Commercial Auto Insurance Montana Requirements Explained

In Montana, commercial auto insurance is a must-have for businesses that use vehicles for work. You'll need to meet the state's minimum liability requirements.

The minimum liability limits in Montana are $25,000 for bodily injury or death per person, $50,000 for bodily injury or death per accident, and $10,000 for property damage.

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Commercial auto insurance in Montana is a must-have for businesses that use vehicles for work. In fact, all vehicles in the state are required to carry auto liability insurance.

Your business could be in serious trouble without it, facing expensive lawsuits or settlements if one of your vehicles is involved in an accident. This can include damage to other vehicles or property, medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

If you're caught driving a vehicle without the required insurance, you could face fines, penalties, or even have your vehicle registration suspended. It's a risk you don't want to take, especially when it's so easy to get commercial auto insurance.

In Montana, commercial auto insurance coverage is essential to protect your business from financial ruin. It's not just a good idea, it's the law.

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Commercial auto insurance in Montana is a must-have for any business that uses vehicles. All vehicles in the state are required to have a minimum amount of auto liability insurance coverage, whether they're for personal or business use.

You'll need to have at least $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident. These are the minimum requirements, but your insurance agency might recommend higher liability coverage limits based on the types of vehicles you own and how they're used.

If you own semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, or other vehicles with a Montana Department of Transportation serial number, you'll need to check if you need additional liability coverage requirements. You can do this by checking your USDOT number or docket number with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Here are the minimum insurance requirements in Montana:

Commercial auto insurance policies in Montana typically include at least the state-mandated coverage, which includes bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage.

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These mandatory coverages protect your business if you or one of your drivers injures or kills someone else while driving a company-owned vehicle.

Bodily injury liability coverage covers an injured party's claims for damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, as well as your legal defense fees if another party involved in the accident sues you.

Property damage liability coverage pays for any damage that you or one of your drivers cause to the property of others, such as another driver's car.

In addition to these mandatory coverages, insurance companies offer several other types of coverage that may be included as standard in their policies or offered as optional coverage.

Some of these additional coverages include collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, medical payments coverage, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Collision coverage covers damage to your vehicle sustained in a collision, regardless of who was at fault, while comprehensive coverage covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged or totaled by a non-collision event such as a hailstorm or theft.

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Medical payments coverage helps pay for medical, dental, and funeral expenses for you or your passengers, regardless of who is at fault for an accident.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage covers your driver's medical expenses and your vehicle's damage following an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver.

Other coverage options may include towing and roadside assistance, non-owned or hired auto liability insurance, and loading and unloading coverage.

Here are some examples of these additional coverages and their purposes:

In Montana, all vehicles, both personal and commercial, must have a minimum amount of liability insurance to comply with state law. This includes commercial auto policies that must have a certain level of coverage for each vehicle.

Bodily injury liability coverage must be at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, while property damage liability coverage must be at least $20,000 per accident. It's a good idea to purchase liability coverage in amounts higher than the state's required minimums, as accidents in company vehicles can often lead to higher liability lawsuits.

Trucks over 10,000 pounds have additional requirements, including additional liability insurance, which depends on factors such as the truck's weight, whether it's involved in interstate commerce, and what it's transporting.

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Paying more for commercial auto coverage is common in large cities like Missoula compared to smaller cities like Kalispell. This is likely due to higher claims and more expensive settlements in those areas.

Areas prone to weather-related events like tornadoes and floods also factor into insurance costs. These events can lead to more claims and higher settlements, driving up insurance prices.

Locations with a higher incidence of claims and more expensive settlements tend to have higher insurance costs. This is a key consideration when evaluating commercial auto insurance options.

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In Montana, commercial auto policies must have a minimum liability limit of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $20,000 for property damage.

All commercial auto policies must include bodily injury liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, as well as property damage liability coverage of at least $20,000 per accident.

Commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of over 10,000 pounds have additional liability insurance requirements that depend on several factors, including the vehicle's weight, whether it's involved in interstate commerce, and what it's transporting.

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Trucks over 10,000 pounds require additional liability insurance, but the exact requirements depend on the specific circumstances of the vehicle.

To comply with state law, all commercial vehicles in Montana must have liability insurance with the following minimum limits: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $20,000 per accident for property damage.

Here's a summary of the minimum liability insurance requirements for commercial vehicles in Montana:

It's usually a good idea to purchase liability coverage in amounts that are higher than the state's required minimums to adequately protect your business.

If you live in Montana, you'll want to know which professions require commercial auto insurance. Contractors, for instance, need it to cover their work vehicles.

Landscapers, snow plow services, and painters often have large vehicles that require special insurance coverage.

Real estate agents and consultants may also need commercial auto insurance to protect their clients and business reputation.

Here are some common professions that require commercial auto insurance in Montana:

These professions often involve driving company vehicles or using personal vehicles for work purposes, making commercial auto insurance a necessary requirement.

If you're planning to operate a commercial vehicle in Montana, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the state's insurance requirements.

To verify the insurance status of a commercial vehicle in Montana, you can check the Montana Vehicle Insurance and Verification database through the MT Motor Vehicle Division.

Here are some key resources to keep in mind:

These resources will help you navigate the complex world of commercial auto insurance in Montana.

Saving money on your commercial auto insurance is a top priority, and we've got you covered. You can save 15% or more when you pay in full.

Our discounts can really add up, and you can take advantage of them to get the best rate for your Montana policy.

By paying in full, you can enjoy significant savings and reduce your insurance costs.

There are thousands of small businesses in Montana that need commercial vehicle insurance, and they all have different insurance coverage needs.

An independent insurance agent in Montana can help you find competitively priced coverage that is compliant with all state and federal laws.

You don't have to compare quotes alone; an independent insurance agent can do the legwork for you.

They can obtain customized quotes from multiple insurance companies, making it easier to find the best coverage for your business.

Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage, so you don't have to.

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Commercial umbrella insurance is a must-have for Montana businesses, as it provides extra protection beyond your standard commercial auto insurance policy. This type of insurance boosts coverage on your general liability insurance, commercial auto insurance, and employer's liability insurance when the underlying policy reaches its limit.

Customer lawsuits can be a major threat to your business, and umbrella insurance can help cover the costs of defending against them.

Auto accident lawsuits are another risk that umbrella insurance can help mitigate. This type of insurance can provide an extra layer of protection in case of a serious accident.

Employee injury lawsuits are a common occurrence, and umbrella insurance can help cover the costs of defending against them.

Here are some examples of situations where umbrella insurance can be especially helpful: