Commercial auto insurance in Georgia

Any Georgia company, from Atlanta to Macon, that uses vehicles for business purposes must insure them appropriately. Commercial auto insurance covers vehicles owned by your business, while hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA) covers personal, rented, and leased vehicles used by your 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 would cover you and your personal vehicle in case you’re at fault for an accident during a work-related errand.

Any vehicles you own solely for work purposes must be covered by a commercial auto policy, whether you own a landscaping pickup, a food truck, or a fleet of vehicles.

Your business could be in legal and financial jeopardy without commercial auto insurance coverage. In Georgia, all vehicles are required to carry auto liability insurance.

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

Additionally, you could face severe penalties for not carrying commercial auto insurance. Driving without insurance is considered a misdemeanor, and could result in paying a lapse fee of $25 and a reinstatement fee of $60. Depending on the circumstances, this can also result in a suspension of license and registration for 60 days until proof of a six-month insurance policy is presented, and could land the offender in jail for up to 12 months.

All vehicles in the state of Georgia are required to have a minimum amount of auto liability insurance coverage, whether they’re for personal or business use. Georgia's insurance requirements (coverage limits) are:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $25,000 property damage liability per accident

Your insurance agency might recommend higher physical damage coverage, or personal injury protection (PIP) limits, based on your type of business, the types of vehicles you own, and how they’re used.

Semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, and other vehicles with a U.S. Department of Transportation of Georgia serial number will have additional liability coverage requirements, depending on the type of vehicle and how it’s used.

You can see if your business needs these additional requirements 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 personal auto policy wouldn’t cover you in the case of an accident. 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 compare commercial auto insurance quotes and premiums from top-rated U.S. insurance companies. You can also consult with a licensed insurance agent on all your business insurance needs. Once you find the right policies for your small business, you can begin coverage in less than 24 hours.