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The best policies for businesses, delivery services, fleet owners, and employers
Full Coverage Averages
• Contractors (annual): $3,084
• Tow trucks (annual): $7,200
Pros + Cons
✓ Coverage for for-hire specialty and transport trucks as well as tow trucks
✓ Non-owner insurance available
✓ Available in all 50 states
X Not available in Washington, D.C.
X Coverage for additionally tools beyond attached tools and equipment requires inland marine insurance
Read our Progressive review.
Full Coverage Averages
• N/A
Pros + Cons
✓ Coverage for fleets
✓ Add-ons like rental reimbursement and gap insurance
✓ Highest-ranked company in J.D. Power’s 2023 Small Commercial Insurance Study9
X Food trucks must be affiliated with restaurants to be insurable
X Not available in Alaska, Hawaii, and Louisiana
Read our Nationwide review.
Full Coverage Averages
• Annual Premium: $6,884
• Monthly Premium: $574
Pros + Cons
✓ Available in all states
✓ Food truck coverage
✓ Gap insurance
X Policies are underwritten by Tivly
X Below-average customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power
Read our review of The Hartford.
Whether you operate a delivery service, manage a fleet of vehicles, or run a large construction company, commercial auto insurance is essential to protecting your vehicles, drivers, and business operations. Commercial auto insurance covers damages or accidents that occur while using vehicles for business-related activities. It’s necessary because even if you’re using a personal vehicle, your personal auto insurance plan will not cover you or your employees used in business activities. .
With so many commercial auto insurance options and providers, finding the right coverage may seem overwhelming. Below, we’ll cover the best commercial auto insurance providers and their plans.
Best Commercial Auto Insurance for Trucks: Progressive
Best Commercial Auto Insurance for Fleets: Nationwide
Best Commercial Auto Insurance for Large Businesses: The Hartford
Best Commercial Auto Insurance for Contractors: Farmers
Best Commercial Auto Insurance for the Public Sector: Travelers
Insurance company | Average annual rates for commercial auto insurance | Availability | Coverage for food trucks | Coverage for vans | Coverage for trucks | Review |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Progressive | Contractors: $3,084 Business: $3,240
Tow trucks: $7,200 For-hire specialty trucks: $9,204 For-hire transport trucks: $12,4921 |
All 50 states excluding t Washington, D.C. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Progressive review |
Nationwide | Not listed | Every state except Alaska, Hawaii, and Louisiana | Yes, as long as they’re affiliated with a restaurant | Yes | Yes | Nationwide review |
The Hartford | $6,8842 | Entire U.S. | Yes | Yes | Yes | The Hartford review |
Farmers | Not listed | Entire U.S. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Farmers review |
Travelers | Not listed | Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin | Yes | Yes | Yes | Travelers review |
Progressive writes more commercial auto insurance premiums than any other provider in the U.S., offers a long list of discounts,is highly rated for customer satisfaction, and customer service. It also has some of the most flexible coverage options, including protection for a wide range of vehicle types and customizable plans that fit a variety of business needs.
Progressive offers a number of discounts that may apply to you and your business. Discounts for commercial auto insurance, similar to those for personal auto insurance, differ from state to state and business to business, so speak with an agent to see if any of the following discounts apply to you:
Progressive offers the Snapshot ProView program,allowing businesses to earn savings based on their driving habits. It tracks your driving habits, routes, and other data points. The Snapshot ProView works the same way it would with personal insurance. Download the app (or plug in the device), start driving, and earn savings while the app tracks your habits. However, poor driving habits like speeding or slamming the brakes could increase your premiums, so sign up with caution. You’ll save 5 percent just for signing up, and potentially, with safe driving habits, between 8 and 20 percent upon renewal.
New Progressive commercial truck customers can save an average of $984 with the Smart Haul Program. Every commercial truck and bus owner is required to install an electronic logging device that tracks metrics like your location, identification, route, and vehicle miles. If you allow Progressive to gather data from your device, you’ll earn some big savings.
Progressive is one of the most recognized commercial auto insurance businesses for its financial strength. AM Best gave Progressive’s trucker company an A+ or superior rating for its creditworthiness, for example.3 Similarly, Moody’s gave it an Aa2 rating as of 2024.4
Nationwide is a reputable and reliable provider of personal and commercial auto insurance. With several tracking app functions, discounts, and safety features geared toward delivery trucks and vans, Nationwide is a great option for small businesses and direct store delivery owners with fleets. You’ll also get all the basic commercial protections (such as liability, collision, comprehensive, and uninsured motorist) and a number of add-ons for other commercial vehicle types.
