Commercial vehicle insurance – Things to know
Commercial vehicle insurance is a wise investment in addition to your vehicle insurance policy. You should actively invest in commercial vehicle insurance if you have vehicles on the road for business on a daily basis. Irrespective of the size of your business, commercial vehicle insurance will protect you against prominent liabilities and help you keep your finances intact. Read on to learn more about commercial vehicle insurance, the types of vehicles covered, and the cost of investing in one.
- What is commercial vehicle insurance?
It is an insurance policy that protects you from liability, physical damage, usage, and provides you with a sum that is not covered under your regular vehicle insurance policy. Under commercial vehicle insurance, different types of vehicles that you use for your business ranging from company cars to commercial trucks are covered.
- What are the types of vehicles that are covered under commercial vehicle insurance?
Food trucks, box trucks, service utility vehicles, and work vans are only a few of the many commercial vehicles that are covered under a commercial vehicle insurance policy. This insurance policy also covers equipment or the tool inside the vehicle, as well as the driver of the vehicle. Different providers name commercial vehicle insurance differently such as commercial truck insurance, car insurance, fleet insurance, or auto insurance; however, they usually mean the same.
- Why is commercial auto insurance needed?
There are a bunch of liabilities that might not be covered under your regular personal vehicle insurance policy. This is because personal vehicle liabilities differ from commercial vehicle liabilities and are rated differently. Furthermore, commercial vehicles are used more often and need additional coverage against risks that could only be covered by commercial vehicle insurance.
What risks and liabilities are covered under commercial vehicle insurance policy?
Both personal and commercial vehicle insurances provide more or less similar coverage such as medical payments, collision, injury protection, as well as coverage for uninsured motorists.
However, there is a notable difference in the exclusions, limits, definitions, eligibility, and coverage. Read on to know what is covered under a commercial vehicle insurance policy.
- Physical collision and damage
Similar to personal vehicle policy, commercial vehicle insurance policy will protect you from both physical damages to the vehicle due to the following reasons:
- Natural calamities
- Vandalism
- Collision with other vehicles
For instance, if a tree falls on your commercial vehicle and shatters the windshield in a windstorm, then the commercial vehicle insurance policy will cover the replacement charges of a new windshield.
- Medical payments
The following medical payments will be covered under the commercial vehicle insurance policy.
- Medical expenses of passengers sitting in the insured vehicle.
- The medical cost of the driver that is injured in the accident.
The good thing is, regardless of who is driving the vehicle, coverage will be provided.
For instance, a caretaker or a custodian gets involved in an accident while driving the company van en route to a client’s office. Even if the driver is not grievously injured, and is taken to the emergency room for first aid, confirmatory scans and X-rays, commercial vehicle insurance will cover the entire medical bill. This includes all medical bills of the hospital, pharmacy bills, ambulance charges, and any other applicable charges. However, the extent of coverage will vary across insurance providers and the plan you choose.
- Vehicle accident liability
Commercial vehicle insurance will also include liability coverage, which will cover any damages that occur while the vehicle is being used for business purposes. The coverage includes
- Legal expenses, in case you are sued by the driver of the other vehicle who suffered injuries.
- Repair cost to pay for the damaged property or vehicle of the other person involved in the accident.
For instance, your company’s employee is involved in a rear-end collision with another car. Since it is your employee’s fault, the onus is on you to pay for the damages caused to the car. However, if you have a commercial vehicle insurance policy, then it will provide coverage for the repair cost of the car. Moreover, if the driver of the other car suffers any injuries, then even that will be covered under commercial vehicle insurance.
- Accident wherein an uninsured motorist is involved
As per the Insurance Research Council, every 1 in 8 drivers in the country is uninsured. So, what if they get involved in an accident and are unable to bear the damages? Even in this case, commercial vehicle insurance will cover uninsured motorists. So, you or your business would not have to pay for any vehicle repair or any other medical expenses whatsoever.
For instance, your employee is on his way to a client’s office in the company car and is involved in a collision with another car. Now, the driver of the other car is injured and is claiming damages. Moreover, the driver has no insurance policy or the current insurance policy has lapsed. If you have a commercial vehicle insurance policy, then you do not have to worry. Not only will this policy cover the damages to the car of the uninsured driver, but also cover any medical expenses incurred.
- What type of vehicles are not covered under commercial vehicle insurance policy?
Now you know what all is covered under commercial vehicle insurance policy, you should also know that leased vehicles and personal vehicles are excluded from commercial vehicle insurance policy. However, you ought to remember that even if your employee is involved in an accident in a personal or leased vehicle en route to an official meeting, your company can still be sued for damages.
