Commercial auto insurance in Florida

Any Florida company that uses vehicles for business purposes must have commercial vehicle insurance, whether it’s the owner’s personal vehicle or a fleet of SUVs owned by the business.

Your personal auto insurance policy covers you while driving to and from work, but not while making deliveries, picking up supplies, and other work-specific uses. A business auto policy covers all vehicles that your business uses, whether they’re owned by your business, leased, or owned by the employees.

Any vehicles you own solely for work purposes must be covered by a commercial auto policy, whether you own a single pickup truck, a food truck, or a fleet of semi-trucks and tractor trailers.

Your business could be in legal and financial jeopardy without commercial auto insurance coverage. State laws in Florida require any business that has its own vehicles to at least carry auto liability insurance.

If one of your business vehicles is at fault in an accident with a bodily injury, you could face an expensive lawsuit or settlement. You’d likely have to pay for damage to the other vehicle or property, medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, plus other related costs.

Additionally, you could face severe penalties for not owning commercial auto insurance. If you are cited for being a uninsured motorist, you may have your license suspended for up to three years and need to pay over $150 for a reinstatement fee, if proof is not provided in time. For a repeat offense, the reinstatement fee can reach up to $500.

All vehicles in Florida are required to have a minimum amount of auto liability insurance coverage, whether they’re for personal or business use: $10,000 in property damage liability and $10,000 in personal injury liability protection (PIP).

PIP helps provide medical payments coverage after a car accident, regardless of who was at fault. Your insurance agency might recommend higher liability coverage limits based on the types of vehicles you own and how they’re used.

Semi-trucks and other vehicles with a U.S. Department of Transportation of Florida serial number may have additional liability coverage requirements, depending on the type of vehicle and how it’s used. You can see if your business needs additional coverage by checking your USDOT number or docket number with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

If you’re using your own vehicle for work-specific activities, your regular car insurance wouldn’t cover you in the case of an accident. It covers you while driving to and from work, but not work-related errands. That’s why many small business owners purchase hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA). This liability policy covers accidents in personal, leased, and rented vehicles used for work purposes.

If you or an employee gets into an accident while driving a personal car for a work errand, your HNOA coverage would help pay for any claims or lawsuits against your business. It’s worth noting that this would not cover damage to the vehicle used by your business.

Complete Insureon’s easy online application today to get commercial auto insurance quotes from top-rated U.S. insurance companies and compare premiums. You can also consult with a licensed insurance agent on your business insurance needs. Once you find the right policies for your small business, you can begin coverage in less than 24 hours.