What insurance does a tow truck business need in New York?

At minimum, commercial auto liability at New York'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 New York City require more than the state?

Yes — NYC’s DCWP tow company license adds its own layer: $200,000/$500,000/$50,000 split limits or a $1,000,000 CSL, on top of the statewide $300,000 CSL floor.

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

Tow Truck Insurance in New York

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

Required? Yes Trigger: 1+ employees

New York’s statewide floor is a $300,000 combined single limit for tow trucks — and New York City adds its own DCWP licensing layer on top.

New York state minimums

Verified from state law

Auto liability

Statewide floor: tow-truck owner's/motor-vehicle liability policy must provide a combined single limit of at least $300,000 per accident for bodily injury/death/property damage

NYC (DCWP tow company license): $200,000 injury/death per person / $500,000 per accident / $50,000 property damage, OR $1,000,000 combined single limit

On-hook (in-tow)

Statewide: $25,000 for damage to a vehicle in the care, custody and control of the insured

NYC DCWP: same $25,000 — stated as 'on hook' coverage under the $1,000,000 CSL option and as care/custody/control under the split-limits option

Filings

No Form E for tow operators

Statewide: proof of financial security under VTL Article 6 — owner's policy, certificate of insurance, financial security bond, deposit, or self-insurer qualification

NYC DCWP: proof of insurance at licensing — certificate of liability insurance from the insurer within 30 days, or policy declarations page within 60 days, or broker certificate within 30 days + notarized Certification by Insurance Broker or Agent

Notice to DCWP within 10 days if the policy is cancelled, expires, or is terminated

Law: VTL § 311(4)(a), § 345(b)(3); NYC Admin. Code § 20-500 · VTL § 311(4)(a), § 345(b)(3) · VTL § 311(3), (5)

Weight / class variation: Statewide VTL floor applies to all tow trucks; NYC DCWP adds its own licensing layer on top. The NYC split-limits option (200/500/50) vs. the state $300,000 CSL floor is a harmonization question — both layers reported as written.

How we verified these numbers ▸

Statewide tow-truck minimum exists in VTL § 311(4)(a) and § 345(b)(3): $300,000 CSL + $25,000 care/custody/control. NYC DCWP (Admin. Code § 20-500) adds its own licensing layer: 200/500/50 + $25,000 CCC, or $1,000,000 CSL + $25,000 on-hook. No state or NYC garagekeepers or cargo minimum; local ordinances set their own (e.g., Brookhaven, North Hempstead, Lloyd). NYSDOT divisible-load overweight permit insurance ($750k/$250k or $1M CSL) is permit-specific only. Verified 2026-10-14: all fields resolved (figure or confirmed absence).

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Workers’ comp in New York

Required?

Yes

Trigger

1+ employees

State fund only?

Independent-contractor test: Hybrid — industry-specific statutory presumptions + Board guidance. WCL § 2(4) folds in Labor Law § 861-c (construction) and § 862-b (commercial goods transportation). Board applies three tracks: Construction Fair Play Act, Commercial Goods Transportation Fair Play Act, and "all other industries."

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 New York →

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 New York

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

New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Connecticut · Massachusetts · Vermont

All 50 states →

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.