Does your business own, rent or lease any vehicles? Perhaps your employees make deliveries or transport people from place to place. Perhaps you groom dogs inside of a fleet of on-the-go vans. Perhaps you travel to perform tasks at people’s homes or various worksites. Or perhaps your employees use their own cars as part of their job duties. If vehicles are used in any capacity by your business, you are required to purchase commercial auto insurance.
Just like with personal auto insurance, this coverage is designed to protect insured employees, business property and other drivers while out on the road. At minimum, you must buy liability coverage, which covers the costs associated with third party bodily injury and property damage. This means that if one of your employees causes an accident in which a person’s car is totaled, your insurance can cover the damages after you pay the deductible.
You can choose additional coverages, including:
- Collision: Covers damages to your business’ vehicles following an accident.
- Comprehensive: Covers damages to your business’ vehicles following severe weather, fire, theft, vandalism, collisions with animals etc.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist: Covers damages to your business’ vehicles following an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver.
Ask you agent about the right coverages for your business’ fleet. Be prepared to answer questions about how the vehicles are used, who drives them, if employees’ cars will be used for work purposes and various information about the use of vehicles. You can often opt to buy blanket coverage for an entire fleet or you can customize coverage for each vehicle depending on what each is used for.
It’s a good idea to buy more coverage for newer and/or more valuable vehicles. However, you may consider reducing coverage on older vehicles that may cost more to repair than the car is worth in order to lower your premium. Your agent will evaluate your business’ needs and shop for appropriate policies on your behalf.
Learn more about protecting commercial vehicles today. Call us for more information on Atlanta commercial auto insurance.