Your business might need auto insurance for transport vans, utility pickups and more, but it can be difficult to find the right level of coverage within your budget. Compare guides by industry to find the best commercial auto policies for your business.
Companies that rely on vehicles for normal business operations need commercial auto coverage. Most states have requirements for certain kinds of vehicles, like vehicles carrying passengers or trucks carrying cargo or hazardous goods.
Retail & services
Plumbers
Repair service
Lawncare
Food service
Restaurants
Bars
Food trucks
Caterers
Transportation
Buses
Trucks
Cabs
Limos
Delivery drivers
Technology companies
Tech support
Utilities
Cable companies
Automotive services
Car dealers
Repair and service shops
Rental car business
Car wash
Manufacturing
Suppliers
Wholesalers
Distributors
Pharmaceutical reps
Construction
Contractors
Surveyors
Inspectors
Professional services
Attorneys
Real estate agents
Engineers
Insurance adjusters
Public sector
Government staff
Military members
Police officers
Mail carriers
Nonprofit
Social advocacy groups
Animal welfare groups
Trade groups
What kind of coverage do I need for my business?
Coverage can vary depending on your business, how many vehicles you have and many other factors.
Type of vehicles. Tow trucks need vastly different coverage from school buses. A broker or insurer with expertise in your industry can help you find the right coverage.
Number of vehicles and drivers. More vehicles will make your policy more expensive, but you may be able to get a multi-vehicle discount.
Location and travel distance. Accident rates, population density and road conditions can vary depending on your location, and the farther your drivers travel, the more risk factors insurers have to consider.
Coverage types. Transportation companies might need higher passenger coverage limits, while construction business might need higher cargo coverage for expensive tools.
Coverage limits. You may be able to adjust your coverage limits to suit the needs of your business.
Storage. Keeping your company vehicles in a garage or safe, covered area typically means better rates.
Credit history. A higher credit score should get you better rates or even a discount.
Driving history. Drivers with clean records and specialized licenses could help bring down the cost of coverage.
Compare commercial car insurance
Bottom line
Every business that relies on vehicles needs auto insurance, but not every company needs the same coverage and policy. Your industry is a big factor in what kind of coverage and how much protection your business needs.
Yes, you’ll typically want this coverage if you store vehicles in a garage or warehouse on your property. Mechanics, towing companies, car washes and car dealers often get this coverage to protect customers’ cars while stored on site.
The general rule is that you’re required to have insurance for any vehicle that will be driven on a road. For example, you wouldn’t typically need insurance for a farm tractor you only use to plow your field or a golf cart you only use to drive across your campground. If you have certain vehicles that are backups, seasonally used or out of commission, you can remove them from your policy when they’re not in use.
An operator’s policy means you drive a vehicle you don’t own. A delivery company might employ different drivers for company-owned vehicles, and an operator’s policy would protect the delivery drivers while they’re on the clock. The owner of the car might be the company manager who doesn’t drive the trucks on deliveries, so only the drivers need to be on the policy.
Compare that to an owner’s policy, where you own the car and the policy protects both you and anyone you allow to drive it. This kind of policy might be used for a company car owned by the business owner who shares the use of the vehicle with the sales team. The owner and drivers are all insured with the same policy by listing the employees as named drivers on the policy.
Yes. It’s usually cheapest to get a business rider on your personal auto policy that covers you when you’re using your car to deliver food, like delivering pizza or using delivery apps like UberEats, GrubHub, or Instacart.
Roslyn McKenna is an insurance publisher for Finder, where she's driven to help people get a great deal on insurance to protect their families and finances. Roslyn earned a BA in writing and communications from Maryville College and has written professionally for more than a decade, showing up on Bankrate, MSN and Reader's Digest.
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