Commercial and Business Auto Insurance
Vehicles your business owns or uses need a business auto policy. A personal auto policy usually excludes business use, and an accident in a company vehicle can produce some of the largest liability claims a business faces. Stonebrook insures company cars, vans, passenger transportation and fleets nationwide.
Reviewed by Nate Feuerman, High Net Worth Insurance Producer at Stonebrook
Last updated
Quick answers
What is commercial auto insurance?
Coverage for vehicles used in your business: liability for injuries and damage you cause, plus physical damage to your vehicles.
What is hired and non-owned auto?
Coverage for your business when employees drive their own or rented cars for work.
Do we need commercial auto if employees drive personal cars?
You at least need hired and non-owned auto, because your business can be sued for an accident an employee causes while working.
Does transporting clients or residents change our coverage?
Yes. Carrying passengers, especially seniors or people with disabilities, needs to be disclosed and priced for.
What business auto covers.
Auto liability
Injuries and property damage your drivers cause to others, plus defense.
Physical damage
Collision and comprehensive coverage for your own vehicles.
Hired and non-owned auto
Your liability when employees use personal cars or rentals for business.
Uninsured motorist and medical
Protects your drivers and passengers when the other driver can’t pay, subject to each state’s rules.
Passenger transportation
Vans, buses and wheelchair-accessible vehicles carrying clients, participants or residents.
Fleet programs
Multiple vehicles and drivers in multiple states under one policy.
Transporting clients, participants and residents.
Adult day care programs, senior living communities and skilled nursing facilities often transport people every day. A single accident with a full van can involve several injured passengers.
Carriers look closely at driver records, vehicle types, wheelchair lifts and securement, and training. If you contract transportation out, get proof of the contractor’s auto liability and ask to be named as an additional insured.
For-hire trucking and motor carriers need specialized coverage and filings. Ask us about your operation.
How to keep business auto costs in check.
- Check every driver’s record.Before hiring and at least once a year.
- Put it in writing.A vehicle use and safety policy every driver signs.
- Use telematics or dashcams.Many carriers credit them, and they help defend claims.
- Add an umbrella.Auto claims are a leading reason businesses need excess liability.
A broker who knows your business.
Stonebrook is an independent agency. We work with standard, specialty and excess and surplus lines carriers, so we can shop business auto across carriers instead of fitting you into one company’s program.
Since 1982 we have placed commercial programs for businesses and property owners across the country. We read the fine print, flag the exclusions that matter for your operation, and advocate for you at underwriting, at renewal and at claim time.
Coverage that works together.
Most families need more than one policy. Here is how the pieces fit.
Business auto questions, answered.
What does commercial auto insurance cover?
Commercial auto covers liability for injuries and property damage caused by vehicles used in your business, physical damage to your own vehicles, and, depending on the state and policy, medical payments and uninsured motorist coverage.
Do I need commercial auto if my employees use their own cars?
You need at least hired and non-owned auto coverage. If an employee causes an accident while working, your business can be sued, and the employee’s personal policy may not be enough.
Will my personal auto policy cover business use?
Often not. Many personal auto policies exclude or limit business use, especially for vehicles owned by a business, carrying passengers for a fee or making deliveries.
What liability limit should a business auto policy have?
Many businesses carry $1 million combined single limit, with an umbrella above it. Contracts and passenger transportation often require more.
Can you insure vehicles in multiple states?
Yes. We place fleets and vehicles garaged in multiple states under one program.
Do you insure trucking companies?
Talk to us about your operation. For-hire trucking needs specialized coverage and federal and state filings, and we will tell you how we can help.
Let’s cover every vehicle and driver.
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