
Commercial auto insurance can be a significant expense for businesses, with costs varying widely depending on several factors.
The average annual cost of commercial auto insurance in the United States is around $1,500 to $2,000 per vehicle, according to industry estimates.
Businesses with a higher number of vehicles on the road tend to pay more for insurance, with companies that own 10 or more vehicles typically paying upwards of $3,000 per year.
Factors such as the type of vehicle, driver experience, and location also play a significant role in determining insurance costs.
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Average Commercial Auto Insurance Costs
The average cost of commercial auto insurance can vary greatly depending on the type of vehicle and business. For a standard car used for business purposes, you can expect to pay around $600 to $2400 per year.
The cost can also differ significantly from state to state. For example, in California, the average annual range is $574 to $1804, while in Florida, it's $2565 to $3370.
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According to Insureon, the 2024 national average cost of commercial car insurance is around $150 per month for both business auto and commercial customers. Here's a breakdown of typical average monthly premiums for different types of businesses:
Average by Business Type
If you're a food truck owner, you can expect to pay around $2,400 per year for commercial auto insurance. This is because food trucks often drive long distances to reach different events and locations.
The average cost for a taxi or ride-sharing service is around $1,800 per year. This is because taxi and ride-sharing companies often have a high number of vehicles on the road.
Small retail stores, on the other hand, typically pay around $1,200 per year for commercial auto insurance. This is because they usually have a smaller fleet of vehicles and drive shorter distances.
Construction companies often pay the highest rates, with an average cost of $3,600 per year. This is because construction companies often have large fleets of vehicles and may drive long distances to job sites.
What Is the Average?
The average cost of commercial auto insurance can be a bit tricky to pin down, but we've got some numbers to give you an idea. The national average cost is around $150 per month for both business auto and commercial customers, according to Insureon.
Some industries have higher average costs than others. For example, contractors pay an average of $172 per month, while installation professionals pay $184 per month. These numbers come from Progressive, another insurer that provides commercial auto insurance.
The type of vehicle you have also affects the cost. A standard car used for business purposes can cost anywhere from $600 to $2400 per year, while a semi-truck can cost between $8000 and $12,500 per year.
Here are some average monthly premiums for different types of businesses, based on data from Insureon:
Factors Affecting Commercial Auto Insurance
Commercial auto insurance costs can vary significantly depending on several factors. The number of vehicles and drivers you need to cover for your business is a key factor, with more vehicles and drivers resulting in higher premiums.
The type of coverage you choose also affects the cost of your policy, with different coverage types and endorsements impacting the overall premium price. Higher coverage limits can lower your financial risk, but also result in higher premiums.
Your business's claims history is another important factor, with few or no claims in the past resulting in lower premiums. The value of your fleet is also a significant factor, with insuring a dozen semi-trucks costing more than insuring just one or two commercial vans.
The size and type of vehicles you have also impact the cost of your policy, with large trucks causing more damage than cars used for standard deliveries. Driving distance and parking location also affect the cost, with long-distance driving and high-vandalism areas resulting in higher premiums.
A higher deductible can also lower your premium costs, but may result in higher out-of-pocket expenses in the event of a claim. The type of cargo you haul also impacts the cost, with hazardous materials and high-value items resulting in higher premiums.
Here are some key factors that affect commercial auto insurance rates:
- Location: Your location will play a significant role in insurance costs, as some states are more expensive than others.
- Vehicle type: The commercial vehicle's year, make and model will affect the price. Bigger, heavier vehicles typically cost more to insure than smaller, lighter ones.
- Miles driven: How much you drive during the policy term will also affect your rates. The more you drive, the more expensive your premium will be.
- Driving record: Your driving record and your employees' driving records will affect your rates. Better driving records are rewarded with lower rates.
- Industry: What you do for a living can affect your vehicle rates.
- Number of vehicles: Having a fleet of vehicles increases your overall rates but may lower the per-vehicle rate.
These factors will all impact the cost of your commercial auto insurance, so it's essential to work with your insurance carrier to get an accurate quote that considers all pertinent details about the vehicles and drivers.
Determining Commercial Auto Insurance Rates
Determining commercial auto insurance rates can be a complex process, but understanding the factors that influence them can help you make informed decisions. The average commercial auto cost isn't necessarily what you'll pay, as many customers have a monthly premium closer to the median price due to expensive outliers.
Location plays a significant role in insurance costs, with some states being more expensive than others. Vehicle type is also a factor, with bigger, heavier vehicles typically costing more to insure than smaller, lighter ones. Miles driven will also affect your rates, with more driving resulting in higher premiums due to increased accident risk.
Your driving record and that of your employees will impact your rates, with better records rewarded with lower rates. Industry and the number of vehicles you have will also influence your premium. A fleet of vehicles may lower the per-vehicle rate, but increase your overall rates.