If you own a fleet of vehicles for delivery or other services, you can sign up for Nationwide’s free telematics program, Vantage 360 Fleet. Vantage 360 Fleet allows you to track your drivers and alter schedules based on their locations and vehicle statuses. You can earn up to 10 percent off your commercial auto policy with Vintage 360 Fleet, and your drivers can earn points for safe driving habits that they can redeem for gift cards.
Vantage 360 Fleet also helps reduce your claims and accidents rate. 74 percent of drivers who used smartphone telematics apps had nearly 50 percent fewer claims and the claims they did make were less severe, making the program a win-win for everyone involved.5
FYI:
According to the latest 2022 GPS Insight Fleet Safety Report, fleet drivers get into an average of 4.5 accidents per year. Fleet drivers were at fault in about 35 percent of those accidents.6
Commercial auto insurance coverage protects you from many of the same events as personal insurance. An extensive plan will provide you with liability, comprehensive, collision, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. On top of that, Nationwide also offers the following additional commercial coverage types:
Filing claims quickly is important for business owners who rely on their vehicles or fleets to keep their businesses running efficiently. Nationwide’s On Your Side Claims Service provides you with written guarantees on your repairs and a choice of qualified repair shops.
Like warranties, written guarantees are beneficial because they ensure a mechanic will repair or replace your vehicle within a specific period of time. The On Your Side Auto Repair Network includes repair shops that Nationwide has pre-screened and pre-qualified.
The Hartford, which started as a fire insurance company, has been providing insurance for over 200 years. It specializes in commercial auto insurance for large businesses, including construction, professional services, energy, wholesale distribution, and manufacturing. If you’re a large business owner with employees in and outside the U.S., The Hartford could be the best option for you. A company called Tivly underwrites its commercial auto policies.
If your business operates overseas—whether through a fleet, manufacturing warehouse, distribution center, or other business operation overseas—The Hartford’s international Commercial auto insurance can provide the protection you need. Their large business plans offer worldwide liability coverage for truck drivers, delivery services, construction vehicles, and other commercial vehicles both in the U.S. abroad. The Hartford also has a multinational claims line so you can speak to a representative for your international claims, 24/7.
Company-vehicle accidents can be a huge stressor for employers. They slow your business down, upset customers/clients, and are often expensive. The Hartford has three coverage add-ons that help speed your claims process and mitigate the losses to your business.
SURPRISING STATISTIC
Vehicle breakdowns cost the U.S. economy more than $41 billion dollars per year. Businesses lose productivity from repair wait-times and traffic delays equivalent to 30 million employee workdays per year.7
The Hartford has several customer service numbers for specific claims, like a multinational line, windshield/glass-only claims, and catastrophe prep and support services (storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, or other events that might affect truck routes), which are all relevant to fleets and truck drivers. Whether you need to file a claim, prepare for an incoming natural disaster, or find a qualified repair shop, The Hartford’s representatives will be there to guide you through the process.
Farmers has all the basic coverage you’d want from a commercial auto insurance provider, and offers specialized options for contractors like ice cream truck drivers and construction companies. With 90 years of experience, Farmers is a great option for businesses and contractors looking to cover their vehicles.
Farmers offer primary and noncontributory coverage for subcontractors, helping cover damages that could otherwise fall to the main contractor. If you’re in construction, the food industry, or another service that requires you to carry equipment in your vehicle, Farmers can help you attain customized coverage that extends to your business related tools/equipment.
Non-contributory is important when there are several parties involved — like an owner, contractor, and subcontractor — and you want to ensure you have protection for any damages that you are responsible for.
Farmers has a specific food truck insurance package, which has unique needs when it comes to commercial auto insurance. As a food truck driver, you have to worry about thefts and damages, the chance of your customers getting food poisoning, costly equipment malfunctions, and incurring income losses because your truck broke down.
Farmers helps mitigate these risk with the following food truck coverage features:
DID YOU KNOW?
In a Boston-centered food truck study, nine of 96 food trucks were closed down after on-the-spot inspectors found food safety hazards. Although your provider won’t reimburse you for lost revenue due to a health inspection shutdown, quick claims on refrigeration and food storing equipment repairs can help prevent spoilage and foodborne illness.8
Farmers has launched a redesigned mobile app that makes managing your commercial auto insurance more convenient. The app features a sleek modern design with an easy-to-navigate interface. From the main menu, you can access your bills, payment options, policy documents, ID cards, claims requests, roadside assistance, and connect with customer service agents.
