What is the BIPD filing for FMCSA authority?
BIPD stands for Bodily Injury and Property Damage — the financial-responsibility filing required under 49 CFR Part 387. For property carriers, this is the BMC-91 (cargo and auto liability) or BMC-91X (auto liability only). The BIPD filing demonstrates that the carrier has at least the federal-minimum primary auto liability coverage in place.
The federal-minimum primary auto-liability coverage for general-freight carriers is $750,000 under 49 CFR §387.7. Hazmat carriers face higher minimums under §387.9 ($1M to $5M depending on cargo class). Passenger carriers are governed by §387.33 ($1.5M for ≤16 passengers, $5M for 17+).
The BIPD filing is filed by the carrier's insurer, not by the carrier directly. The insurer files Form BMC-91 (or 91X) electronically through FMCSA L&I once the policy is in place. The L&I record then shows the carrier as having active financial-responsibility coverage.
BIPD on file is one of the three things required for new-authority activation inside the 21-day vetting window. Missing BIPD is the second-most-common reason a new MC does not activate at day 21 (the first is missing BOC-3). The carrier coordinates with their insurer to ensure the policy is bound and the BMC-91 is filed before day 21.
Maintenance after activation is the carrier's responsibility. Lapsed insurance triggers an FMCSA suspension — the BMC-91 is automatically removed when the insurer notifies FMCSA the policy is canceled or non-renewed, and the carrier's SAFER status flips to NOT AUTHORIZED.