Commercial auto insurance for building design professionals

Even if your employees are safe drivers, they still have to contend with other drivers on the road. An accident could lead to another person getting injured, or your car or truck getting totaled.

An auto accident could cost your building design company hundreds of thousands of dollars, especially if it leads to a lawsuit. Compare that to the average of $147 per month for commercial auto insurance, and it's easy to tell which is the better deal.

Commercial auto insurance helps cover legal fees, medical bills, the cost of repairing damaged property, and other expenses arising from an accident. Depending on your policy, it can also cover vehicle theft, vandalism, and weather damage.

Your policy can be tailored to match your business. For instance, a land surveyor's truck that is always on the road may need more coverage than a vehicle driven less frequently.

Whether or not you are required to carry commercial auto insurance depends on the laws in your state. Vehicles owned by a business usually must be covered by commercial auto insurance.

State regulations also determine how much auto liability coverage you need for any vehicle, whether it's for personal or business use. The limits on your commercial auto policy must meet or exceed the minimum limits in your state.

You can tailor your commercial auto insurance policy to match the needs of your architecture firm, engineering business, or other building design profession.

Your policy may cover:

If your building design company is sued over an accident, legal defense fees can add up quickly. You could also end up having to pay a settlement or court-ordered judgment to cover another person's hospital bills or damaged property.

If an accident injures the driver of your business vehicle, or any passengers, your policy can cover the cost of medical care.

Collision coverage pays for damage to your business vehicle, regardless of who is at fault.

Underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage pays for damage caused by drivers who don’t have insurance. State laws may require you to carry this coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers non-collision damages including vandalism, theft, and fire.

Commercial auto insurance only covers business-owned vehicles, but sometimes employees drive their own cars for business errands. Personal auto policies almost always exclude coverage for business use.

Hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA) provides liability coverage for business owners and employees who get into an accident while driving their personal vehicle to conduct company business. It also covers leased and rented vehicles.

While commercial auto insurance covers the risks of driving for work, it doesn't protect against other common business risks. Building design professionals should also consider:

General liability insurance: This policy covers the most common risks of running a business, including customer lawsuits over an injury or damaged property.

Business owner’s policy (BOP): Low-risk businesses are often eligible for a BOP, which bundles general liability coverage with commercial property insurance at a discount.

Professional liability insurance: This policy can cover legal costs of lawsuits related to work performance. It's also called errors and omissions insurance (E&O).

Workers’ compensation insurance: Most states require workers' comp for businesses with employees. It can cover medical expenses if an employee is injured on the job.

Cyber liability insurance: This policy helps architects, engineers, and other building designers recover financially from data breaches and cyberattacks.

License and permit bonds: Architects and engineers may need a license or permit bond to work in their state, or to take on certain projects.

Are you ready to protect your building design business with commercial auto insurance or another type of coverage? Complete Insureon’s easy online application today to compare quotes from top U.S. carriers. Once you find the right policy, coverage can start in less than 24 hours.