Integration Checklist
Before you start building, here’s what you’ll need — both from Cover Whale and from the insured (the trucking company applying for insurance).From Cover Whale
API credentials
A username and password issued by Cover Whale. Contact api-support@coverwhale.com to request access.
Base URL
Production and test environments have separate base URLs. See Base URL for both endpoints and how to switch between them.
This documentation
You’re here. The Quickstart walks through the full flow end-to-end.
From the Insured
This is the data you’ll need to collect from the trucking company to get a quote. The more you provide, the more accurate the pricing.Minimum for an Indication (preliminary pricing)
| Data | Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DOT number | insuredInformation.dotNumber | The USDOT number assigned by FMCSA. Every commercial carrier has one. |
| Legal business name | insuredInformation.legalName | As registered with FMCSA |
| Years in business | insuredInformation.yearsInBusiness | Under current ownership |
| Garage state & zip | garageAddress.garageState, .garageZip | Where vehicles are primarily kept |
| Mailing state & zip | mailingAddress.mailingState, .mailingZip | Business mailing address |
| Number of trucks | limits.nbrOfTrucks | Power units in the fleet |
| Total truck value | limits.valueOfTrucks | Combined value of all power units |
| Effective date | coverage.effectiveDate | When coverage should start (MM/DD/YYYY) |
Additional for a Full Quote (binding-eligible pricing)
| Data | Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full addresses | garageAddress.*, mailingAddress.* | Street, city, state, zip, county for both |
| Vehicle details | vehicles[] | Year, make, model, VIN, value, class for each truck |
| Driver details | drivers[] | Name, DOB, license state/number, years experience for each driver |
| Coverage selections | coverage.requestAl, etc. | Which coverage lines to quote (AL, APD, MTC, TGL, NTL) |
| Liability limit | limits.limitAutoLiability | Typically $1,000,000 |
For Binding (converting a quote to an active policy)
| Data | Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage selections | coverage.includeAL, etc. | Which quoted lines to bind |
| Broker fees | coverage.brokerFeeAL, etc. | Your service fee per coverage line |
| Insured email | bindingMethod.insuredEmail | For e-signature and policy documents |
| Insured full name | bindingMethod.insuredFullName | For signature |
| Shipping address | shippingAddress.* | For dashcam delivery (if applicable) |
Key Concepts for Developers
If you’re new to insurance integrations, here are the domain concepts you’ll encounter:| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| DOT number | A unique identifier assigned to commercial carriers by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Think of it as the “company ID” for trucking businesses. |
| Indication | A preliminary price estimate based on minimal data. Not bindable — used for screening. |
| Quote | A formal price offer with exact premiums. Can be bound into a policy. |
| Binding | Converting a quote into an active insurance policy. Once bound, coverage is in effect. |
| Submission | The application record that tracks the entire lifecycle from quote request through active policy. |
| Display ID | The submission’s primary identifier. You’ll use this in most API calls. |
| Transaction ID | Identifies a specific version of a submission. Endorsements and renewals create new transactions. |
| Endorsement | A modification to an active policy (e.g., adding a vehicle, changing coverage). |
| AL / APD / MTC / TGL / NTL | The five coverage lines. See the coverage types table for descriptions. |