Business Insurance
If the van belongs to the business, the policy should too.
Personal auto policies exclude a great deal of commercial use. Commercial auto covers the vehicles your business depends on, and often the tools inside them.
Why An Independent Agent
The gap that catches out contractors.
A personal auto policy almost never covers a claim if the vehicle is owned by the business, or used mainly for business. People usually find that gap at the worst possible time, after an accident, when the claim gets denied. If you have a work vehicle, this is not something to skip.
Coverage
What we commonly place
Not every item applies to every situation. Part of our job is telling you which ones actually matter for you.
- Owned vehicle liability
- Physical damage (comprehensive and collision)
- Hired auto liability (rentals)
- Non-owned auto liability (employee vehicles)
- Tools and equipment in the vehicle
- Trailer and towing coverage
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist
- Medical payments
- Fleet policies
- Hazard and rental reimbursement
In Detail
The parts worth understanding
Three separate exposures, and businesses commonly insure only the first.
Owned covers vehicles titled to the business. Hired covers vehicles you rent or lease short-term, the van you hire for a busy week. Non-owned covers your liability when an employee uses their own car for business errands.
Non-owned is the one most often missing. If a staff member causes an accident while collecting supplies, the business can be named in the claim regardless of whose car it was.
Commercial auto covers the vehicle. It generally does not cover what is inside it.
Tools, equipment and materials usually need inland marine coverage, sometimes called a contractor’s equipment floater. For a trades business the tools can be worth more than the van, and van break-ins are a real and recurring problem in the metro.
You almost certainly need a commercial policy if any of these are true:
- The vehicle is titled to the business
- It is used to transport goods, materials or equipment for work
- It carries permanent business signage or racking
- Employees other than you drive it
- It goes past a certain weight class
- It is used for delivery or hauling for hire
Local Knowledge
Metro driving, bridge traffic, and long service radii.
A contractor working across the whole metro crosses bridges and drives I-5 and I-205 every day. That is a very different risk than a business that stays within a few square miles. Carriers price how far you actually drive, so telling us the truth about your radius is one of the easiest ways to avoid overpaying.
Package it. Commercial auto usually sits alongside general liability, sometimes inside one bigger package policy. Quoting them together usually beats buying each one separately.
Lisa and Keith answer the phone here. No call center, no robots. Just North Portland neighbors helping neighbors.
The Process
Is this difficult? Not with us.
Tell us about your situation
A few quick details about what you are insuring and what you have now.
We compare carriers
We shop multiple companies to find the best combination of coverage and price.
You get a clear recommendation
Straight answers, in plain language, and often same-day coverage.
Questions
Commercial auto insurance questions
Can I use my personal auto policy for a work vehicle?
Generally no. If the vehicle is business-owned or used primarily for business, a personal policy will very likely not respond to a claim.
What is non-owned auto coverage?
It covers the business's liability when an employee uses their own vehicle for business purposes. It does not cover damage to the employee's car.
Are my tools covered in the van?
Not by the auto policy itself. Tools and equipment generally need inland marine coverage, often called a contractor's equipment floater.
Do I need commercial auto for a food cart?
If you tow it or it is business-titled, almost certainly. Food carts often need both commercial auto and general liability, and the towing exposure is easy to overlook.
Related coverage
Get your free commercial auto insurance quote.
We respond the same day whenever possible.