Commercial auto insurance in Massachusetts

Any Massachusetts company, from Boston to Cambridge, 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 Massachusetts, 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 could result in a fine of up to $5,000 in Massachusetts, imprisonment of up to a year, or both. The state will also suspend your license for 60 days.

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

• $20,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $40,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $8,000 personal injury protection
• $5,000 property damage liability per accident
• $20,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
• $40,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident

Your insurance agency might recommend higher liability coverage limits based on the types of vehicles you own and how they’re used.

In addition, personal injury protection (PIP) insurance is required in Massachusetts. This add-on coverage helps provide medical payments coverage after a car accident, regardless of who was at fault, and is mandated as part of the state's minimum vehicle insurance requirements.

Semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, and other vehicles with a Massachusetts Department of Transportation 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.

Insureon makes it easy for business owners to get affordable Massachusetts commercial auto insurance. Complete one easy application to review quotes specific to your business and industry from leading U.S. insurers. Start an application for a commercial auto insurance quote today.