A large number of diverse industries call New York home. Many of the greats include financial management, construction, educational services and manufacturing. One of the things that all of these different companies have in common is that eventually there is going to be a need for a commercial vehicle.

In order to make certain that your company cars, employees behind the wheel and passengers are protected, as well as your personal assets, you need to obtain proper Commercial Vehicle Insurance. As a responsible business owner, this is something that cannot be overlooked if you want your business to succeed.

The search for the right coverage can be quite daunting. It is vital that you have an agent who is willing to help you determine your exact needs and identify the ideal policy for your business. In addition to providing you with the right coverage, you also need someone who can provide you with the right price.

First and foremost, you need to know exactly which vehicles are classified as commercial vehicles, such as:

• Automobiles that are used for making deliveries, whether they are trucks, vans or cars
• Limousines that you use to pick up clients from the airport, drive around executives, etc.
• Taxicabs
• Recycling and garbage collection trucks
• Buses and vans that are used to transport school children
• Tractor trailers
  

In the construction industry alone, there are several vehicles that can be considered as commercial vehicles, including:

• Cement trucks
• Cranes
• Flatbed trucks
• Dump trucks

These are only some of the most common vehicles that may require Commercial Auto Insurance. The fact is that a commercial automobile is any truck, van or car that you use during the course of conducting business.

If you do not have a vehicle that you use specifically for business, but instead you drive your personal vehicle to conduct business, it may still be considered a commercial vehicle. The reason for this is because a vehicle that is used for any business operations is best protected with the right Business Auto Insurance policy. This will provide you with coverage against any accidents or property damage that may take place when the vehicle is being used for business purposes, which most personal auto insurance policies will not cover. You cannot rely on your personal auto coverage to protect you in against incidents that are business related. If you do, you may find yourself paying a lot of money out of your own pocket when an accident does occur.

In some cases, commercial autos are exposed to greater risks, making a separate policy necessary. For instance, if you have a fleet of trucks that you use to transport hazardous material, you will need to invest in a commercial auto policy that covers these specific liability exposures.

As one business owner found out, it’s always best to ask if you don’t know what type of policies you may need.

This owner had a love for fashion and a knack for finding gently used clothing. One day, she decided to take a leap of faith and open her own vintage clothing boutique. It didn’t take long for business to start booming for the boutique. It wasn’t long before she had an epiphany: Why not complete personal deliveries for locals?

It wasn’t long before she was making deliveries, when the unmistakable occurred: she backed into a young man on a bicycle. While he was not seriously injured, he was hospitalized overnight for monitoring.

The next day a claims adjustor called to inform her that since was doing business at the time of the accident, the claim would not be covered by her personal auto insurance policy. Stuck with a huge hospital bill and letter of lawsuit from the biker’s attorney, she was forced to shut down her business.

Can you afford to expose your income, your personal property, and your employees to this high-level of risk? If the answer is “no”, then we can help.

In the state of New York, you are required by law to carry a minimum level of liability coverage on your policy. However, it may be a good idea to invest in additional coverage depending on the risks and needs of your business. Your insurance agent will be able to help you determine the proper amount of coverage based on the automobiles that are owned by your company, as well as the experience and training of the employees that operate those vehicles. Other factors will also be considered that may be unique to your company.

While most insurance products are similar in price and function, insurance providers are very different when it comes to structuring a policy that actually covers you. 

There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all insurance policy when it comes to your business.

We’re your neighbors. We protect businesses and people we know and care about, and that means we always look for ways to protect you better, including carefully choosing the insurance companies we represent, to be both affordable and responsive.

Contact us and let our insurance professionals help you protect what you care about most.