Commercial Auto vs. Personal Auto Insurance | Insureon (2024)

The line between a personal vehicle and a commercial vehicle is sometimes unclear. Find out which types of auto insurance cover vehicles used for work.

What's the difference between commercial and personal auto insurance?

View video transcript.

There are a few key differences between commercial and personal auto coverage.

When your business owns the vehicle, then you need commercial auto insurance. It'll cover you, your employees, and even personal errands.

With personal auto insurance, it's perfect for the morning commute, but won't cover accidents on the clock.

When it comes to pricing, a commercial auto insurance premium can cost up to 150 dollars per month, depending on the industry you work within and your coverage needs.

Are you self-employed? There are auto policy options for you too.

Click the link below to find the right auto policy for your business.

For small businesses, the line between what is considered a personal vehicle and a commercial vehicle is often blurry. Sometimes small business owners and employees use their personal vehicles for business purposes. For example, they might use their own car to travel to job sites, transport equipment, or deliver goods.

Personal auto insurance policies almost always exclude business use. That means you're not covered if you get into an accident while driving for work (with the exception of your commute).

What is commercial auto insurance?

The main difference between personal and commercial auto insurance is who owns the vehicle. If your business owns a vehicle, it must be covered by commercial auto insurance.

Both personal and commercial auto policies pay for legal expenses, bodily injuries, and property damage related to auto accidents. However, commercial auto insurance usually covers higher claims, different types of vehicles, and more complex legal issues.

This type of insurance coverage typically includes all the business’s employees as additional insureds, which means every employee with a valid license can drive your company vehicle. The cost of commercial car insurance is affected by their driving records, along with the policy's coverage limits and deductible.

Commercial auto insurance covers business vehicles

If you're a sole proprietor who owns a vehicle used primarily for business, you may need commercial auto insurance. Commercial coverage typically has higher liability limits than personal auto insurance. It can cover cars, trucks, limos, and vans used to:

  • Transport goods or equipment
  • Drive clients or employees
  • Perform a service that you’re paid for
  • Charge passengers a fee to ride in your vehicle
  • Charge people a fee to transport goods in your vehicle
  • Haul heavy, work-related loads, such as a dump truck
  • Tow a trailer used for business

Does commercial auto insurance cover personal use?

Commercial auto insurance typically covers employees who are given permission to drive your business vehicle. This policy will help pay the costs of accidents when an employee is driving, even if the vehicle was used for personal reasons.

So, what about personal vehicles occasionally used for work? That's where a policy called hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA) comes into play.

Find auto insurance quotes for your business

Commercial Auto vs. Personal Auto Insurance | Insureon (1)

What is hired and non-owned auto insurance?

If you or your employees use a personal vehicle for work errands, you should consider purchasing hired and non-owned auto insurance. This policy provides liability coverage if you get into an accident while driving your own vehicle for work purposes. It also provides protection when your business rents or leases a vehicle.

This policy only covers legal bills resulting from an accident, not physical damage. For example, it won't pay for repairs if your vehicle is damaged in an accident.

HNOA covers personal, leased, and rented vehicles used for work

You may want to purchase this liability insurance if:

  • Your employees run work errands in their personal vehicles
  • You rent a car for a business trip
  • Your company leases vehicles

Commercial Auto vs. Personal Auto Insurance | Insureon (2)

What is personal auto insurance?

Personal auto insurance only covers accidents that occur while you’re driving your vehicle for personal use. That includes commuting to and from work and travel unrelated to your job duties. Policies typically insure the owner of the vehicle and one or two immediate family members.

Your personal car insurance won't cover business use

Most personal auto policies specifically exclude business use. If you get into an accident while driving for work, your insurance company will likely reject your claim.

In some cases, personal auto insurance might include limited coverage for business use. Check with your insurance company to find out exactly what is and isn't covered.

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Commercial Auto vs. Personal Auto Insurance | Insureon (3)

Why personal car insurance may not cover business use

Insurance companies view business drivers as bigger risks than personal drivers. That's why you may need auto insurance that specifically covers driving for work purposes.

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How much does commercial auto insurance cost vs. personal auto insurance?

In general, commercial auto insurance costs more than personal auto insurance. That's because commercial policies tend to have higher limits, which means more coverage in the event of an accident.

A personal auto policy usually covers one person driving their own car, but a commercial policy covers an entire business. That could include multiple drivers, multiple vehicles, trucks, and employees with poor driving records.

Insureon customers pay an average premium of $147 per month, or about $1,762 annually, for commercial auto insurance, regardless of policy limits. Like your personal auto insurance policy, your insurance company calculates your commercial vehicle insurance premiums based on a number of factors.

However, commercial auto insurance doesn't have to be expensive. It depends on the specifics of your business. A small business where one or two people drive a company car will have a much lower premium than a big business with a fleet of vehicles and numerous drivers.

