Commercial auto insurance covers legal bills, medical expenses, and property damage if a business vehicle is involved in an accident.
If your company owns a car or any other type of road vehicle, you will very likely need commercial auto insurance. Almost every state requires commercial auto insurance coverage for business-owned vehicles, with mandatory liability limits for damage coverage.
You can rely on commercial auto insurance for financial protection if you or an employee needs medical care or faces legal expenses due to an automobile accident. If you don’t carry commercial vehicle insurance, your business will be responsible for any medical bills and legal fees, which can get expensive.
Almost every state mandates commercial auto insurance coverage for business-owned vehicles, with New Hampshire being the only state where commercial car insurance isn’t required.
However, all states do require the ability to compensate someone if you or an employee is at fault in an accident.
Even when business auto insurance coverage isn’t required, it’s still a smart choice. Without it, you could end up paying thousands of dollars in medical bills and other costs. This is because your private insurance won't cover you in the event of a work-related accident.
Commercial auto insurance helps cover medical payments and property damage related to an accident. This coverage includes legal expenses if you’re sued. A policy may also cover vehicle theft, vandalism, and other losses and damages.
Specifically, commercial auto insurance coverage includes:
Commercial auto insurance includes property damage liability coverage that helps pay for damages in an accident you caused. That could include:
Commercial auto insurance policies that include medical payments, or bodily injury liability, coverage can pay for:
This coverage is available regardless of who caused the accident.
Commercial automobile insurance protects against vehicle theft and physical damage, as well as provides comprehensive coverage for non-collision damages, such as:
About one in eight drivers in the United States are uninsured, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). When they cause accidents, the uninsured or underinsured might not be able to pay for damages.
Your policy's uninsured motorist coverage makes sure your business doesn’t have to pay for the resulting medical expenses or vehicle repairs.
Commercial auto insurance costs an average of $147 per month. 37% of Insureon small business customers pay less than $100 per month for their premiums.
Your cost is calculated based on a number of factors, including:
Commercial auto insurance benefits a variety of industries that utilize business vehicles, including cars, trucks, SUVs, and more. It is designed for both businesses and independent contractors who need a company vehicle in order to operate their business.
However, there are a few specific professions that need commercial auto coverage options more often than others. Consider the following industries and examples:
An HVAC installation employee rear-ends a sports car while driving your construction or installation business’s truck. The accident is the employee’s fault.
Your business’s commercial auto insurance policy can cover the cost of repairing the sports car. It can also cover the other driver’s medical expenses for injuries sustained in the crash.
A consultant at your IT consulting company is driving to a client’s home when another driver runs a stop sign and hits your company car. The other driver accidentally let his insurance policy lapse and is not insured.
Your company car policy can pay for the damage to your car caused by the uninsured driver.
A janitor gets into an accident while driving a cleaning company's van to a client's office. No one is seriously injured, but the janitor is brought by ambulance to a local hospital and given X-rays.
The cleaning company's commercial auto insurance policy pays for the ambulance ride and medical treatment.
A tree uprooted by a windstorm falls on a lawn care company’s truck and breaks the windshield. The lawn care business’s commercial auto insurance policy pays for a replacement windshield.
Don't see your profession? Don't worry. We insure most businesses.
Are we a drama free bakery? Umm...What? What drama?
Direct hit!
You never really know what will happen. (screaming)
I deliver pastries, and pastry-like items. All these cupcakes aren't going to deliver themselves.
Don't worry, you have commercial auto insurance. You're covered!
Who put that pole there?
Less drama, more treats! Get all the coverage your business needs by clicking this button.
Protection is peace of mind...and a piece of cake.
Complete our easy online insurance application to get free quotes. Insureon's expert insurance agents can help you choose the best commercial auto coverage that meets the needs and budget of your small business.
Your business can acquire business vehicle insurance through a standalone policy, or have it added as an endorsement to a commercial package policy.
From California to New York and everywhere in between, learn more about how to get commercial auto coverage for your business.
Commercial auto insurance does not cover leased or personal vehicles used for business purposes. However, your business can still be held accountable if an employee gets into an accident in a personal or leased vehicle.
Hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) insurance is the appropriate policy for vehicles that your business uses but does not own. This policy will provide protection for employees who drive their own or leased cars for work purposes, such as traveling to and from job sites.
In addition, lease gap insurance is an endorsement you can add to your commercial auto policy that covers the total loss of a leased or financed vehicle.
Another endorsement to consider is drive other car insurance, which covers non-owned vehicles that employees or executives may rent or borrow.
If you purchase a business vehicle and it's not yet covered by your commercial auto insurance policy, you would be responsible for any liabilities that may occur to the vehicle.
In order to protect any recently purchased business vehicles, you should get any auto liability insurance, which offers a temporary extension of your commercial auto coverage. It can also cover any hired and non-owned vehicles that you use for your business.
If your business is storing or performing service on a customer's vehicle, it is not covered under your commercial auto insurance. If something were to happen to your customer's vehicle, such as damage from a break-in, you would be responsible for repair and other related expenses.
Garage keepers liability coverage would insure your customer's automobiles while it is in your care, custody and control.
If you have a garage-based or auto service business, your commercial auto insurance policy does not protect against common garage operation risks, such as a customer slipping and falling on leaked motor oil.
Garage liability insurance is a type of general liability insurance that covers the many risks associated with automotive business operations. This includes customer injuries and legal costs from lawsuits.
Review answers for frequently asked questions about commercial auto insurance
While both policies offer personal injury protection, commercial auto insurance policies are designed for company cars that cover a lot of ground. Policies typically have higher coverage limits to account for the increased risk.
Personal auto insurance policies only cover claims related to personal use, including your commute and travel unrelated to work. They have lower limits and usually cost less.
If you’re involved in an accident while driving your personal car for work, your insurance company might refuse your claim. That’s why independent contractors or sole proprietors who own a car used for work should consider commercial auto insurance or HNOA.
If you’re uncertain which policy you need, check with an insurance agent.
Read more about the difference between personal and commercial auto insurance.
Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicles from accidents involving objects, such as a telephone pole. Comprehensive coverage is for damage caused by something other than a collision, such as fire, natural disasters, falling tree limbs, or hitting an animal.
Your policy may have different coverage amounts for collision and comprehensive.
Commercial auto coverage protects your business, you, and your employees if they own, lease, or rent vehicles for business purposes.
This coverage also generally extends to:
If you want to learn more about this type of business policy, you can find additional answers in our frequently asked questions about commercial auto insurance.
If you have any additional questions about auto coverage or other small business insurance options, you can also contact an Insureon agent and get a free commercial auto insurance quote.
Commercial auto insurance is required in most states for small businesses that have company-owned vehicles. However, it can get costly depending on your risk factors, such as your driving history. Learn how you can pay less for auto insurance and still get the protection your business needs.