State laws for commercial auto insurance

Every state except for New Hampshire requires commercial auto insurance for business-owned vehicles, and all states require the ability to compensate someone if you or an employee are at fault in an accident. If you use a personal vehicle for work, your private insurance won’t cover you in the event of a work-related accident.

If your business owns vehicles, a commercial auto insurance policy can offer you the same kind of financial protection that you receive from your personal auto insurance. It’s required in most states, and it makes financial sense for business owners to insure their vehicles.

This is especially true for companies that rely on vehicles for a majority of their business. Delivery drivers and couriers, trucking companies, landscapers, motor carriers, and food trucks should make sure they have commercial auto coverage.

A commercial auto policy offers liability protection when you or an employee gets into an accident while driving a company vehicle. It can pay for any property damage or injuries caused by your business vehicle, as well as legal expenses. It can also cover medical expenses for yourself or an employee in a work vehicle accident.

Businesses that move people or goods across state lines are subject to both state and federal auto insurance laws, which mandate coverage based on the vehicle's weight, number of passengers, and type of goods transported.

The required types of coverage and the minimum liability limits differ according to the insurance laws in each state. It's a good idea to buy coverage beyond the minimum, as lawsuits can be extremely expensive.

You might also consider collision coverage, which pays for damage to your own vehicle in an accident. Comprehensive coverage goes beyond this, with coverage for theft, weather damage, falling tree limbs, and other hazards.

Another coverage to consider is personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, which is an add-on to your commercial auto policy that helps provide medical payments (MedPay) coverage after a car accident, regardless of who was at fault. State laws determine whether PIP coverage is required. State laws determine whether PIP coverage is required.

It’s also worth paying attention to your deductible, any exclusions within your policy, and other options such as towing and vehicle rental after an accident.

Commercial auto covers both auto liability (if you’re sued for bodily injury or property damage) and physical damage or loss caused by accidents, theft, vandalism, and storms. Most policies have a split limit, which means different limits for bodily injury, property damage liability, and property damage.

Combined single limit (CSL) policies have one limit that is the maximum for both bodily injury and property damage liability combined. CSL policies have a higher premium and are more common for truckers or larger businesses with more assets to protect.

If you or your employees use any personal, leased, or rented vehicles for work, you need hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA) because your personal or commercial auto insurance wouldn’t cover any accidents that happen during work-related activities.

Your personal auto insurance company covers your vehicle use only during personal activities or driving to and from work. Your personal auto insurance policy doesn’t cover any accidents connected directly to your business operation.

Commercial auto insurance covers vehicles that your business owns, but not any vehicles that you rent or lease for work.

Consider what would happen if you or an employee were in an accident while making deliveries in your own car. You’d be on the hook for any damages, medical expenses, or lawsuits that result from the accident.

You can buy HNOA coverage separately, but many businesses obtain this as an add-on to their general liability insurance, usually at a lower rate than buying the two policies separately.

If you, your covered drivers, or business materials across state lines, your state insurance travels along with you. In many instances, if the insurance limits in the state where the car is registered are less than the state limits where you'll be driving, your insurance carrier will cover the difference to match these limits so that you will meet the other state's legal requirements.

However, some states do have interstate coverage requirements that you must meet in order for your covered drivers or business materials to cross state borders. It is best to try and stay within your coverage zone as outlined by your state laws, or consult an Insureon agent or carrier to help determine the right coverage limits for your business.

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