Coverage for Vehicles Used by California Businesses
Commercial auto insurance may help protect a business from certain liabilities and vehicle damage involving automobiles used in its operations.
Jose Estrada helps eligible California businesses explore commercial auto insurance based on their vehicles, drivers, locations, business use, driving radius, and loss history. Assistance is available in English and Spanish.
We are not currently accepting for-hire passenger or cargo transportation risks.
What Commercial Auto Insurance May Cover
Depending on the policy and selected coverage, commercial auto insurance may include:
- Bodily injury liability
- Property damage liability
- Collision coverage
- Comprehensive coverage
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage
- Medical payments
- Hired auto liability
- Non-owned auto liability
- Rental reimbursement
- Towing and roadside assistance
- Other optional endorsements
Coverage can vary by vehicle. Each vehicle and driver must be properly disclosed and evaluated by the carrier.
Liability Coverage
Commercial auto liability may help protect the business when a covered driver causes bodily injury or property damage while operating a covered vehicle.
Policy limits, covered drivers, covered vehicles, exclusions, and conditions vary. Contracts, vehicle leases, and business relationships may require limits greater than California’s minimum financial-responsibility requirements.
Physical Damage Coverage
Physical damage coverage may help protect covered business vehicles and can include:
- Collision coverage for damage resulting from a collision
- Comprehensive coverage for certain non-collision losses such as theft, vandalism, fire, or falling objects
A deductible generally applies. Lenders or leasing companies may require physical damage coverage for financed or leased vehicles.
Hired and Non-Owned Auto Coverage
Hired auto liability may apply when an eligible business rents or leases a vehicle for business purposes.
Non-owned auto liability may apply when employees use their personal vehicles for business activities. This coverage generally protects the business’s liability interest and does not automatically provide physical damage coverage for an employee’s vehicle.
Coverage depends on the policy terms, vehicle use, drivers, and selected endorsements.
Personal Auto Versus Commercial Auto
A personal auto policy may exclude or limit coverage when a vehicle is used primarily for business. A commercial auto policy may be needed when:
- The vehicle is owned or registered to a business
- Employees regularly drive the vehicle
- The vehicle carries tools, equipment, products, or supplies
- The vehicle is used to travel between job sites
- Customers or business property are transported
- The vehicle has commercial equipment or signage
- The business has contractual insurance requirements
Vehicle ownership and actual use should be disclosed accurately to the carrier.
Tools and Equipment Carried in Vehicles
Commercial auto physical damage coverage generally protects the covered vehicle, not every item carried inside it.
Tools, equipment, inventory, and customer property may require inland marine, tools and equipment, installation floater, or other commercial property coverage.
Businesses We May Assist
Commercial auto insurance may be available for eligible:
- Contractors
- Landscapers and gardeners
- Janitorial and cleaning companies
- Retail businesses
- Restaurants and food businesses
- Wholesalers
- Tire shops and repair facilities
- Auto-detailing businesses
- Property-management businesses
- Other businesses using eligible service or business vehicles
We are not currently accepting trucking, freight-hauling, rideshare, taxi, limousine, or other for-hire passenger or cargo transportation risks.
Information Needed for a Quote
Information requested may include:
- Legal business name and DBA
- Business address
- Description of operations
- Vehicle identification numbers
- Vehicle year, make, model, and value
- Vehicle ownership or lease information
- Driver names and license information
- Driving radius
- Garaging locations
- Annual mileage
- Vehicle use
- Current insurance
- Prior claims and driving history
- Required coverage limits
Complete and accurate information helps carriers determine eligibility and pricing.
Request a California Commercial Auto Insurance Quote
Tell us about your business, vehicles, drivers, locations, and current insurance. We will contact you to gather additional information and discuss available commercial auto coverage options.
Submitting an inquiry does not bind, change, or provide insurance coverage. Do not cancel existing insurance until replacement coverage has been confirmed in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does a business need commercial auto insurance?
Commercial auto insurance may be needed when a vehicle is owned by a business, regularly used for business operations, driven by employees, or subject to commercial insurance requirements.
Can I use a personal auto policy for business driving?
A personal auto policy may exclude or limit certain business use. The vehicle’s ownership, drivers, frequency of use, and actual business activities should be disclosed to the insurer.
What is hired auto coverage?
Hired auto coverage may protect the business’s liability interest when it rents or leases an eligible vehicle for business purposes, subject to policy terms and exclusions.
What is non-owned auto coverage?
Non-owned auto liability may protect the business when employees use personal vehicles for business activities. It generally does not replace the employee’s personal auto insurance or automatically cover damage to the employee’s vehicle.
Are employees automatically covered as drivers?
Not necessarily. Drivers may need to be disclosed, reviewed, and approved by the carrier. Driving history, licensing, age, and job duties may affect eligibility.
Does commercial auto insurance cover tools inside the vehicle?
Commercial auto physical damage generally does not cover all tools, equipment, or inventory carried inside a vehicle. Separate inland marine or property coverage may be needed.
Does commercial auto insurance cover rented vehicles?
Hired auto coverage may apply to certain rented or leased vehicles. Coverage depends on the policy, rental agreement, vehicle type, driver, and selected endorsements.
Does commercial auto cover vehicle theft?
Comprehensive coverage may cover theft of a scheduled vehicle, subject to the deductible, exclusions, valuation provisions, and policy terms.
What information is needed about drivers?
Carriers may request each driver’s name, date of birth, license number, driving history, job duties, experience, and frequency of vehicle use.
How much does commercial auto insurance cost?
Pricing depends on the vehicles, drivers, business use, mileage, garaging locations, driving radius, coverage limits, deductibles, and claims history.
Can I obtain a certificate of insurance?
After qualifying coverage has been issued, a certificate of insurance can generally be provided as evidence of coverage. A certificate does not change or expand the policy.
Do you insure trucking or passenger transportation businesses?
We are not currently accepting trucking, freight-hauling, rideshare, taxi, limousine, or other for-hire passenger or cargo transportation risks.
Is assistance available in Spanish?
Yes. Se habla español. California businesses may request assistance in English or Spanish.
Does submitting the form activate coverage?
No. Submitting an inquiry or receiving a quote does not bind or activate insurance. Coverage begins only after all carrier requirements are satisfied and binding or issuance has been confirmed.