protects their assets while in your care.  

Second, your insurance provider must have an A.M. Best rating of "A-" or higher. This is a crucial but often overlooked requirement. This rating is like a credit score for insurance companies, and it proves to Amazon that your insurer is financially stable enough to pay out a major claim if needed.

Finally, you cannot submit your own insurance documents. Your insurance agent must handle the COI submission directly to Amazon’s third-party verifier, RMIS. Any mistake here can cause costly insurance verification delays.

This is an anti-fraud measure, so any certificate you send yourself will be rejected, bringing your application to a halt.

Insurance to Protect Your Own Truck

It’s important to remember that Amazon's insurance requirements are designed to protect Amazon. Once you’ve met their mandates, the next smart move is to secure coverage that protects your own business from financial disaster. 

Amazon doesn’t require you to have insurance on your own truck, for instance, because they don’t have a financial stake in your equipment.  

For you, however, Physical Damage coverage is essential. This policy, which includes comprehensive and collision coverage, is what pays to repair or replace your tractor and any trailer you own after an accident, theft, or fire. 

Without it, a total loss could easily end your business.  

Another critical policy for owner-operators is Non-Trucking Liability, often called Bobtail insurance. 

Your primary liability policy only covers you when you're hauling for business. Non-Trucking Liability fills the gap, protecting you when you’re driving your truck for personal reasons or between loads, ensuring you're not left exposed.

Do I need insurance for my own truck?

Amazon doesn’t require Physical Damage insurance, but it’s highly recommended to protect your truck.

The Safety Prerequisites You Can't Ignore

Before your insurance paperwork even gets a look, Amazon checks your company’s operational and safety history. This is the first gate you have to pass through. 

The most significant requirement is the 180-day rule: your DOT number must have interstate authority and be active for at least six months. This proves you have an established operational track record. 

They’ll verify your official FMCSA Safety Rating, which must be “Satisfactory,” “None,” or “Not Rated” to be considered. 

Amazon scrutinizes your day-to-day safety performance through your BASICs scores, holding you to a higher standard than federal minimums. 

What safety scores are required?

BASICs thresholds: Unsafe Driving (≤60%), HOS (≤60%), Vehicle Maintenance (≤75%), Controlled Substances (≤75%), Driver Fitness (≤75%).

Final Steps to Get Approved

You now have the complete roadmap to meet Amazon Relay’s insurance requirements. 

Before you submit your application, run through this final go-live checklist to ensure a smooth Amazon Relay approval without insurance verification delays.

• The Big Five are secured: all mandatory insurance policies with correct limits.

• Critical details covered: Auto Liability includes $50K trailer replacement, and your insurer has at least an A- rating from A.M. Best.

• Safety prerequisites met: DOT authority active 180+ days, BASICs scores below Amazon’s thresholds.

  
  

Even with everything in place, many carriers face insurance verification delays due to minor errors in COI submission. A rejected certificate can stall your Amazon Relay approval for weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the minimum insurance requirements for Amazon Relay?

You need five policies: Commercial General Liability ($1M/$2M), Auto Liability ($1M), Motor Truck Cargo ($100K), Workers’ Comp (per state law), and Employer Liability ($100K).

2. How long must my authority be active?

Your DOT number must have active interstate authority for at least 180 days before approval.

3. How long does the application take?

Typically 1–3 weeks. Delays often come from incorrect insurance documentation.

4. Do I need insurance for my own truck?

Amazon doesn’t require Physical Damage insurance, but it’s highly recommended to protect your truck.

5. Why $50K trailer coverage?

Amazon’s loads are often power-only. This coverage protects their trailers while in your possession.

6. Can I send my own insurance documents?

No. Your insurance agent must send your COI directly to RMIS.