Workers' compensation
Medical care and wage replacement for employees injured or made ill by their work, required of almost every employer in Minnesota and most other states.
Workers' compensation- Home
- Business insurance
- Commercial auto
Commercial auto
Commercial auto insurance
Liability and physical damage for vehicles your business owns, leases, rents or borrows, including employees driving their own cars on company business.
Who needs it
Who this is for
If a vehicle is titled to the business, used for business, or rented for a job, a personal auto policy will not respond.
- Businesses that own or lease cars, vans, trucks or trailers
- Contractors and service businesses driving to job sites
- Production companies renting cube trucks, camera cars and passenger vans
- Agencies and firms whose employees drive their own cars to client meetings
- Delivery, courier and mobile service operations
What it covers
Coverage parts, and what to watch on each
Summaries only. The policy wording governs, and every carrier's form is different.
| Coverage | What it does | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Liability | Bodily injury and property damage you cause with a covered vehicle, plus defense. | Limits are often set by contract. A $1M combined single limit is standard for most business use. |
| Physical damage | Collision and comprehensive for owned vehicles. | Deductibles apply per vehicle. Older vehicles may not justify it. |
| Hired auto | Liability for vehicles you rent or borrow for business. | Physical damage to the rental is a separate add-on. Check the rental contract. |
| Non-owned auto | Liability when employees drive their own cars on company business. | Does not cover damage to the employee's car. Their personal policy does, if it allows business use. |
| Uninsured and underinsured motorist | Your injuries when the at-fault driver has little or no insurance. | Required or offered in most states. Match it to liability limits. |
| Medical payments | Medical bills for occupants regardless of fault. | Low limits; useful, not a substitute for health or workers' compensation coverage. |
The hard part
What it does not cover
- Cargo and equipment inside the vehicle (inland marine or cargo coverage)
- Vehicles not described, or outside the policy symbols
- Personal use by family members, on some forms
- Racing, livery and ride-share use unless declared
- Mechanical breakdown and wear
The policy symbols decide whether a vehicle is covered. We walk through them so a truck rented on a Friday is not an uncovered claim on a Saturday.
How to get it
From first call to bound coverage
- 01List vehicles and driversEverything titled to the business, plus who drives.
- 02Describe the useRadius, cargo, passengers, rentals and employee driving.
- 03Set limits and symbolsMatch contract requirements and make sure hired and non-owned are included.
- 04Keep it currentAdd and remove vehicles as they come and go. Use the policy change form.
Questions
Common questions
My personal auto policy covers me. Why do I need commercial?
Personal auto policies exclude most business use and almost all vehicles titled to a business. Many also exclude delivery and livery. If the vehicle earns money or is owned by the company, it belongs on a commercial policy.
What is hired and non-owned auto coverage?
Hired covers vehicles you rent or borrow. Non-owned covers employees driving their own cars for work. Both are liability coverages, and both are missing from most policies until someone asks.
Does it cover the rental truck itself if it is damaged?
Only if hired physical damage is added. Otherwise the rental company's contract makes you responsible for the vehicle out of pocket.
We rent passenger vans for crew. Anything special?
Vans seating more than a set number of people can be rated differently, and the rental company's requirements are usually stricter. Send us the rental agreement.
How do I add a vehicle?
Use the policy change form on this site with the VIN, garaging address and the date you need it covered. Changes are confirmed in writing before they take effect.
Related
Often placed alongside
General liability
The foundation policy for any business with a premises, customers, contracts or a certificate request: third-party bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury.
General liabilityBusiness owner's policy
General liability, commercial property and business income in one package, built for small and mid-size businesses with a premises and low-hazard operations.
Business owner's policyStart with the quote form, or a call.
The online application takes a few minutes for standard business lines. For production, media and professional liability, call or email and we will tell you what we need.