Commercial Auto Insurance California

California Auto and Fleet Insurance Specialists

Whether you use three vehicles (the minimum required for a fleet) or a few hundred to provide mobility for your employees, equipment, products, or services, it’s important to have the right commercial fleet auto insurance in place to protect your business. From property damage liability to bodily injury liability, all vehicles used for business need commercial auto insurance adequate for general liability and property damage coverage.

The VANTREO team knows the California insurance marketplace and has the expertise and relationships to ensure you get comprehensive, well-considered, and affordable coverage for your vehicles. We are also claims, contract wording, and risk management experts here to help protect your business and its profit.

Is Commercial Auto Insurance Expensive?

Fleet insurance can be costly in today's commercial insurance marketplace. Auto claims are one of the most invasive premium cost drivers in insurance today. However, a knowledgeable insurance company can offer solutions and more affordable options to those who know what it takes to qualify for them.

First, let's look at a few reasons why premiums are up:

• Nuclear verdicts are defined as a settlement exceeding $10,000,000. They have been awarded in an unprecedented number of commercial auto lawsuits as of late. Jury verdicts of $30,000,000 are commonplace. For example, consider the $39,000,000 award caused by a driver unprepared for icy conditions or the $54,000,000 verdict resulting from the desperate hire of a commercial auto driver with a history of major driving violations.
• Distracted driving has become a cultural norm. Rather than working to prevent accidents, too many people believe that "accidents just happen." Courts have little tolerance for operators of commercial vehicles who drive distracted and cause damage and injury to others. This intolerance shows up as large verdicts, awards, and settlements.
• Inexperienced drivers are being hired in many areas experiencing a driver shortage. As a result, drivers short of practice on the road in commercial vehicles or those with a poor driving record are hired to operate business vehicles in desperation. Lack of driving experience and knowledge often results in bad decision-making and leads to dangerous commercial driving situations. Newer drivers can have an unrealistic perception of their own driving abilities and an inability to evaluate risk accurately.

How Can Companies Lower Premium Costs for Business Vehicles?

VANTREO insurance commercial experts know it's important to properly shop the business insurance market and understand how to advocate and negotiate commercial auto insurance rates on your behalf.

Whether it is liability coverage, medical payments protection, physical damage insurance, workers' compensation, or business insurance, VANTREO has a proven track record in getting results for business owners.

Remember that many insurance companies take the location of your business into consideration when setting the premium you pay for your commercial auto policy. It doesn't matter if your business is located in a Los Angeles zip code or in one of the rural areas of the state, a dedicated VANTREO agent can help you find an affordable premium rate within the limits of your budget.

Get the right commercial fleet insurance specialist working on your behalf whether your vehicles used for business include autos, vans, semi-trucks, or tractor-trailers. Every VANTREO agent excels in insurance commercial auto knowledge and uses this expertise to make sure you get the correct policy with appropriate limits at an affordable price.

What Does Commercial Auto Insurance Cover?

A commercial auto insurance policy provides coverage for business owners that includes liability for bodily injury or damage to others, damage to the vehicles used, and extra costs associated with an accident related to any covered vehicle.

If you or someone insured under your policy injures someone or their property by accident with a covered vehicle, it will pay your financial obligation related to the bodily injury or property damage that results. You can also buy protection to pay for damage to a vehicle insured under the policy and to cover other expenses, such as the cost of a rental car while the vehicle is being repaired or replaced.

The named insured on the policy and the registered owner of the vehicles listed should be the same.

What Auto Insurance Is Required for Commercial Fleets?

In California, minimum liability insurance requirements mandate that private passenger vehicles carry at least $15,000 for injury/death to one person, $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person, and $5,000 for damage to property.

Lenders on auto loans also have insurance requirements, including coverage for damage to the vehicle itself. However, most businesses carry commercial auto insurance limits that are much higher than required minimums for protection in the event the company is held responsible for an accident.

You could benefit from a commercial auto fleet policy if:

• Your business picks up passengers or delivers goods to customers or job sites.
• Your business owns or leases more than one vehicle or a fleet.
• Employees drive company-owned vehicles.
• Employees use their personal vehicles for business.

If your California-based business fits any of the above descriptions, it would benefit you to take advantage of a commercial auto policy or commercial insurance. These policies can protect your business from excessive property damage expenses. With commercial auto insurance, both small business owners and large enterprises can rest easy knowing that their investment is protected.

Getting commercial vehicle insurance gives you more than the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your company's finances won’t be affected by auto liability, medical payments, or any property damage claim. It also reduces your liability if your commercial auto is involved in an incident that causes bodily injury to other people.