Factors that affect the cost of commercial car insurance include:

  • Your industry risks
  • The type of vehicles you own
  • The number of vehicles
  • How often the vehicles are driven
  • Employee driving records
  • The type of coverage you choose
  • The policy limits you choose
  • Auto insurance claims history

Get auto insurance quotes from trusted carriers with Insureon

Complete Insureon’s easy online application today to compare quotes for commercial auto insurance and other business insurance policies from top-rated U.S. providers. Our licensed insurance agents can help you find the right coverage for your small business.

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Updated:

February 21, 2024

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EXPLORE ON INSUREON

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Commercial Auto vs. Personal Auto Insurance | Insureon (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between commercial and personal auto insurance? ›

Both types of coverage cover accidents, however, commercial insurance typically covers higher claims. Commercial and personal auto insurance policies don't cover the same types of vehicles; commercial insurance covers vehicles like semi-trucks, dump trucks, commercial pickup trucks, and more.

Is there a difference between commercial and private insurance? ›

Commercial health insurance, also called private health insurance, is coverage issued by a private company or entity. It is not from government-issued insurance like Medicare or Medicaid. Commercial health insurance companies include: Aetna.

What is the difference between commercial and personal liability insurance? ›

The main difference, however, is that personal liability insurance covers for injuries or damages that the insured is personally held responsible for while general liability policy, which is also called commercial general liability insurance, pays for the costs incurred from bodily and property harm associated with a ...

What is the difference between private and commercial cars? ›

Commercial vehicles are used for business purposes and must be registered with the DMV. Personal vehicles, on the other hand, are used for personal, non-business purposes and do not have to be registered with the DMV. There are some important distinctions between these two types of vehicles that you should know about.

Why is commercial car insurance more expensive? ›

Typically, commercial auto insurance will cost more than personal auto insurance because it protects you against more expensive risks and provides a higher level of coverage.

What is the difference between commercial and self insured plans? ›

Better cash flow: In a self-insured plan, the employer pays the actual cost of care instead of a fixed monthly premium. With a commercially insured plan, the employer pays the same premium even if members use less care one month than predicted.

Is commercial insurance more expensive than personal? ›

Commercial policies are designed to provide coverage for the increased risks that arise from a business' daily operations. This type of insurance is typically more expensive than personal auto because of the higher liability coverage it provides.

Who is insured under a commercial auto policy? ›

Commercial auto insurance covers you and employees who use your vehicles as part of your business. If your vehicle causes an accident, resulting in injury or damages to property, a party can file a claim and bring a lawsuit against you or the driver.

Is commercial insurance the same as full coverage? ›

Full coverage auto insurance is typically a combination of various commercial insurance options that add up to protect the vehicle, the driver, and the company to the fullest extent possible.

Is commercial insurance more complex than personal insurance? ›

Commercial automobile coverage is similar to the coverage you may carry on your personal auto; however, commercial automobile exposures can be more complex requiring specialty coverages to be considered based on the individual needs of your business.

What is the difference between personal and business liability? ›

Personal liability insurance covers injury or damage compensation claims made against you by a third party. Public liability insurance is the commercial version of this insurance – it covers compensation costs if someone makes a claim against your business for injury or damage.

What is the meaning of commercial insurance? ›

Commercial insurance, also known as business insurance, protects businesses from losses due to unexpected events during normal business operations, such as lawsuits, natural disasters, or accidents.

What makes a car commercial? ›

In the United States, a vehicle is designated "commercial" when it is titled or registered to a company. This is a broad definition, as commercial vehicles may be fleet vehicles, company cars, or other vehicles used for business.

What is classed as a commercial vehicle? ›

A commercial vehicle is generally defined as a vehicle used for transporting goods or passengers for business purposes.

What does private vs commercial mean? ›

Commercial means profit-seeking production, buying, or selling of any good, service, or other product. Private Sector means other than the fund, a state or federal source, or an agency of a state or the federal government.

What is the difference between personal and commercial use license? ›

You can only use it privately for yourself, your portfolio and your personal projects. Commercial licenses are for commercial work, meaning you or someone in your company can use it for your client projects, such as client presentations.

What is the difference between a car and a commercial vehicle? ›

Seating and Design: Vehicles designed with a load area, limited seating (usually up to three seats), and no rear windows are more likely to be classified as commercial to gain tax benefits. Dual-purpose vehicles, which can serve both commercial and personal use, might face more scrutiny.

What is the difference between personal insurance and company insurance? ›

The key difference is what the insurance policy protects. Personal insurance protects your personal assets, while business insurance protects your business assets. Business insurance often includes more complex and specific coverages, tailored to the unique risks that businesses face.

What is a personal auto policy designed to cover? ›

Personal automobile insurance covers private passenger vehicles. It provides protection against economic loss to an insured from bodily injury or property damage to others (liability) arising from the operation, maintenance, or use of a covered automobile.

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