What insurance does a tow truck business need in Montana?

At minimum, commercial auto liability at Montana's floor (see the minimums above), plus on-hook where required. If you store vehicles or run police rotation, add garagekeepers. Employees mean workers' comp.

Does Montana require both garagekeepers and on-hook coverage?

No — the statute requires garagekeepers legal liability insurance OR on-hook liability insurance, an alternative, not both, at $50,000. Liability tiers by class: $300,000 Class A, $500,000 Class B, $750,000 Class C.

No. This page is informational only — not legal advice or a quote.

Tow Truck Insurance in Montana

Q: Is workers' comp required for tow truck companies in Montana?

Required? Yes Trigger: 1+ employees

Montana has a tow-specific statute that tiers liability by wrecker class: $300,000 Class A, $500,000 Class B, $750,000 Class C. It also requires $50,000 garagekeepers legal liability OR on-hook liability — an alternative, not both — plus $20,000 cargo.

Montana state minimums

Verified from state law

Auto liability — $300,000 Class A

$500,000 Class B; $750,000 Class C — liability for bodily injury/death/property damage from maintenance/use of tow truck or on business premises (MCA § 61-8-906(1)(a))

On-hook (in-tow) — $50,000 — statute requires garage keepers legal liability insurance OR on-hook liability insurance (alternative, not both)

Garagekeepers — $50,000 — statute requires garage keepers legal liability insurance OR on-hook liability insurance (alternative, not both)

Cargo

$20,000 for damage to cargo or other property entrusted to the care of the operator

Filings — Proof of insurance to the department (MCA § 61-8-906(2))

no form specified in statute

Law: MCA § 61-8-906(1)(b)

Weight / class variation: Class A / B / C tow trucks (classes defined in MCA §§ 61-8-905 / 61-9-416; class definitions not pulled)

How we verified these numbers ▸

Tow-specific statute; all amounts verified from official Montana Code Annotated.

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Workers’ comp in Montana

Required?

Yes

Trigger

1+ employees

State fund only?

Independent-contractor test: Statutory 2-prong test ("A & C" style) — MCA § 39-71-120. SAME test across programs via the unified Independent Contractor Central Unit (ICCU) / exemption-certificate system: ARM 24.35.203 makes an ICEC conclusive for WC, UI, wage-and-hour, and income tax alike.

Not required doesn’t mean not liable: if you don’t carry workers’ comp — even where it isn’t required for you — an injured worker may be able to sue you in court instead of being limited to comp benefits, because the exclusive-remedy shield generally depends on having coverage.

See the full workers’ comp detail for Montana →

What coverage do you need?

Minimums are the legal floor, not a recommendation — most operators carry more. Your operation (light-duty, heavy-duty, repo, rotation, motor club) decides which coverages fit. Take the coverage quiz →

Police rotation in Montana

Rotation is a local contract, not state law. Rotation agreements commonly require auto liability around $1,000,000 CSL, on-hook/cargo $50,000–$100,000, garagekeepers $50,000–$500,000, and the agency named as additional insured — check your agency’s agreement for its exact terms. Rotation readiness checklist →

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Nearby states

North Dakota · South Dakota · Wyoming · Idaho

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More tools: state requirements lookup · workers’ comp lookup · coverage quiz · fuel cost calculator · rotation checklist

Sources

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Informational only — not legal advice and not a quote. Requirements change — confirm the exact limits with your state DOT / public utilities commission and your rotation agreement before you buy. Minimums are the legal floor, not a recommendation — most operators carry more.