Commercial Auto Insurance

Drive Safely With Florida Commercial Auto Insurance

To navigate the busy corridors of I-95 or the Florida Turnpike takes more than just a reliable truck. You need a comprehensive insurance policy to protect your livelihood.

In Florida, commercial auto insurance isn't optional. It's mandatory for any vehicle operated for business purposes.

Whether you're operating a single box truck for deliveries in Tampa or a fleet of tractor-trailers hauling freight out of Jacksonville, you need the right coverage to ensure unexpected accidents don't bankrupt your business.

Florida is a "no-fault" state, which makes it a little more complicated to navigate the insurance landscape.

To meet the state's requirements, comprehensive commercial auto packages typically include:

• Property Damage Liability: Legally required in Florida ($10,000 is the minimum). It covers the cost of damage caused by your truck to another person's property.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Florida also requires PIP to cover medical bills and lost wages for the driver, regardless of who is at fault for the incident.
• Bodily Injury Liability: While it's not always required for personal cars, this coverage is essential for commercial trucks. It covers lost wages, medical expenses and legal fees (in some cases) of third parties injured in an accident caused by your driver.
• Collision and Comprehensive: Essential coverage that protects your own assets. Collision pays for repairs to your truck after a crash. Comprehensive covers damage caused by things like natural disasters, theft, fire or vandalism.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist: Provides a safety net. If you're involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, this policy will pay for damages to your trucks.
• Non-Owned Vehicle Coverage: Extends your liability coverage to the vehicles your business uses but does not own.

These are standard coverages that every trucking business should have. But there are additional coverages that you can invest in for even greater protection. These policies are meant to cover unique situations that would otherwise put your business's financial future at risk.

Standard policies don't always cover all of your risks. That's where specialized coverages come into play to bridge the gaps in your policy.

These coverages include:

• Motor Truck Cargo: A critical addition for truckers. It protects transported goods from risks like theft, fire or collision. Most brokers won't even offer you a contract unless you have a minimum amount of cargo coverage.
• Motor Truck General Liability: If your truck causes injury or property damage to others, this coverage will protect you.
• Garagekeepers Legal Liability: When customer vehicles are in your care, Garagekeepers Legal Liability covers the cost of damage caused by collision, theft, vandalism and other perils.
• Trailer Interchange: Do you pull trailers you don't own? Trailer Interchange coverage is essential. It covers physical damage to non-owned trailers while in your possession and under an interchange agreement.
• On-Hook Towing: If you tow vehicles, this coverage will provide protection if a vehicle is damaged while you're towing it.
• Non-Trucking Liability: Do you use your truck for personal purposes, such as running errands or visiting friends on your days off? Non-trucking liability will cover you when you're not on the clock or under dispatch.

Our agents will get to know your business and its risks to recommend specialized coverages you need. Not every trucking business will need all of these policies.

The cost of commercial auto insurance in Florida depends on a variety of factors, including:

• Operating Radius: If you focus mainly on local routes (within 100 miles), premiums are typically significantly cheaper to insure than long-haul routes.
• Cargo Type: Transporting hazardous materials or high-value electronics increases your premiums compared to general dry freight.
• Driving History: Maintaining a clean Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) is one of the most effective ways to lower your costs.
• ELD and Telematics: Many Florida insurers now offer a safety discount for fleets that use Electronic Logging Devices to track driver behavior.

Don't leave your business's future to chance with a cookie-cutter policy. Our agents specialize in Florida's trucking regulations and can help you build a policy that satisfies regulations and your bottom line.

Contact us today to speak with an agent and get a quote.