If your business operates a vehicle, or a fleet of cars or trucks, a key consideration is proper insurance for the vehicles. Choosing the right commercial auto policy is critical, because an accident involving one of your vehicles can be financially devastating for your business if the vehicle is uninsured or underinsured.
A study by The Hartford found that vehicle accidents are the second-costliest insurance claims for small businesses, with an average claim of $45,000. Those costs go up significantly when trucks and fatalities are involved. According to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the average cost of a large truck crash is $3.6 million per crash with a fatality and $200,000 for those with injuries. There are many required types of business insurance, but it is important to understand when commercial auto insurance is necessary and how to buy it.
Who needs commercial auto insurance?
You need commercial car insurance if your business owns vehicles and/or your employees drive for work-related tasks such as sales calls. This includes auto rentals for conducting business as well as employees using their personal vehicles for work tasks. Commercial auto insurance covers a wide range of vehicles, including cars, sports utility vehicles, pickup trucks – basically any vehicle used exclusively for business.
Types of commercial auto policies
Auto insurance policies for small businesses generally fall within three categories, which insurers offer as either stand-alone policies (commercial auto) or endorsements (riders like non-hired auto) to existing policies.
1. Commercial auto
Commercial auto insurance applies to vehicles, such as trucks and cars, that you or your employees use exclusively for your business. It also helps pay the costs (up to coverage limits) if you or an employee damage someone else's property or injures a pedestrian while driving.
This policy covers three types of drivers: the named insured (the person who takes out the policy, who is covered even if they weren't directly involved in the accident), permissive users (employees or anyone else you have given permission to drive the covered vehicle), and omnibus users (people who can be held liable for any accident or negligence committed by you or your permissive users).
2. Hired auto
Hired auto applies to cars or trucks that your business leases, rents, and/or borrows. This policy covers medical bills and third-party damage. You can add a physical damage endorsement to cover your company vehicle as well.
3. Non-owned auto
Non-owned auto covers damage to another person's vehicle, bodily injury claims that your business caused to someone else in an accident, and/or expenses if your business gets sued for negligence. This coverage is for vehicles that your business doesn't own, but are used by employees for business tasks.
Since it only provides coverage for the third party, not the policy owner, this insurance doesn't cover your company's hired or non-owned vehicles, medical bills should you one of your staff be injured in an accident while driving their own car or a rented vehicle, or liability coverage when you or an employee are driving for reasons unrelated to your business.
Related coverage options
Other endorsements, or riders, that you can add to your commercial auto policy may include employee policies and blanket policies for contractors, equipment coverage for loading and unloading goods, and protection of business assets in the event of a lawsuit.
| Comprehensive coverage | This is coverage for damage that doesn't result from a collision, such as damage due to fire, vandalism, theft, inclement weather, and accidents involving animals. Ask your insurance provider about any possible exclusions because, despite the "comprehensive" in the name, this policy doesn't cover all types of claims. |
| Uninsured motorist | If a third party involved in an accident is underinsured or uninsured, this policy will cover your damages and medical fees. |
| PIP and medical payments coverage | Personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments insurance help cover expenses if you and/or your passengers are injured in an accident. |
| Emergency roadside insurance | This can include coverage for roadside assistance such as replacing a flat tire or car battery, locksmithing, and towing. |
| Personal effects insurance | Some insurers offer coverage of your or your employees' personal belongings. |
How is commercial auto insurance different from personal auto insurance?
A key difference between personal and commercial auto insurance is that a personal auto insurance policy often excludes coverage for business-related use. This type of policy won't cover any accident or other issue that arises when you or your employees are driving for your business.
Commercial auto insurance also differs from your personal policy in that it often has higher risk and limits. This is because a business vehicle may be carrying anything from employees to hazardous equipment. There could also be a higher impact to your small business with a lawsuit due to an accident, which is why there are often higher legal cost limits on commercial policies. Total commercial auto coverage limits can range from $500,000 into the millions. There are also policy endorsements, or riders, available specifically for commercial auto policies.
How much commercial auto coverage does my business need?
The state where your business operates has its own auto liability guidelines, so be sure to meet these requirements, many of which entail bodily injury and property coverage. While your exact needs may vary, Nationwide recommends at least $500,000 in liability coverage per vehicle.
If you are leasing your commercial vehicle, your lending institution may require you to carry collision and comprehensive coverage to pay for damages to your vehicle when you are the at-fault party in an accident or the victim of non-collision events (like weather events or vandalism). Unlike liability coverage, both collision and comprehensive coverage have a deductible.
How much does commercial auto insurance cost?
Costs for policies depend on several factors, including your deductible and out-of-pocket expenses. Generally, all other factors being equal, the higher the deductible, the lower the premium.
As a sample, insurer Progressive says its national average monthly cost for commercial truck insurance ranges from $640 for specialty truckers to $982 for transport truckers. Amistad Insurance Services estimates that its commercial car insurance ranges from $600 to $2,500 for each vehicle.
These are some of the factors in the cost of business auto insurance:
- Type of driving and vehicle (e.g., truck transporting goods or cargo vs. cars for sales calls)
- Where and how often you drive for business (frequent short trips vs. occasional longer trips for business)
- Vehicle make, model, year, and cost when new (more expensive vehicles generally have higher premiums)
- Gross vehicle weight, especially if it's a truck
- Driving records and driver demographics for all company drivers
- Claims history (the higher the number of claims, the higher the risk and premiums)
- The number of commercial autos being insured (the more employees driving, the higher the risk and premiums)
- Coverage options, such as limits, deductibles and added endorsements (the higher the limits and the more riders, generally the higher the premium)
How to buy commercial auto insurance
You can purchase commercial car insurance coverage the same way you would purchase regular vehicle insurance – online, by phone, or through your independent insurance agent or broker.
Before you buy, compare several insurance providers in our buying guide and reviews. Also compare different companies' customer feedback and ratings, which will give you a good idea of each insurer's financial standing and ability to pay out claims.
Finally, speak with your insurance agent about your specific business needs. Then, you can pick the best rate with the most comprehensive coverage that fits your company's risk management plan.