Commercial auto insurance is designed for vehicles used in connection with a business or organization. It can provide liability protection for covered accidents and physical damage protection for insured vehicles.
Coverage may apply to cars, pickup trucks, vans, service vehicles, and other eligible commercial vehicles. The policy must accurately identify the vehicles, drivers, ownership arrangements, and business uses involved.
Commercial auto policies are not identical. Review the policy documents and verify that the vehicles and business uses are correctly represented.
Commercial auto liability may help pay covered damages when an insured driver is legally responsible for bodily injury or property damage arising from a covered accident.
It may also help with qualifying legal defense expenses, subject to policy terms and limits.
Collision coverage may help pay to repair or replace an insured vehicle after it collides with another vehicle or object.
Payment remains subject to the deductible, policy terms, vehicle valuation, and applicable coverage limit.
Comprehensive coverage may protect an insured vehicle against covered non-collision losses.
Examples can include theft, vandalism, fire, falling objects, weather damage, and certain animal-related losses.
This coverage may help when an insured driver or occupant is injured by a driver who has no insurance or insufficient liability insurance.
Availability, requirements, and covered damages vary by state.
Depending on the state and policy, medical payments, personal injury protection, or other no-fault benefits may be available.
These coverages may help with eligible accident-related expenses regardless of fault, subject to applicable provisions.
Hired auto liability may apply to certain rented or leased vehicles. Non-owned auto liability may apply when employees use personal vehicles for authorized business purposes.
These coverages generally protect the business’s liability exposure and may not provide physical damage coverage for the vehicle itself.
Commercial auto physical damage generally does not automatically insure tools, equipment, products, or customer property transported inside a vehicle.
Separate cargo or inland marine coverage may be necessary.
Permanently installed equipment, refrigeration units, lifts, racks, wraps, specialized bodies, or other vehicle modifications should be disclosed.
Additional coverage or accurate vehicle valuation may be required.
Optional towing, roadside assistance, rental reimbursement, or temporary replacement vehicle coverage may help reduce disruption after a covered loss.
Limits, waiting periods, and eligible expenses vary by policy.
Businesses operating multiple vehicles may be eligible for fleet arrangements that provide centralized policy administration.
Vehicle schedules, driver controls, maintenance procedures, and loss history remain important underwriting factors.
Certain regulated motor carriers may need insurance filings or endorsements to demonstrate financial responsibility.
Requirements depend on vehicle type, cargo, passenger capacity, operating authority, and whether operations cross state lines.
Heavy trucks, tractor-trailers, tow trucks, dump trucks, and specialized commercial vehicles may require coverage designed for their size, operation, cargo, and regulatory exposure.
Visit our Heavy Truck Insurance page.
A commercial auto policy does not cover every vehicle, driver, property type, or situation. Depending on the policy, coverage may not apply to:
Review all policy terms, exclusions, covered auto symbols, and endorsements before purchasing coverage.
Commercial auto insurance should be considered when a vehicle is:
Personal auto policies commonly limit or exclude certain business uses. The correct policy depends on the ownership and actual use of the vehicle.
Commercial auto insurance pricing may be influenced by:
Accurate vehicle, driver, and operating information helps insurers assess the exposure and prepare a more useful proposal.
Contractors may use pickups, vans, trailers, and service vehicles to transport employees, tools, and equipment between job sites.
Explore Contractors Insurance.
Frequent stops, urban driving, customer locations, scheduled routes, and time-sensitive deliveries can create distinct auto exposures.
Restaurant and catering businesses may use vehicles for food delivery, event transportation, supply pickup, or off-site service.
Learn about Restaurant Insurance.
Nonprofits may transport staff, volunteers, participants, supplies, or donated goods in owned, rented, or personal vehicles.
Explore Nonprofit Insurance.
Commercial auto insurance addresses covered liability and physical damage exposures arising from insured vehicles.
General Liability Insurance generally addresses covered third-party bodily injury and property damage arising from business operations, but it commonly excludes auto liability.
A business using vehicles may need both forms of coverage.
Commercial auto insurance may be one part of a broader program. Depending on your operations, consider:
Visit our Commercial Insurance page to explore additional coverage options.
Tell us what your business does, where it operates, and how vehicles support its activities.
Share vehicle identification, garaging, use, mileage, driver information, and current insurance details.
Compare liability limits, physical damage, deductibles, covered autos, endorsements, and carrier requirements.
Choose coverage suited to your vehicles, drivers, routes, contractual obligations, and budget.
Commercial auto insurance is designed for vehicles used in connection with a business or organization. It may provide auto liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured or underinsured motorist, and other coverage for eligible vehicles and drivers.
A vehicle owned, leased, registered, or titled to a business generally requires commercial auto insurance. Coverage should also be considered when a vehicle is regularly used for deliveries, service calls, transporting tools or passengers, or other business activities.
Commercial auto liability may help pay covered damages when an insured driver is legally responsible for bodily injury or property damage arising from a covered accident. It may also help with qualifying legal defense expenses, subject to the policy’s terms and limits.
Collision coverage may help pay for damage to an insured vehicle after a collision with another vehicle or object. Comprehensive coverage addresses covered non-collision losses, which may include theft, vandalism, fire, falling objects, severe weather, or certain animal-related damage.
Hired auto liability may apply when a business rents or leases certain vehicles. Non-owned auto liability may apply when employees use personal vehicles for authorized business purposes. These coverages generally address the business’s liability and may not cover physical damage to the vehicle itself.
Commercial auto physical damage generally does not automatically insure tools, equipment, inventory, customer property, or cargo carried inside the vehicle. Inland marine, motor truck cargo, or another form of property coverage may be required.
Employees may be permitted to drive covered vehicles when allowed by the policy and the business. Drivers should be properly licensed, disclosed when required, and authorized by the organization. Some drivers may be excluded or ineligible based on underwriting requirements.
Personal auto policies may limit or exclude certain business uses. Regular deliveries, transporting clients, carrying business equipment, operating a commercially titled vehicle, or other commercial activities may require a commercial auto policy.
Pricing may depend on vehicle type and value, driver records, business use, operating radius, annual mileage, garaging location, cargo or passengers transported, prior losses, liability limits, deductibles, and selected coverage options.
You may need vehicle identification numbers, vehicle values, garaging addresses, descriptions of use, operating radius, annual mileage, driver details, current insurance information, and loss history. Begin on our Get a Quote page.