We tested the app’s advanced audio features by syncing it with Siri and tried to pay a claim. The process was simple: We asked Siri to pay a bill, answered a few questions about the payment details, and confirmed the amount.
For non-iOS users, we were also able to sync Alexa to the Farmers app. If you’re looking for a mobile- and tech-friendly insurance platform, Farmers won’t disappoint.
Travelers offers general and specialized commercial auto insurance plans for businesses and the public sector, including commercial trucking insurance, public sector insurance, and oil and gas insurance. You can get coverage for fleets, public sector municipalities (law enforcement, emergency services, etc.), and mobile equipment for oil and gas companies.
If you’re part of the public sector and are looking for solid coverage for vehicles, Travelers has a wide selection of coverage options. Travelers provides plans for the following public sector vehicles and equipment:
Travelers also offers specialized risk control services to help you navigate challenging insurance-related situations when a regular insurance agent doesn’t know the answer. Navigating a claim for a fleet, delivery service, or police car can have very different procedures and technicalities, so a specialized Travelers risk control agent is ready to assist you.
Northland, a division of Travelers, has been offering services to trucks and fleets for over 70 years. Whether you own a couple of trucks or a fleet of vehicles, Travelers has customizable plans for both small and large businesses.
You can also access an interactive, web-based self assessment to help you find eligible fleet safety programs that fit your company’s qualifications. You’ll be able to access online safety programs and training classes for your pickup drivers, large-passenger van drivers, and medium to heavy trucks.
Travelers offers industry-specific coverage for owners in the oil and gas industry. With over 20 years in the industry and a dedicated team of risk control professionals focused exclusively on oil and gas claims, Travelers has established itself as a leader in the industry. Businesses owners can take advantage of specialized coverage to meet the unique needs of their businesses, including coverage for the following:
We evaluated commercial auto insurance providers nationwide, basing our reviews on the following criteria:
Learn more about our ratings and methodology data sources.
According to Progressive, the national average cost of commercial auto insurance through the company was:
The exact amount you may depends on a number of factors like your business type, insurance needs, location, and provider. A quote is the best way to find out how much you can expect to pay.
You might need commercial auto insurance if you use your vehicles for business activities, such as transporting goods or passengers in your vehicle for a fee carrying expensive equipment or tools for business purposes, or if employees operate vehicles for business-related purposes.
Personal auto insurance covers you and your vehicle for personal usage, while commercial auto insurance plans covers vehicles used for business purposes, including those owned by the business and driven by employees for work-related tasks.
Commercial auto insurance tends to be more expensive than personal plans because commercial plans offer higher coverage limits. Additionally, commercial vehicles typically carry more equipment or involve large trucks/fleets of trucks, which require more comprehensive coverage.
Small Business Insurance Customer Satisfaction Defies Steadily Rising Rates to Reach All-Time High in J.D. Power Study. J.D Power. (2023, Aug 22).
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2023-us-small-commercial-insurance-study
How much is commercial auto insurance? Progressive. (2024).
https://www.progressivecommercial.com/commercial-auto-insurance/commercial-auto-cost/
How Much Does Commercial Auto Insurance Cost? The Hartford. (2024).
https://www.thehartford.com/commercial-auto-insurance/cost
Best’s Credit Ratings. AM Best. (2024).
https://ratings.ambest.com/CompanyProfile.aspx?ambnum=11759&URatingId=3200873&bl=0&AltSrc=9&PPP=&AltNum=0&Ext_User=&Ext_Misc=&Portal=0&Site=
Moody’s Outlooks: Looking ahead to 2025. Moody’s. (2024).
https://www.moodys.com/account/sign-in?ReturnUrl=/credit-ratings/Progressive-Casualty-Insurance-Co-credit-rating-720950/ratings/view-by-class
Nationwide Vantage 360 Fleet offers a simple view of your fleet and your drivers. Nationwide. (2024).
https://www.nationwide.com/business/insurance/telematics/vantage360fleet
GPS Insight 2022 Fleet Safety Report. GPS Insight. (2022).
https://www.gpsinsight.com/premium/2022-fleet-safety-report/
VEHICLE BREAKDOWNS COST US ECONOMY $41B PER YEAR. Agero. (2019, Nov 19).
https://blog.agero.com/vehicle-breakdowns-cost-us-economy-41b-per-year
A major issue for some Boston food trucks? Hand-washing. The Boston Globe. (2017, Jun 04).
https://www.boston.com/news/business/2017/06/04/a-major-issue-for-some-boston-food-trucks-hand-washing/