Commercial Auto Insurance

    Just like your personal auto policy, Commercial Auto Insurance, covers liability, collision, and medical payments should an accident occur with your commercial vehicle. Your personal auto policy will not cover damages while the vehicle is being used for business purposes.


    From accidents to injuries, having a commercial vehicle for your business comes with many risks. However, for many businesses having a company vehicle is crucial, which means having the right protections in place are just as crucial as having the vehicle itself.


    Let us introduce you to Commercial Auto Insurance. The insurance that protects your business from vehicle-related accidents, so you can sit back and enjoy the ride. 

    Insurance 101: Commercial Auto Insurance - Video

    What Commercial Auto Insurance Is All About:

    What Is Commercial Auto Insurance Coverage?

    Business Automobile Liability Insurance is for businesses that own and operate vehicles. This insurance helps companies cover the costs of repairing or replacing company vehicles within the boundaries of the insurance policy.


    Every business that uses vehicles to transact business needs Commercial Auto Insurance. Companies using their personal vehicles for business-related purposes may find that their personal insurance does not cover business-related risks. Personal Auto Insurance on a vehicle used for business purposes may not have enough insurance, leaving the company financially responsible for losses.


    Business Automobile Liability Insurance was purposefully designed to help protect businesses from the unknown. With higher coverage limits than personal auto insurance, it helps safeguard businesses and improves a business’ chances of continual operations.


    Commercial insurance contracts create partnerships between companies and insurers. Under these contracts, insurers are required to pay for physical damages based on the terms of the insurance policy and up to the limits of the insurance coverage. Insurers can’t cancel Commercial Auto Insurance if a business files a claim against the insurance policy.


    Businesses can purchase Commercial Auto Liability coverage for their cars, trucks, heavy-duty trucks, and semi-trucks.


    Depending on the coverage selected, this insurance covers vehicles the business owns, contracts with, and leases. It also helps cover injured employees should an accident happen.

    What Does Commercial Auto Insurance Cover?

    Bodily Injury


    Bodily injury is a type of liability coverage that helps businesses cover the financial losses associated with bodily injury resulting from an accident with a person driving a business vehicle. Commercial Auto Liability Coverage will provide you with legal defense costs in most cases. 

    Medical Coverage


    Medical coverage covers the employee inside of the company vehicle if the limits of the workers' compensation insurance are reached. 

    Collision Coverage


    Collision helps cover the physical damage company vehicles sustain as a result of colliding with another vehicle or object. Business Automobile Liability Insurance also covers a vehicle that is damaged due to a rollover. 

    Comprehensive Coverage


    Comprehensive Coverage helps cover the costs of repairing or replacing a business vehicle after it incurs damage from something other than a collision (i.e. a fallen object, fire, theft, vandalism, or weather-related damage). Losses specifically excluded from the insurance policy and those covered under Collision Coverage are not included in Comprehensive Coverage. 

    Specified Causes of Loss


    This coverage applies only for losses caused by the perils listed (i.e. a fallen object, fire, theft, vandalism, or weather-related damage), as compared to the "all risks" nature of comprehensive coverage. These policies are often less expensive for SMEs, but the coverage is limited to only those perils identified when the policy was written. 

    Who Is Covered by Commercial Auto Insurance?

    Your Business

    Commercial Auto provides coverage for your business from auto liability claims, as well as the physical damage to owned vehicles and first party coverages if elected. 

    Leinholders or Contractual

    If you rent or lease a vehicle the interested party will be provided protection against physical damage claims since you have agreed to indemnify them. This also applies to other contracts where you agree to indemnify someone for auto liability, like a general contractor. 

    Do I Need Commercial Auto Insurance?

    This insurance comes in handy if your business:

    • Delivers goods using a vehicle
    • Transports people from place to place
    • Transports hazardous materials
    • Transports equipment for business use
    • Is used to tow or plow


    If you own and operate a business you probably have General Liability insurance at a minimum. You probably also need auto insurance for your commercial vehicles. Even if you drive a small 2-door sedan, if it is being used for your business, then you have to insure it on a Commercial Auto insurance policy. A Personal Auto policy, which you may be used to from your personally owned autos, will exclude any auto that is used in the course of a business. It is critical to have Commercial Auto insurance for any vehicle you use for your business, even if you are simply driving to and from the job site.


    Commercial Auto insurance will pay for your liability associated with an auto accident, as well as your employees driving your business-owned vehicles. If your employees drive their vehicles for work, you should make sure they have their own auto insurance, as well as make sure you have Hired and Non-Owned Auto Liability to cover your business liability if they are at fault in an accident. You don’t want to make the mistake of not purchasing Business Auto insurance for your commercial vehicles and end up bankrupting your business from one mistake.

    What Are the Limits of Commercial Auto Insurance?

    Limits are boundaries built into the coverage of an insurance policy. Businesses can choose the amount of their insurance coverage limit, which will determine the premium payment each month, semi-annually, or annually. Typical coverage limits available for Commercial Auto Liability coverage are $500,000 and $1,000,000.


    Businesses that are in industries that place drivers at a greater risk of experiencing an accident or incurring damage to their company vehicle benefit from purchasing a policy with a larger limit. With more insurance coverage, these companies have a higher limit for their insurers, before they are required to cover some of their liability costs.

