Save Thousands on Trucking Insurance With Address Tip: Garaging vs. Physical Address

If your trucks don’t live at your office—make sure your insurance policy knows where they really are.

When it comes to commercial trucking insurance, one simple detail can save your company thousands—or cost you everything if handled incorrectly. That detail is the difference between your physical address and your garaging address.

If you follow our content regularly, you will know by know that it’s all about: location, location, location.

The problem is that too often, carriers list their SAFER physical address (the official address tied to their FMCSA record) when getting insurance quotes. But for insurance underwriting, what really matters is the garaging zip code—where your trucks actually sit when they’re not on the road.

If you don’t get this right, the consequences can be severe:

• You could end up overpaying thousands per year in premiums.
• Worse, if there’s an accident or claim, your insurance company could deny coverage if your policy lists the wrong address.

Let’s break down why this matters and how to protect your business.

What Is a Garaging Address?

Your garaging address is simply where your vehicle is stored when not in use.

• If you’re home every night, it’s your home address.
• If you keep your truck in a yard, lot, or storage facility, that’s your garaging location.
• If you operate in multiple locations, the garaging address is the place your truck spends the most time.

It’s not about your company’s mailing address or the official business address tied to FMCSA records—it’s about where your trucks actually live.

Related: Is Your MCS-150 Hurting Your Trucking Company’s Insurance Premiums?

Why Do Insurance Companies Care?

Insurance companies base premiums on risk factors tied to location, such as:

• Traffic volume (urban areas = more accidents)
• Accident severity (high-speed freeway vs. rural backroads)
• Theft and vandalism risks (higher in metro areas)
• Repair and labor costs (city shops usually charge more)
• Access to medical care for injury claims

For example: a truck garaged in a busy metro area will face significantly higher premiums than the same truck garaged in a rural town—because the risks are higher.

That’s why your garaging address plays such a huge role in determining your rates.

Why Using the Wrong Address Can Cost You

Here’s where many carriers get tripped up:

• If you use your SAFER physical address for your insurance quote instead of the true garaging address, your rates may look lower with one agent versus another.
• But that’s comparing apples to oranges—and could leave you dangerously underinsured.
• If a claim is filed and the insurer discovers your trucks are not actually garaged at the listed address, the claim could be denied outright.

This isn’t just about accuracy—it’s about protecting your company’s financial future.

The Dangers of “Garaging Fraud”

Some carriers are tempted to fudge garaging addresses to get cheaper premiums. But insurers are cracking down hard.

With modern underwriting tools, it’s easier than ever for insurance companies to spot inconsistencies.

In one case, over 400 trucks from 170 companies all claimed to garage at the same truck stop—one that only had space for 30 trucks. Investigators quickly flagged the fraud, uncovering rate manipulation worth up to $40,000 per truck, per year.

The lesson: be honest. Fraud not only risks denial of coverage but can also lead to fines and legal consequences.

How to Protect Your Business and Save Thousands

1. Always list your true garaging address for each truck—not just your company’s physical or mailing address.
2. Compare quotes carefully. When evaluating multiple agents, make sure the garaging address listed on each quote is the same, so you’re comparing apples to apples.
3. Update your insurer if garaging changes. Moving trucks to a new facility, yard, or state without notifying your insurer could cause gaps in coverage.
4. Work with a specialist. A CNS Insurance, our commercial trucking insurance specialists can shop multiple insurers on your behalf and ensure your garaging details are correct.

Working with CNS Insurance

At CNS Insurance, we help carriers avoid these costly mistakes and ensure they’re properly protected at the best possible rates.

Want to see if you’re paying too much—or worse, not covered correctly?

Fill out a complete quote or quick quote to get started.

Have more questions? Call us today at 800.724.5523 or email info@cnsinsures.com.