How many cars can I haul?

Zero. Unless you are buying them for resale and you are the dealer.

 

Yes, unless he owns the truck and you work for him, and even then he would be a private fleet and still need insurance just not cargi.

You moving anything for someone else and getting paid to do it, even a friend, makes you a for-hire motor carrier and all the rules apply. Technically, the FMCSA (DOT agency that regulates trucking companies) only requires a minimum of $5,000 in cargo BUT that will not cover most any cars you may haul for a dealer and no broker is going to load you with that low of insurance.

Now, as a motor carrier transporting cars the FMCSA also requires a minimum of $1 million public liability, and this applies to for-hire or private fleets if you engage in interstate commerce.

So, if you want to haul cars from an auction to your friend's dealership legally then you will need both $1 million in public liability and cargonof at least $5,000 so you can obtain your USDOT and MC numbers. There is much more but these are the basics needed just to think about hauling cars for hire.

 

Price insurance before buying any equipment, most new companies are getting quotes of $15,000 up to $25,000 for the first year, and very few insurers will cover car hauling.

 

This is the best and safest way.