Alright, let’s not sugarcoat nothin’. If you’re runnin’ a business with wheels—trucks, vans, whatever—insurance ain’t really optional. I found out the hard way. One little bump in the wrong place at the wrong time? Boom. Lawsuit. Expense. Stress? You don’t even know.
So, What’s Actually Covered? (I Asked Twice)
Honestly, at first I thought auto insurance was just auto insurance. Wrong. Business stuff is different. So like, it’s not just about who hit who. There’s a bunch of bits to it:
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Liability covers you when your driver’s the one who goofs.
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Collison—wait, Collision?—covers your own ride when it crashes.
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Comprehensive? It’s for stuff that ain’t crashes. Storms. Fires. Crazy people breaking glass.
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UM/UIM or whatever – that’s when someone else got no insurance. Still on you sometimes.
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Medical bits, that one pays no matter whose fault it was.
I thought it was simpler. Nope.
Fleet Size? Yeah, That Totally Matters
Back then, we had like 2 vans. Now it’s 6. And lemme tell ya, insurers don’t treat you the same.
Bigger the vehicle, more weight, more risk, more cost. Simple math. Also they ask about how far you driving? Local or across the states? One time I forgot to mention one route—we got denied a claim ’cause of that. Dumb mistake. Never again.
Pro tip (I guess?): keep a spreadsheet. Details save headaches.
Don’t Cheap Out on Liability (Like I Did Once)
Listen, if someone tells you “Commercial Business Auto Coverage,” don’t. Seriously. When a car from my crew rear-ended a Beemer in some fancy neighborhood, the claim was almost double what I had. Guess who paid the rest? Yours truly.
The state says one thing, reality says another. That’s why I upped it and even grabbed a lil’ umbrella policy on the side. Wasn’t cheap, but compared to losing the biz? Worth.
Hire Smart. Like… Very Smart.
This one stings. I once hired a guy ‘cause his cousin said he was cool. No checks. Nada.
First week, ticket. Third week, boom—accident.
Turns out, he had two DUIs and a suspended license before I even hired him. Yeah. That’s on me.
Now I run driver background checks, do road tests, even make ‘em take a 15-minute safety course I put together on Canva. Better safe than fired.
Bundle? Heck Yes, Bundle.
I was paying 3 different providers at one point—liability here, property there, workers’ comp somewhere else. Dumb. Just dumb.
Then one insurance guy goes, “Why don’t you just bundle?” Boom. 15% off. All-in-one policy. Fewer phone calls. I didn’t even know “BOP” meant Business Owner’s Policy until then.
Moral: ask. Always ask.
Update Every Year (Seriously, Don’t Be Lazy Like Me)
Stuff changes. I added 2 cars last fall. Never told my insurer. Fast forward to an accident? Denied. “Undeclared vehicle.” That’s what they said.
Now, every December I go through everything: drivers, routes, mileage, use cases (is that even the term?). I send it all in with one email. Takes an hour. Saves thousands.
What They Don’t Cover is Also Important
This part’s sneaky. You read your policy? I didn’t. Turns out, stuff inside the truck—like tools, laptops, deliveries? Not covered unless you ask.
Also: if your employees drive their own cars for work, guess what? That’s a whole different thing called HNOA. Hired and Non-Owned Auto. I added it only after a delivery guy’s personal car got wrecked doing a job for us. Ugh.
Add Gadgets. Insurance Companies Like Gadgets.
This one’s weird but true. The more tech you got in the vehicle, the more insurers think you’re “responsible.” I stuck dash cams and GPS in half our vans. Suddenly our premium drops a bit.
Plus, I can literally see if one of my guys speeds or stops too long at Chick-fil-A. Not even mad—just… helpful data, y’know?
Pick the Right Deductible (Mine Was Dumb Before)
I used to go for the lowest deductible. Made me feel “safe.” But that jacked up my monthly payments. Switched to a mid-tier one and honestly? Haven’t filed a claim in two years.
You gotta pick what your biz can handle. If $1,000 deductible gonna wreck you, keep it low. If not, save that monthly cash.
Don’t DIY This Stuff. Please.
Last tip. Don’t just Google around and think “I got this.” You don’t. I didn’t. Had three policies overlapping, and another one with a clause that literally excluded my entire fleet type. SMH.
Then I found an actual commercial agent. Someone who speaks the language, asks the annoying questions, and keeps your wallet from catching fire.
Now? I sleep easier.
Wrapping Up, Before You Crash (Metaphorically)
So yeah. Cover your rides. Review your stuff. Ask dumb questions. Don’t trust old advice, ‘cause this biz changes fast.
Your vehicles might be the wheels of your biz—literally. Don’t let one crash drive it all off a cliff. I nearly did. Now I know better.
Peace, protection, and paperwork—get it all straight.