Commercial auto insurance covers legal fees and other expenses if a business-owned vehicle is involved in an accident. It's required for all commercial vehicles in Idaho.
Any Idaho company that uses vehicles for business purposes must insure them appropriately. Commercial auto insurance covers vehicles owned by your business.
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 company cars.
Your business could be in legal and financial jeopardy without commercial auto insurance coverage. In Idaho, 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 auto insurance. Driving without insurance in Idaho could result in a fine of at least $75, as well as a suspension of driver's license.
All vehicles in the state of Idaho are required to have a minimum amount of auto liability insurance coverage, whether they’re for personal or business use. The Idaho commercial auto insurance requirements are:
Your insurance agency might recommend higher liability coverage limits based on the types of vehicles you own and how they’re used.
Idaho state laws have additional liability coverage requirements for semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, and other vehicles with an Idaho Department of Transportation serial number, 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.
Your cost is based on a few factors, including:
Commercial auto insurance costs an average of $101 per month. 37% of Insureon small business customers pay less than $100 per month for their policies.
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.
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.
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. However, this type of insurance will not cover damage to the vehicle used by your business.
You could also cover your vehicles through a business auto policy. It’s a type of commercial auto overage that would insure all vehicles used by your business, whether they’re owned by the business, leased, or owned by your employees.
While every Idaho business owner must meet the minimum requirements for business auto insurance, this mandate only applies to liability coverage. This can protect you if one of your vehicles causes an accident, but it does not insure you against a mishap caused by someone else.
It’s worth considering these other commercial auto coverage options to make sure you’re fully protected:
Need help choosing the right insurance policies for your business? Answer three questions and we can help you find the most affordable coverage.
Complete Insureon’s easy online application and get a free quote today on Idaho business insurance from top-rated U.S. insurance companies. You can also consult with a licensed insurance agent on the types of business insurance coverage you need. Once you find the types of coverage for your small business, you can begin coverage in less than 24 hours.