    In addition to that...

    Like Personal Auto Insurance, Commercial Auto Insurance covers bodily injury and physical damage caused when someone driving a business vehicle gets into an accident or when a business vehicle is damaged. 

    You'll Know It's the Right Policy If It Covers:

    • Bodily injury
    • Medical coverage
    • Collisions
    • Property damage
    • Damage other than collisions
    • Loading and unloading liabilities
    • Towing and labor cost

    What Does Commercial Auto Insurance Not Cover?

    Wreck while committing a crime

    If an employee is driving a company vehicle after hours and they are involved in a wreck while committing a crime, it is likely that the physical damage to the vehicle will not be covered. 

    Damage incurred by moving company vehicles

    Commercial Auto insurance does not include damages incurred by moving company vehicles. 

    Damage incurred during war or civil disturbances

    Any damage incurred during war or civil disturbances is excluded from Commercial Auto insurance. 

    Wrecks resulting from employee relatives

    Commercial Auto insurance does not include wrecks resulting from employee relatives driving the company vehicle. 

    How Much Does Commercial Auto Insurance Cost?

    There are many factors insurers consider when they rate Commercial Auto Insurance. For instance, they consider the industry a business belongs to when they determine the cost of insurance. The following are additional factors insurance companies consider when determining the rate a business pays for Commercial Auto Liability coverage:


    • Employee driving records
    • Items being transported
    • The value of the vehicle
    • The type of vehicle
    • Amount of coverage
    • Type of coverage
    • Other risks


    With risks being the driving force behind the cost of Commercial Auto Insurance, insurance companies examine a business’ potential for risk to determine the cost of coverage.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Vehicles that you are using for your business should be covered under Commercial Auto insurance. Some policies will be set up to only cover your owned vehicles, while other more comprehensive policies will cover any auto you are using throughout the course of your work. If you're confused, consult with a CoverWallet advisor. 

    Getting in a car accident is a terrible, but almost unavoidable, situation. Luckily, you have Commercial Auto insurance to be by your side. Understanding how it works will help to get you through the process easily. While insurance companies vary when it comes to coverages and premiums, the way a vehicle value is determined is the same across the board.


    When it is time for an auto claim, you may have many questions. One common question is how the value of your vehicle will be determined. You want to make sure that if you have to deal with this stressful situation you understand how your vehicle value will be determined so there are no surprises. When you first report your claim you will get assigned an adjuster and they will be responsible for walking you through the claims process and determining the value of the vehicle.


    Several factors will determine the value of your car in the event of a claim. The claims adjuster will determine the cash value of your car, which is replacement cost minus depreciation. Keep in mind that you also will be responsible for your portion of the deductible so it is important that you understand your coverage amounts. To avoid a gap in coverage here, it is recommended that you purchase new vehicle replacement coverage. Don’t always go for cheap Commercial Auto insurance. They will also look at the blue book value of your vehicle.

    A motorcycle is not designed to be covered under a Commercial Auto insurance policy. You will need to purchase a separate Motorcycle insurance policy. The Motorcycle Safety Lawyers state that the cost will depend on your type of business, how many motorcycles you wish to insure, and the U.S. state that you are in. 

    For standard vehicles it is often anyone with whom you give permission to drive the vehicle, as long as they are licensed and not currently excluded on your policy. 

    Personal Auto insurance is designed for vehicles that you are using for personal reasons. Once you start using your vehicle for business purposes, coverage can be excluded. Commercial Auto insurance will provide coverage for both business and personal use. 

    Your items that belong to the business that are transported in the vehicle will be covered under your Commercial Property policy, or Inland Marine if you have your equipment insured on that type of policy. 

    Yes, but it is recommended that you title the personal vehicle in the business name to avoid any gaps in coverage. The problem comes in when you own a business that is anything other than a sole proprietor. If you or your employee is involved in an accident and is sued, the business will be sued. However, you could also be sued individually if you are the driver. If the named insured on the policy is the business, but the vehicle is titled in your individual name, this could leave you with a huge gap in coverage.


    The good news is that a personal vehicle can be titled in your name and be insured on a Commercial Auto policy even though the opposite is not an option. If you use your personal vehicle for work, it can not be covered under a Personal Auto policy.

    Living in the sunny and warm state of Florida certainly has its perks. Longer days of light means you can work longer and make more money. With many people moving to Florida to get away from bad weather, that means the population may be denser. This also means that there are more cars on the road, therefore more chances you or your employees can be involved in an auto accident. If you have any vehicles that are owned by your business, any personally owned vehicles used for the business, or employees use their vehicles, you should have a Commercial Auto insurance policy.


    When it comes to Business Auto policy coverages, there are some standard ones and then some you can add. Standard coverages include liability and property damage which will cover your business liability if you are in an accident, and the cost to repair or replace the vehicle, as well as a third party’s vehicle if you are at fault. Medical expenses are also a standard coverage for your passengers. Additional coverages you can add include first-party benefits such as a funeral, accidental death, and work loss. Also, if your employees use their vehicles for work purposes you should add Hired and Non-owned Auto Liability so if they are at fault in an accident while on the clock, your business liability will be covered.

    Are you ready to get down to business?

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