Here are some factors that determine how much commercial auto insurance costs:
- Vehicle make, model, and year
- Cost when new
- Gross vehicle weight, especially if the vehicle is a truck
- Driving records for all drivers
- What the vehicle is being used for
- Claims history
- Coverage options, including limits and deductibles
- Number of commercial autos being insured
An insurance company calculates your premium by considering all of these factors, as well as the make, model, year, and number of vehicles. The extent of coverage, type of coverage, amount of coverage, claims history, value of your fleet, type of vehicles, driving distance, parking location, deductible, type of cargo, credit history, and type of industry will all impact your premium.
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Here are some examples of median and average monthly costs for different types of commercial vehicles:
To get an accurate estimate of your commercial auto insurance rates, work with your insurance carrier to consider all pertinent details about the vehicles and drivers.
Saving on Commercial Auto Insurance
You can save on your commercial auto insurance cost by choosing the right insurance provider, such as Progressive Commercial.
They offer a variety of discounts, including the Prior Auto Insurance Discount, which can help lower your premium rates.
Progressive Commercial also offers a Multi-Product Discount, which can save you money if you bundle multiple insurance policies.
You can also save by paying your premium in full, which is eligible for the Paid In Full Discount.
Additionally, Progressive Commercial offers the Snapshot ProView, which can help you save money by monitoring your driving habits.
The Smart Haul Program is another way to save, but the details of this program are not specified in the provided article sections.
Here are some ways to reduce your commercial auto insurance costs:
- Prior Auto Insurance Discount
- Multi-Product Discount
- Paid In Full Discount
- Snapshot ProView
- Smart Haul Program
Commercial Auto Insurance Providers
If you're a small business owner, you might want to check out Progressive Commercial for affordable rates. They offer discounts for electronic payments, upfront premium payments, and policy bundling.
GEICO provides great rates for delivery and rideshare drivers who want a single company for both commercial and personal auto coverage. They also offer full commercial policies for single vehicles and fleets.
The Hartford specializes in policies for professionals who use their vehicles for business. You can save on this type of coverage with accident and fender bender forgiveness.
You'll need commercial auto insurance if you use any type of motor vehicle for work. This includes borrowing, renting, or hiring vehicles for commercial purposes, or using your personal vehicle for business purposes, like being a rideshare driver.
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Commercial Auto Insurance Coverage
Commercial auto insurance provides a range of coverages to protect your business and employees on the road.
Auto liability coverage pays for bodily injury or property damages you may become legally liable for in an accident.
Uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage pays for medical expenses and other damages owed to you, your employees, or passengers when an accident is caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist.
Medical payments coverage pays up to your coverage limit for medical expenses for you, your employees, and passengers arising from motor vehicle accidents.
Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle from another vehicle, regardless of who is at fault. Comprehensive coverage helps pay for damage to your vehicle from something other than another vehicle, like vandalism, theft, or weather events.
A commercial auto policy can also include coverage for cars you borrow or rent, as well as coverage for employees who use their cars for your business.
Here are the main types of commercial auto insurance coverages:
- Auto liability
- Uninsured and underinsured motorists
- Medical payments
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Rental reimbursement
Commercial Auto Insurance Costs for Customers
43% of our customers pay less than $150 per month on commercial auto business insurance. This is a significant finding, especially for small business owners who are on a tight budget.
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The breakdown of monthly commercial auto insurance costs is as follows: 11% of customers pay under $75, 9% pay between $75 and $100, 23% pay between $101 and $150, 20% pay between $151 and $200, and 37% pay over $200.
To put this into perspective, if you're a small business owner, you might be surprised to know that a significant number of customers pay under $150 per month for commercial auto insurance.
Choosing Commercial Auto Insurance Limits and Deductible
Choosing the right limits for your commercial auto insurance is crucial. Lower limits will save you money, but you'll have higher risks if you don't get enough coverage.
A higher deductible will save you money on your policy, but you'll pay less for the policy upfront. You'll pay less for the policy, but you'll have to pay more out of pocket when you file a claim.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the best commercial vehicle insurance?
For commercial vehicle insurance, Progressive is considered the best overall option, offering a comprehensive coverage package for businesses. However, specific needs may be better met by other providers, such as NEXT Insurance for small businesses or Farmers for contractors.
Sources
- https://www.progressivecommercial.com/commercial-auto-insurance/commercial-auto-cost/
- https://www.caranddriver.com/car-insurance/a36232977/commercial-auto-insurance-cost/
- https://www.business.com/insurance/commercial-auto-costs/
- https://www.nationwide.com/lc/resources/small-business/articles/how-much-does-commercial-auto-insurance-cost
- https://www.nextinsurance.com/commercial-auto-insurance/cost/
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