Commercial auto insurance in Montana

Any Montana company that uses vehicles for business purposes must insure them appropriately. Commercial auto insurance covers vehicles owned by your business. If your business-owned vehicle was involved in an accident, it would help pay for medical bills, legal fees, and other related expenses.

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.

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.

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.

However, this type of insurance will not cover damage to the vehicle used by your business.

You could also consider a business auto policy (BAP), which is more expansive than standard commercial auto. A BAP would cover your business if you or your employees are at fault for an accident during a work-related errand. It covers vehicles owned by the business as well as rented, leased, and personal vehicles.

Your business could be in legal and financial jeopardy without commercial auto insurance coverage. In Montana, 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 Montana is considered a misdemeanor and could result in a fine between $250 to $500, or up to 10 days of imprisonment.

Montana state law stipulates that all vehicles are required to have a minimum amount of auto liability insurance coverage, whether they’re for personal or business use.

Montana's insurance requirements are:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $20,000 property damage liability per accident

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

Semi-trucks, utility trailers, cargo trailers, and other vehicles with a Montana 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.

Insureon makes it easy for Montana business owners to get affordable commercial auto insurance.

Complete one easy application to review quotes specific to your business and industry from leading U.S. insurance companies.

You can speak to one of Insureon's licensed insurance agents if you have any questions about auto insurance and other popular insurance policies, such as general liability and workers' compensation.

Once you pick the right policies for your small business, you can pay for your coverage and receive a certificate of insurance. Policyholders often begin coverage within 24 hours.