Four Signs That You Might Need Commercial Auto Insurance

Businesses that own or operate vehicles often need commercial auto insurance. However, there are numerous types of vehicles that might qualify for coverage, and some of them might surprise you. Sometimes, even an employee’s personally owned vehicle qualifies for commercial auto insurance, and at this time the business must take initiative to provide this coverage. 

• Are you using the vehicle to deliver goods? 

• Are you using the vehicle as a taxi service or other form of passenger transport? 

• Are you using the vehicle to deliver supplies from one location to the next? 

• Are you using the vehicle regularly to travel between work sites or to visit clients?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, then yes, you need commercial auto insurance. Of course, business-owned vehicles will always meet these qualifications. However, at times employee-owned vehicles will qualify for benefits, too. Generally, it is the business that still has to provide this coverage for employee drivers operating their own vehicles. 

So, tell your insurance agent exactly how you plan to use your vehicles, what goods you carry, and who the owners of those vehicles are. Your agent can help you determine if you need a commercial auto insurance policy, and institute the proper coverage to the situation. 

Consider Who Is Driving the Vehicle 
Your need for commercial auto insurance will also depend on who you allow to operate your vehicles. When you drive your personal car to and from work, or use it on the occasional work errand, your personal auto insurance plan should suffice. However, if you ever allow an employee to drive your personal car on an official business errand, you will need commercial auto insurance. Additionally, if your company provides a vehicle for an employee to use both at work and on their personal time, then that vehicle will also need commercial auto insurance. 

Is Your Vehicle Designed for Work Needs? 
Some vehicles are designed primarily for commercial purposes. For example, dump trucks, tow trucks, passenger vans and large pickup trucks generally are used for business purposes. However, they are also frequently purchased for private use, as well. Even if a commercial vehicle is used solely for private purposes, it might still be required, by law, to be registered as a commercial vehicle.  

At this time, it will usually also have to be insured with commercial auto insurance. Usually, vehicles with certain features, horsepower or weight classifications will fall into this category, though laws vary by state. Discuss your options with your insurer. 

What Happens if an Employee is Driving Their Own Car? 
When an employee drives their personal car to work, that does not automatically mean that they need commercial auto insurance. Everyone has to commute to work or run the occasional work errand from time to time, and that is not an automatic qualifier for commercial auto insurance.  

However, once an employee begins to undertake regular assignments in their vehicle, they need to have commercial auto insurance backing them up. A prime example of those who might need this coverage are realtors who drive regularly to show properties, or sales reps who have to meet with clients across a specific swath of property. 

At this time, the business usually provides hired/non-owned auto liability insurance for these vehicles. This commercial auto insurance provides liability (at-fault accident) coverage to drivers who are operating on behalf of businesses, but who are still using their own cars. However, just because the business provides this coverage, the driver must still have their own auto insurance in place. Hired/non-owned coverage is only liability insurance, and it will not apply to a personal vehicle when it is not being used on the job. 

With the help of your commercial insurance agent, you can determine which vehicles in your care or under your supervision will be best insured by commercial auto insurance.