What should you do in such a situation? You can avail of non-owned and hired vehicle insurance policies that will protect you against these types of damages. Alternatively, you can make it a company rule that only company vehicles can be used for any official work. As company vehicles will be insured under commercial vehicle policy, any damage caused because of an accident can be covered. As mentioned above, this applies to the company’s employees as well as to the other party involved in the accident.
- How much would commercial vehicle insurance cost a business?
The total premium cost of commercial vehicle insurance varies across different insurance providers and depends on a host of different factors. These factors include the following:
- Type of vehicle
- Value of the vehicle
- History of claims
- Degree of risk involved
- Policy limit
- Policy deductible
- Driving history of employees
- Number of vehicles you cover under commercial vehicle insurance
Other than the above-mentioned factors, you also have to consider the size of your business. For instance, a small- to mid-scale business, with a fewer number of commercial vehicles will incur a low premium. On the other hand, a large company will need coverage for a large fleet of vehicles and will have to pay higher premiums. However, as mentioned before, premiums depend on the insurance provider, and a high number of insured vehicles could result in discounted premiums and better benefits.
- The average cost of commercial vehicle insurance
The median expense of commercial vehicle insurance with a sum assured limit of about 1 million dollars would account for approximately 1704 dollars annually or 142 dollars monthly. The median value offers an accurate estimation of the expense that your business is likely to bear as compared to the average cost. Continue reading to know the factors that affect commercial vehicle insurance premiums.
- Impact of industry risks
Industry risks have a massive impact on premiums that you’ll have to pay for a commercial vehicle insurance policy. The premium will largely depend on the kind of industry your business is associated with. If your business belongs to an industry that has high risks, such as the transport of goods, then the premium amount will be high. Conversely, if your business belongs to an industry that poses low risks, where company vehicles are just used to transport employees, then the premium will be low.
- Impact of coverage limit
Coverage is another decisive factor that impacts your insurance premiums. If you opt for a commercial vehicle insurance policy that offers maximum benefits with high sum assured, then the premium will be high as well. Therefore, you need to ensure that you choose commercial vehicle insurance that provides comprehensive coverage and is affordable.
Is it mandated by law to get commercial vehicle insurance?
Yes, it is legally required for all businesses in all states of the country, except in Virginia and New Hampshire, to get commercial vehicle insurance. But, you should also know that even in the two states where it is not a legal requirement, you can still be held liable for damages caused by your commercial vehicle.
Vehicles such as leased vehicles or an employee’s car aren’t covered under the commercial vehicle insurance policy. However, you can get non-owned and hired vehicle insurance for them. So even if you use a personal vehicle for business purposes, you are protected against any damages and liabilities. As mentioned before, both personal and commercial vehicle insurance policies more or less provide the same benefits and coverage.
- Top advantages of commercial vehicle insurance
As a business owner, you might often wonder how essential commercial vehicle insurance is for you, and why doesn’t it suffice if your regular vehicle insurance comes with huge coverage? With commercial vehicle insurance, you get benefits, which are exclusive for commercial vehicles used for business purposes. Moreover, commercial vehicle insurance will provide you protection irrespective of who’s driving the vehicle. Read on to know some key advantages of commercial vehicle insurance.
- Higher sum assured
Almost every day, either your employee or you will use your company’s vehicle, exposing it to a higher degree of risk. If this vehicle is ever involved in an accident, your business may find itself in legal and financial trouble. Attorney’s fees, punitive damages, and medical expenses could alone be anywhere in 6 figures. If you are covered only by personal insurance, your sum assured would not be able to cover for all the damages. However, in the case of commercial vehicle insurance, the sum assured is higher and you can easily pay for all damages.
- Provides coverage to business equipment
Company vehicles such as vans and trucks carry equipment and tools ranging from hydraulic lifts to catering equipment. These equipment are not only necessary, but also expensive. Any damage to the vehicle can also damage this equipment. The same applies if the vehicle is stolen with the equipment. However, when you have commercial vehicle insurance, the policy covers damages to the vehicle as well as the equipment inside. This way you can easily purchase replacements without dipping into your company’s reserves or disrupting its cash flow.
- Protects employees
Your employees rely on you for their safety in the workplace or while using company property. In cases, where employees using the company car for official purposes meet with an accident, then the onus is on you as a business owner to compensate them. Now, without commercial vehicle insurance, the expenses of the car and the employee can affect your company’s finances, especially if it is a small business. However, if the car is insured under commercial vehicle insurance, then not only will the policy cover the damages to the car, but also take care of all medical expenses of the employee. Moreover, as mentioned before, the insurance will also cover any equipment that is damaged inside the car.
