★ Commercial · Commercial auto
Your personal auto policy doesn't cover the work truck.
The moment a vehicle is used for business, most personal auto policies exclude it. Commercial auto covers your company cars, work trucks, and fleets: the liability if your driver causes a crash, and the vehicle itself if it is wrecked or stolen.
Free quotes · No obligation · A licensed specialist answers, usually within one business day
★ What it covers
What’s covered and what isn’t.
Plain English, no fine-print games. Every policy has exclusions; here are the ones that actually matter for Commercial Auto.
What it covers
- Auto liabilityInjuries and damage your driver causes to others. The core of the policy and the part contracts ask about.
- Collision and comprehensiveYour own vehicles repaired or replaced after a crash, theft, hail, or vandalism.
- Medical payments / PIPMedical bills for your driver and passengers, under your state's rules.
- Uninsured motoristWhen the at-fault driver has no insurance. Critical in states with high uninsured rates like Florida and Texas.
- Hired & non-owned autoLiability when employees rent cars or drive their personal cars on company business. The coverage most businesses forget until they need it.
What it doesn’t cover
- Tools and equipment in the vehicleThe $20k of tools in the truck bed needs inland marine / tools coverage. Auto physical damage covers the truck, not the cargo.
- Undisclosed personal useCommuting rules and personal-use endorsements matter. Tell your specialist how the vehicles are really used.
- Drivers you didn't listAn undisclosed driver with a bad record can jeopardize a claim. List every regular driver.
- Cargo hauled for hireFreight you haul for money needs motor truck cargo coverage (see trucking).
- Mechanical breakdownWear and tear is maintenance, not an insurance event.
All quotes are subject to carrier underwriting and final approval. Coverage availability, terms, and pricing vary by state and carrier. The lists above describe typical Commercial Auto policies, not any specific carrier’s form.
★ The short version
Your personal auto policy excludes business use, and the exclusion tends to surface at claim time, not when you buy.
★ Who needs it
If this sounds like you, you need commercial auto.
The businesses that buy Commercial Auto most, and the one-line reason each one does.
Contractors
Work trucks and vans full of tools: the classic commercial auto account.
Delivery and service businesses
Catering, florists, appliance repair: anything that runs routes.
Sales teams
Reps driving personal cars on company business need hired & non-owned at minimum.
Fleets of five or more
Volume brings schedule rating and fleet pricing tiers.
Businesses hauling trailers for work
Personal policies balk at business trailers fast.
★ What it costs
What drives the price.
Carriers price Commercial Auto on exposure, not vibes. Here’s what moves your number, and what you can actually influence.
- Driver records: One DUI or a string of tickets on your driver list moves the whole premium.
- Vehicle type and value: A $90k diesel dually costs more to insure than a ten-year-old van.
- Radius and garaging: Local-radius operations price better than long-haul; the garaging ZIP matters.
- Limits and deductibles: $1M combined single limit is the common B2B requirement; higher physical-damage deductibles cut premium.
- Loss history: At-fault crashes follow the business for years.
★ Often quoted together
Pairs well with Commercial Auto.
Most businesses don’t buy one policy in isolation. These are the lines commercial auto buyers usually quote at the same time. One specialist quotes the whole package.
Commercial Umbrella
Extra millions stacked over your GL, auto, and employers liability, for the catastrophic claim.
Trucking Insurance
Primary liability, cargo, and physical damage for for-hire motor carriers and owner-operators.
Garage Insurance
Garage liability + garagekeepers for dealers, repair shops, and service stations.
★ Straight answers
Questions commercial auto buyers actually ask.
The short version of what our licensed specialists explain on calls every week.
Can I just use my personal auto policy for my work truck?
What is hired & non-owned auto coverage?
Do I need to list every driver?
What limits should I carry?
Does commercial auto cover the tools in my truck?
How is this different from trucking insurance?
Get my quote
Get your Commercial Auto quote. Two minutes.
Tell us about the business. A licensed specialist shops the carriers and comes back with real options.
- About 2 minutes, built for Commercial Auto
- A licensed specialist follows up, usually within one business day
- No bait prices, no call centers, no selling your information
Free quotes. No obligation. Written through Patriot Independent Insurance Partners, licensed in TX, FL, GA, SC, AL, MS, NC, CA, and CO. Your information is never sold to lead brokers.