Commercial Auto Insurance
Comprehensive Commercial Auto Insurance Coverage For Your Business Vehicles
Protect Your Vehicles, Drivers, and Business
Commercial automobile insurance provides protection for automobiles used in the course and scope of business. Bertram Insurance Service offers comprehensive commercial auto policies that ensure that company vehicles, as well as the employees who operate them, are properly protected.
A commercial automobile policy can provide liability and physical damage coverage for both small and large fleets of commercially owned vehicles. Commercial auto vehicle coverages include:
- Liability Coverage
- Uninsured Motorists Coverage
- Underinsured Motorists Coverage
- Physical Damage Coverage
If your business owns vehicles, or your employees drive for work purposes, a personal auto policy generally won’t provide the coverage you need. Commercial auto insurance protects your vehicles, your drivers, and your business from the higher liability exposure that comes with operating vehicles commercially.
We help businesses find coverage for everything from a single work truck to a full commercial fleet.
Factors That Affect Your Commercial Auto Insurance Cost
- Number and type of vehicles
- Driver records and experience
- Vehicle usage and annual mileage
- Type of cargo or equipment hauled
- Industry and radius of operation
- Claims history and coverage limits selected
Because every business’s fleet and usage is different, the best way to know your actual cost is to get a personalized quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Commercial Auto Insurance?
Commercial auto insurance provides liability and physical damage coverage for vehicles owned, leased, or used by a business. It’s designed for the higher liability exposure and different usage patterns that come with business driving, compared to personal auto insurance.
Why Do You Need Commercial Auto Insurance?
Personal auto policies typically exclude business use, meaning a claim could be denied if you’re using a personal vehicle for business purposes without the right endorsement. Commercial auto insurance also generally carries higher liability limits appropriate for business exposure, and may be required for certain licenses, permits, or client contracts.
What Does a Typical Commercial Auto Policy Cover?
Coverage Type | What It Protects |
|---|---|
Liability | Injury or property damage you or an employee causes while driving for business. |
Physical Damage (Collision/Comprehensive) | Damage to your business vehicle from an accident, theft, or other covered event. |
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist | Your costs if a business vehicle is hit by a driver with no or insufficient insurance. |
Medical Payments / PIP | Medical expenses for drivers and passengers after an accident. |
Hired & Non-Owned Auto (HNOA) | Liability coverage for vehicles you rent or lease, or employees’ personal vehicles used for work. |
Cargo Coverage | Protection for goods or equipment being transported. |
What’s Usually NOT Covered?
- Purely personal use – depending on policy terms — some commercial policies limit or exclude non-business use.
- Normal wear and tear – routine maintenance and aging are excluded.
- Employee injuries – covered under workers’ compensation, not commercial auto.
- Unlisted or unauthorized drivers – drivers not disclosed on the policy may not be covered.
- Cargo damage beyond policy limits – high-value cargo may need additional coverage.
Does my personal auto policy cover business use of my vehicle?
Generally not, or only in a limited way. Regular business use — deliveries, transporting equipment, visiting job sites — typically requires a commercial auto policy or a business-use endorsement.
What is hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) coverage?
HNOA coverage protects your business when employees use their own vehicles for work, or when your business rents or leases a vehicle. It covers your business’s liability exposure in those situations, though it typically doesn’t cover damage to the vehicle itself.
Do I need commercial auto insurance if employees use their own cars for work?
here’s no set number. Even a single vehicle used primarily for business purposes typically needs commercial auto coverage rather than a personal policy.
How many vehicles do I need before I need a commercial policy?
Yes, in most cases – an HNOA endorsement or policy protects your business’s liability exposure even though the vehicle itself is the employee’s personal property and insured under their own policy.
What's the difference between commercial auto and a business auto endorsement?
A full commercial auto policy is typically used for vehicles titled to the business or used primarily for business. A business-use endorsement on a personal policy may work for occasional or light business use of a personally owned vehicle, depending on the insurer.
Does commercial auto cover cargo/equipment I'm hauling?
Many commercial auto policies offer optional cargo coverage, though it’s often subject to specific limits — businesses that regularly haul valuable goods or equipment may want to confirm their coverage amount.