Keep in mind that your company needs commercial auto insurance coverage if you or other employees drive a personal auto or any other personal vehicle for business. This often occurs in small businesses where the owner or an employee uses a personal auto for business purposes and assumes a personal auto insurance policy provides coverage options to pay claims from an accident occurring while conducting business activities.

To ensure full protection and provide appropriate coverage options for every circumstance, all companies need commercial auto policies with adequate limits to pay any liability and property damage claims. If you have questions about any of these situations, feel free to contact a knowledgeable agent at our insurance company who can clarify what personal auto insurance covers and what a commercial auto policy protects.

What Does Fleet Insurance Cover?

Fleet insurance provides liability insurance coverage for all your company’s vehicles under a single policy. These policies usually include provisions that allow your employees to drive any vehicle in your fleet and remain covered in the event of an accident.

Many small business owners often ponder whether they utilize enough vehicles to constitute a fleet. In this situation, the definition of a fleet fluctuates with each insurance provider.

Sometimes one insurance company may require businesses to acquire over five vehicles to qualify for fleet insurance, while a different insurer provides policies to businesses with only two cars. It is imperative to compare commercial policies and coverage options to find the best solution for your needs.

Commercial auto insurance and commercial insurance in California aren't intended only for large companies. These plans are also ideally suited for medium-sized businesses with limited budgets. Finding the right solution for your business purposes not only provides appropriate protection but can also increase your bottom line.

You often save money when a fleet insurance policy covers a minimum of three vehicles. If your California-based enterprise has three or more vehicles in service, your company is an ideal candidate for commercial auto insurance in California.

You may find a fleet auto policy is more reasonable than insuring vehicles individually. You may also be eligible for discounts if your firm has multiple vehicles covered by a commercial auto insurance policy. An experienced VANTREO agent can help you determine the best commercial fleet policy for your individual situation.

Commercial vehicle insurance typically provides sufficient collision and liability coverage to meet state insurance requirements. It's important to maintain comprehensive coverage for all your commercial vehicles to protect your enterprise.

Alternative coverages can be added to the policy afterward, including roadside help, higher liability limits, or even coverage for uninsured motorists. Comprehensive coverage to protect against vandalism, stealing, and other types of damage is another possibility.

Here are some other comprehensive explanations about the possible benefits of the policy:

• Loading and unloading protection - If the items become damaged during loading and unloading, the insurer shoulders the expense, not you.
• Medical costs protection - Some accidents not only hurt the truck or other vehicle but also injure the driver. This covers the cost of treating your drivers’ injuries.
• Towing and labor services - This lets you call your provider for road assistance. It is most useful when your vehicle becomes inoperable or needs repair.

If you are a business owner with California employees, it is absolutely essential to get non-owned auto coverage, either through company insurance for the car or through their business insurance policy. This provides protection for your enterprise when employees drive their personal vehicles on company business.

What Are Some Items Commercial Auto Policies Don't Cover?

All insurance policies have coverage exclusions. Here are a few things that business auto insurance policies do not cover:

• Obligations under workers’ compensation law
• Wear and tear to the insured vehicle
• Losses related to racing, demolition contests, or stunting activity
• Contents of the vehicle and handling of the property of others
• Liability arising out of machinery or other mobile equipment on or attached to the covered vehicle

In addition, if you want to make sure that “original equipment manufacturer” parts are used to replace parts in a damaged vehicle, your policy needs a special endorsement.

If the only vehicle you drive is a company car, your business auto policy needs to include special coverage to protect you when you drive someone else’s car.

Also, businesses or other organizations should purchase coverage called “non-owned auto” insurance for liability protection arising out of employees or others using their own cars on company business. Special commercial auto coverage is also needed to insure rented or borrowed automobiles.

What Insurance Company Has the Best Commercial Auto Insurance?

If you searched for the “best auto insurance broker,” “affordable auto insurance,” or "company insurance for car" and found us, you’ve come to the right place. We know the appropriate type and amount of coverage needed for any zip code in Los Angeles and throughout California. This not only includes commercial auto coverage but also underinsured motorist coverage.

VANTREO is a top contender when it comes to commercial auto insurance expertise and access to hundreds of insurance companies with the right coverage and prices. We are also a powerful advocate when it comes to reaching your premium pricing and policy coverage goals.

Let us know how to begin a conversation with you on fleet insurance. Our specialists can review your current coverage and answer all your questions.

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