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Types Of Commercial Vehicles To Insure

A commercial vehicle is defined as a vehicle used for business or commercial purposes.

If you own a business that uses a vehicle or number of vehicles for commercial purposes, you need to insure those vehicles with a commercial auto insurance policy. Insuring commercial vehicles can be more expensive than purchasing personal auto insurance, and commercial vehicle insurance requirements vary by state; however, meeting at least your state's minimum liability requirements protects you, your employees, and your business.

Because so many different types of vehicles can be used for business purposes, it may be confusing to know what you need to insure with a commercial auto insurance policy. Our guide can help you better understand what types of commercial vehicles you need to insure.

Commonly Insured Commercial Vehicles

People often associate vehicles such as freight trucks or delivery trucks with commercial vehicles. What you may not realize is that any vehicle being used for business purposes can technically be considered a commercial vehicle that must be insured by a commercial car insurance policy.

Commonly insured commercial trucks and vehicles include the following:

  • Passenger car or van.
  • Passenger bus.
  • Minivan.
  • Agricultural truck.
  • Box or straight truck.
  • Cargo van.
  • Car carrier.
  • Flatbed truck.
  • Catering truck.
  • Cement mixer.
  • Delivery van.
  • Hearse.
  • Ice cream truck.
  • Motor home.
  • Limousine.
  • Pickup truck.
  • Fifth wheel truck.
  • Sport utility vehicle.
  • Pump truck.
  • Step van.
  • Tank truck.
  • Trunk tractor.
  • Tow truck.
  • Refrigerated truck.
  • Wheelchair bus.
  • Wheelchair van.
  • Front loader.
  • Garbage truck.

Commercial vs. Personal Car Insurance

If your drive a car that is not typically used as a commercial vehicle, such as an average sedan, you may wonder why you need to insure it with a commercial car insurance policy.

To car insurance companies, the risk of covering any vehicle used for commercial and business purposes is higher than the risk of covering cars used for personal purposes.

This difference in risk factor is the main reason car insurance policies for commercial purposes differ from personal auto policies.

Commercial car insurance policies are better suited to cover:

  • Your business and its assets.
  • Your employees or other drivers you hire to drive your company cars.
  • The higher risk of operating certain commercial vehicles.

Commercial Insurance Rates

Your commercial auto insurance rate depends on several factors. These factors include, but are not limited to:

  • Age and personal driving record of all drivers.
  • License type of all drivers.
  • Vehicle make and model.
  • Type of cargo the vehicle carries.
  • Number of passengers the vehicle transports.
  • Annual mileage.

In order to obtain an insurance quote, you must provide this information for your insurance agent. After all this information is accounted for, the insurance agent will assess the risk involved in covering your commercial vehicle, and then present you with an according commercial auto insurance quote.

Commercial Car Insurance Quotes

Most companies that offer private car insurance also write policies for commercial car insurance.

To make things easier for you, most commercial auto insurance companies allow you to obtain a commercial insurance quote online. You can also get quotes by talking directly to a commercial car insurance agent:

  • In person.
    OR
  • On the phone.

Compare at least 3 commercial quotes to ensure you get the best commercial auto insurance policy at the best price.

If you have a pre-existing personal auto insurance policy, contact your current car insurance provider regarding potential discounts for commercial insurance, as many providers offer multi-policy discounts.

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