Commercial auto insurance in West Virginia

Any West Virginia company that uses vehicles for business purposes must have commercial vehicle insurance, whether it’s the owner’s personal vehicle or multiple vehicles owned by the 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 single pickup truck, a food truck, or a fleet of vehicles.

Your business could be in legal and financial jeopardy without commercial insurance coverage for your company vehicles. In West Virginia, any business that has its own vehicles must at least 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 expenses.

Additionally, you could face severe penalties for not carrying auto insurance. Driving without insurance in West Virginia could result in a fine of at least $200, having to file an SR-22 form with the state, a suspension of license and/or vehicle registration, or jail time for up to 1 year.

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.

From Charleston to Huntington, all vehicles in West Virginia are required by law to have a minimum amount of auto liability insurance coverage, whether they’re for personal or business use. These insurance requirements are:

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

Your insurance agency might recommend higher 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 West Virginia Department of Transportation 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 U.S. Department of Transportation number or docket number with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

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Our licensed insurance agents are available to answer any questions you might have about auto insurance or other types of coverage, such as general liability, professional liability, or workers' compensation insurance.