What Does Commercial Auto Insurance Cover?
Commercial Auto Insurance can help pay to repair physical damage to the vehicle you drive for business if it's damaged by theft, weather events, or collisions. It can also pay for lawsuit costs associated with accidents, such as medical expenses and legal fees.
Let's take a more in-depth look at business auto insurance coverage and how it protects your company.
Commercial Auto Insurance Coverage: What's Included
A commercial auto insurance policy usually offers four major types of protection:
- Auto liability coverage can help pay for property damage or bodily injury you cause. It can also help pay for accident-related legal expenses, such as attorney fees or settlement costs.
- Medical payment coverage can cover medical bills if you or your passengers are injured in a car crash, regardless of fault.
- Physical damage and collision coverage can pay for repairs if your vehicle is damaged by something other than a car accident. For example, theft, vandalism, certain weather events, and collisions with an object are usually covered incidents.
- Uninsured motorist coverage can help pay for damage to your car or bodily injuries you suffer if somebody who doesn't have insurance hits your vehicle.
You may already have liability insurance, such as General Liability Insurance or Professional Liability Insurance, to protect your business from lawsuit costs. But commercial auto coverage is the policy that helps your business address lawsuits over car accidents. Considering how often you might drive for work, this protection can be valuable.
Do I Need Commercial Auto Coverage If I Have a Personal Auto Policy?
It depends. If you only use your personal vehicle to commute and to occasionally meet a client, your personal auto coverage might be enough.
However, business auto coverage might be a better fit if:
- You frequently drive your personal vehicle for business.
- You own a vehicle that is registered to your business.
- Your employees drive company vehicles.
Still not sure which coverage you might need? Read "Commercial Vehicle Insurance Checklist: See If You Need Coverage" to learn more.
Commercial Auto Insurance Isn't Your Only Option
Commercial Auto Insurance offers useful protection, but it doesn't cover employees who drive their personal vehicles for business. Your business can be held liable for accidents that happen during these company errands, so it's smart to have Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance just in case.
Hired and Non-Owned Auto coverage offers liability protection for accidents that happen when employees drive their own vehicles on behalf of your business. If your employees frequently use their personal vehicles to do their job, you may want to consider purchasing this policy.
That's the beauty of small business insurance – there's a policy for most of your business needs!