Cheap commercial auto insurance

Each state regulates commercial auto insurance differently, so it’s important to know the requirements for your location.

Every state, except New Hampshire and Virginia, requires commercial auto insurance coverage for business vehicles. Additionally, all states require you to prove your ability to compensate someone if you or an employee is at fault in an accident.

In addition, depending on the state you operate in, personal injury protection (PIP) insurance may be required. This coverage can often be added your commercial auto policy.

In most cases, if you use a personal vehicle for business purposes outside a commute, a personal auto insurance policy won’t cover you in the event of a work-related accident.

Insurance carriers often offer different types of coverage options with a wide range of prices. And while you could reach out to each auto insurance company directly to ask for quotes on their business auto insurance policies, there’s an easier, faster way.

You can work with a digital insurance agency—like Insureon—to get commercial auto quotes from top-rated providers, such as The Hartford and Chubb, with a single online application.

Insureon's licensed insurance agents are available to help you customize a policy for your business's unique needs, making sure you meet state laws and your profession's requirements.

Plus, an experienced agent can help you set appropriate limits and let you know which add-ons you can safely skip. Without expert help, you might not know if the policy provides too much coverage, or not enough.

Once you select the commercial auto insurance policy you need, you can get coverage and a certificate of insurance (COI) in less than 24 hours.

Your driving history is one of the biggest factors that impacts the cost of your commercial auto insurance premium. Even a tiny infraction can significantly increase your rate. By keeping a clean driving record for you and your employees, your insurance rates can remain at an affordable price.

Beyond an accident-free driving record, maintaining your business cars helps manage the risks you or your employees face when operating the vehicle. Staying on top of the maintenance and service schedules, as well as properly cleaning them, will provide a safer work area for vehicle operators.

Additionally, make sure to share tips for safe driving with your employees, such as avoiding calls and texts while on the road.

Though it may not be the primary factor, small business owners in certain states can expect to pay less for commercial auto insurance than others.

Here are some states where commercial auto insurance costs are lower than average:

In addition to your location, your industry can affect how much you pay for commercial auto insurance. Generally speaking, industries that use their business vehicles frequently or travel to dangerous job sites can expect to pay a higher premium.

For example, an HVAC installer who carries valuable inventory in their truck or a construction company that travels to dangerous work areas will likely pay more for their commercial auto insurance coverage than a graphic designer who works from a home office.

Among Insureon customers, industries such as auto services, media and advertising, and wholesalers tend to pay less compared to more on-the-road industries like landscaping and installation professionals.

Here's a look at commercial auto insurance costs for different types of business professions:

Commercial auto coverage protects vehicles owned by your business, but it does not provide complete auto protection.

For instance, some exclusions include:

Hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA) is the appropriate policy for vehicles your business uses but doesn't own. This includes leased, rented, and personal vehicles.

If your business is storing, transporting, or performing service on a customer's motor vehicle, like a towing company or repair shop, it would not be covered under your commercial auto insurance.

In this case, you should consider garage liability insurance to insure customer vehicles while they’re in your care, custody and control.

If you run a courier, delivery, or transport service, you need to make sure you’re financially protected beyond your personal use car insurance, which most likely doesn’t include food delivery or rideshare coverage.

While commercial car insurance helps cover your company-owned vehicles, you’ll likely need other types of insurance to fully protect your business.

You may also need the following small business insurance policies:

General liability insurance: This covers common business risks like customer bodily injuries, damage to a customer’s property, and advertising injuries.

Business owner’s policy (BOP): A business owner's policy bundles general liability insurance with commercial property insurance to protect against liability claims and property damage. It generally costs less than buying these two policies separately.

Professional liability insurance: Also known as errors and omissions insurance (E&O), this policy covers the cost of client lawsuits over unsatisfactory work. Many states require that you hold professional liability coverage before you can submit your application for certain professional licenses.

Workers’ compensation insurance: Workers' comp is required in almost every state for businesses that have employees. It covers medical expenses for work injuries, which are not often covered by regular health insurance.

Cyber insurance: This policy helps small businesses recover financially from data breaches and cyberattacks. It's recommended for any business that handles credit cards or other personal information.

Complete Insureon’s easy online application today to find affordable commercial auto insurance coverage from top-rated U.S. companies. You can also consult with an insurance agent on your business insurance needs, including finding affordable workers’ comp and E&O policies.

Once you find the right types of insurance for your small business, you can begin coverage and receive your certificate of insurance in less than 24 hours.