Commercial auto insurance in Ohio

Any Ohio company, from Columbus to Cleveland, that uses vehicles for business purposes must insure them appropriately. Commercial auto insurance covers vehicles owned by your business.

Your personal auto insurance policy covers you while driving to and from work, but not while making deliveries, picking up supplies, and other work-specific uses. A business auto policy would cover you and your personal vehicle in case you’re at fault for an accident during a work-related errand.

Any vehicles you own solely for work purposes must be covered by a commercial auto policy, whether you own a landscaping pickup, a food truck, or a fleet of vehicles.

If you’re using your own vehicle for work-specific activities, your personal auto policy wouldn’t cover you in the case of an accident.

That’s why many small business owners purchase hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) insurance. This liability policy covers accidents in personal, leased, and rented vehicles used for work purposes.

If you or an employee gets into an accident while driving a personal car for a work errand, your HNOA coverage would help pay for any claims or lawsuits against your business.

It’s worth noting that this would not cover damage to the vehicle used by your business.

Your business could be in legal and financial jeopardy without commercial auto insurance coverage. In Ohio, state law requires all vehicles to carry auto liability insurance.

If one of your business vehicles is at fault in an accident, you could face an expensive lawsuit or settlement. You’d likely have to pay for damage to the other vehicle or property, medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, plus other related costs.

Additionally, you could face severe penalties for not carrying commercial auto insurance. Driving without insurance could result in the suspension of the offender's license until proof of insurance is acquired, with a minimum of a $40 fee before getting your license plates reinstated for the first event, with subsequent offenses requiring fees of $300 and $600 respectively.

All vehicles in the state of Ohio are required to have a minimum amount of auto liability insurance coverage, whether they’re for personal or business use. Ohio's auto liability insurance requirements are:

• $25,000 per person bodily injury liability
• $50,000 per accident bodily injury liability
• $25,000 per accident property damage liability

Your insurance agency might recommend higher liability coverage limits based on the types of vehicles you own and how they’re used.

Semi-trucks, utility trailers, cargo trailers, and other vehicles with a U.S. Department of Transportation of Ohio serial number will have additional liability coverage requirements, depending on the type of vehicle and how it’s used.

You can see if your business needs these additional requirements by checking your USDOT number or docket number with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Insureon makes it easy for business owners to compare quotes for Ohio commercial auto insurance.

Complete one easy application to review quotes specific to your business and industry from leading U.S. insurance companies.

If you have any questions about the best type of business insurance for your unique needs, you can speak to a licensed insurance agent. They can assist with finding the best auto policy or other important coverage options based on your insurance needs, such as workers' compensation or general liability.