Commercial Auto Insurance

California-based companies that use vehicles to conduct business are required by state law to maintain minimum amounts of auto insurance coverage. Depending on the vehicle type, the company may also be required to meet federal insurance coverage requirements.  

Your agent can help determine which coverages and dollar limits may be appropriate for your organization. Contact Driscoll & Driscoll in Palmdale, California, to learn more about your commercial auto insurance options.  

What Does Commercial Auto Insurance Cover? 
Commercial auto insurance is distinct from personal auto insurance and is designed to provide financial protection for your business vehicles and drivers. A commercial auto insurance policy typically provides the following coverage: 

• Bodily injury liability—If a driver operating a business-owned vehicle is at fault in an accident, this coverage may help pay for third-party medical expenses that may arise from the accident.
• Property damage liability—This policy may help cover accident-related damage to another person's property, such as cars, fences or buildings.
• Collision and comprehensive—These policies may help pay to repair or replace your business vehicle in case of a covered accident or incident.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist—This policy may help provide coverage if an uninsured or underinsured driver is responsible for an accident involving your business vehicle.
• Hired and non-owned auto liability—If an employee uses their personal vehicle for business-related activities or your company leases or borrows vehicles, this can offer additional liability coverage for your business. 

Do You Need Commercial Automobile Insurance? 
If you're contemplating whether you need commercial auto insurance, consider the following questions: 

• Do you have vehicles that are owned or leased by your business?
• Do your employees use their vehicles for business purposes?
• Are you involved in a business where vehicles are crucial for operations, such as deliveries, transporting goods or providing services? 

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you likely need commercial auto insurance. 

What Commercial Auto Insurance Is Required In California? 
In California, company-owned vehicles must have minimum auto liability insurance. Alternatively, companies can get a surety bond or make a cash deposit with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Some companies may be eligible for a DMV-issued self-insurance certificate.  

California commercial auto insurance policies must include the following: 

 

• Bodily injury liability insurance may help pay your company’s legal liability for third-party accident-related injuries up to the policy’s limits.
• Property injury liability insurance may help cover your company’s legal liability for third-party accident-related property damage claims up to the policy’s limits.  

Your agent may recommend that your company purchase more than the state’s minimum required amount of commercial auto liability coverage to provide additional financial protection.  

If your company finances vehicles, your lender has minimum insurance requirements that typically include the following: 

• Collision coverage may help pay for damages to the covered vehicle after colliding with another vehicle or object. 
• Comprehensive coverage may help cover non-accident-related damages, including fire, vandalism, weather damage or theft. 
• Guaranteed asset protection (GAP) coverage may help pay off your company’s financed vehicle if it’s a total loss after a covered accident or incident.  

What Optional Commercial Auto Coverages Are Available in California? 
Depending on your company’s needs, your agent may also recommend adding the following optional coverages: 

• Medical payments (MedPay) coverage may help pay accident-related medical bills if a company vehicle driver or passenger is injured in an accident, regardless of who is at fault, up to the policy’s limits. 
• Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage may help pay your company driver and passengers’ accident-related medical expenses and other costs up to the policy’s limits, regardless of who is at fault for the accident.
• Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage may help cover damage to your company vehicle if you are in an accident with a driver that doesn’t have appropriate insurance coverage. 

If your company leases, borrows or rents vehicles, your agent may recommend that you maintain hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA) to provide appropriate liability protection.  

How to Get California Commercial Auto Insurance 
Contact Driscoll & Driscoll today to get personalized commercial auto insurance quotes.