Massachusetts Commercial Auto Insurance | Get Your Quote Today!
Western Mass Auto Insurance is proud to represent Progressive Commercial and Pilgrim Insurance for your Massachusetts Commercial Auto Insurance needs.
Also as a convenience to you, the Progressive claims center is right here in Indian Orchard, just 10 minutes from our office. So, if you do have a claim, everything is right here and local for your convenience.
Progressive defines a small business as privately owned corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships with anywhere from one to 100 employees – that typically operate everyday vehicles such as pickup trucks, vans, cars, and SUVs. They also divide small businesses into more industry-specific categories, allowing us to provide you with targeted auto insurance for businesses.
Save on Your Policy
There are a number of ways you can keep your small business auto insurance costs within your budget and we will help you with them all:
- Increase Your Deductibles – Choosing higher deductible limits for your business auto insurance can help to lower your price.
- Pay Your Insurance Premium in Full – If you pay your entire business auto insurance premium upfront, you’ll receive a Paid-in-Full discount.
- Pay by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) – Spend less time paying your bills and more time managing your business with EFT. This deducts your payments directly from your checking account, saving you the usual check processing fees.
- Insure Your Personal Vehicles with Progressive – If you have a Progressive Commercial policy for your car, truck, van, or SUV, and you insure your personal vehicles with Progressive, too, you’ll be eligible for a discount on your personal auto insurance.
What is Commercial Auto Insurance?
Commercial auto insurance provides protection for any vehicle designated for business use against both property damage and liability. Whether you drive a vehicle that is for dedicated business use or drives a personal vehicle for business, it is important to have commercial auto insurance, as your vehicle will not be covered under a personal auto policy.
An independent agent in the Trusted Choice network in your area can help you get the business vehicle insurance you need to protect your company assets. Contact a local member agent in your area today.
What is the Coverage?
Commercial auto insurance covers a variety of situations. Options and terms vary from one insurance company to another, so be sure you fully understand what is included in the policy. If you work with an independent agent in the Trusted Choice network, you can work with your agent to create a completely customized policy that matches your business needs, complete with all available discounts.
Several types of coverage may be included in your commercial auto policy; others are options that you can purchase separately. You will also need to choose the coverage amounts (“limits”) and deductibles. Typical coverage available includes:
- Property damage liability
- Liability for bodily injury to others
- Optional bodily injury coverage for injuries that occur outside of the state in which you reside
- Personal injury to you, your employed drivers, or passengers including medical expenses and lost wages
- Collision coverage for costs associated with an accident, regardless of who is at fault
- Comprehensive coverage for damage other than collision
- Medical payments coverage for the cost of hospitalization, treatment and funeral expenses
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
- Non-owned auto coverage for when you or your employees drive a rented or borrowed vehicle
- Loading and unloading liability
- Substitution transportation when your commercial vehicle is being repaired and you use a loaner from the repair shop
- Towing and labor costs
How Does This Type of Policy Work?
Commercial auto insurance works by providing insurance coverage or any vehicle that your use for business purposes, and for your commercial drivers. As a business owner, you can get commercial vehicle coverage for a single vehicle or a fleet of vehicles. A commercial auto policy can include several different types of optional coverage, allowing you to adjust the policy coverage to your particular business circumstances and the use of your vehicles.
In the event of an incident, such as damage to one of your commercial vehicles from weather, an accident, or another incident, you can file a claim and receive compensation that will help to cover the cost of repairs. If you or one of your drivers is at fault in an accident that injures another person or damages their property, that person can file a claim with your insurance company. In this case, your commercial vehicle liability insurance will cover the costs of the claim, up to the limit of your policy.
Many business owners choose to buy a commercial umbrella policy to cover the costs of large liability claims that exceed the limits of the vehicle liability policy. This strategy can provide much higher limits, in $1 million dollar increments, to cover the costs of liability claims and lawsuits and protect the business financially.
When You Need Commercial Auto Insurance
You need commercial auto insurance for any vehicle that your company uses for business purposes, any vehicle that has a commercial license plate or tag, and any vehicle that is registered as a commercial auto.
You must also get commercial auto coverage if your employees will be driving or using vehicles in the course of doing business, whether making deliveries, driving people to the airport, or running errands on behalf of the business.
If you use your vehicle for any of the following functions, you may also be required to get commercial coverage:
- Using the vehicle to carry equipment
- Transporting flammable or hazardous material
- Transporting housekeeping equipment for business use
- Using, carrying, or transporting cranes, or a winch or plow
- Hiring your vehicle out to tow other vehicles
- Delivering any goods such as pizza or any form of wholesale or retail products
- Delivering newspapers
- Trucking and freight transportation
- Transporting people as a chauffeur, limousine service, or taxi service
Some situations and certain occupations may be covered under standard auto policies, but you should always ask your insurance agent if your vehicle use warrants a commercial policy.
Get the Covergae You Need
You need commercial auto insurance for any automobile, taxi, van, limo, bus, or small truck that you use for business because a personal auto policy will not cover your vehicles used for business.
Your commercial vehicle coverage will protect you and your business from the costs of property damage, injury, and liability claims that you may incur in the use of your commercial vehicles.
For larger commercial vehicles such as tow trucks, cement trucks, construction vehicles, tractor-trailers, or semi-trucks, you will need a commercial truck insurance policy. Not only is your commercial vehicle policy critical for protecting your business financially, but it is required by law.
Find Out Where to Get Commercial Auto Insurance
There are several ways to get commercial auto insurance policies, such as shopping for quotes online, but you may not necessarily find the best coverage or rates through the Internet. You also may not have the reassurance that your coverage matches your real needs.
One of the best ways to get commercial auto insurance is through an independent agent in the Trusted Choice network. Here are some advantages to working with an independent agent:
- Independent Trusted Choice member agents work with multiple insurance companies and can shop for the best rates for you.
- Your agent is local, available to meet in person, and can answer all of your questions so that you can make an informed decision about your coverage.
- Your agent will get to know you, your business, and your vehicle use, and will be able to help ensure that your coverage is the right type and amount to protect you and your company in the event of an accident.
- Your independent agent can meet all of your commercial insurance needs and can package up the different policies you may need so that you get all of your coverage from one office.
Cost of Commercial Car Insurance in Massachusetts
The cost of auto insurance depends on a number of things including the size of your business, the types of vehicles and number of vehicles you need to insure, your risks, and the amount of coverage you need.
Generally, a passenger auto vehicle will cost much less than a heavy-duty vehicle such as a dump truck. However, insurance carriers also offer fleet insurance and these policies are typically available at a bulk discount
The cost of insurance also depends on the driving records of the drivers who will be using your commercial vehicles. Employees who have bad driving records will cost you more to insure, so it is always important to perform a driving record background check on prospective employees. Drivers who are between the ages of 30 and 65 are typically given better insurance rates.
In terms of the cost for the type of vehicle being insured, rates are generally the least expensive for vehicles used in construction and farming. Vehicles used as passenger vehicles and for small deliveries are slightly more expensive. The most expensive vehicles to insure include heavy-duty cargo vehicles that transport loads of more than 10,000 pounds.
Tax-Deductible Policy
Yes, your commercial auto coverage is tax-deductible. There are many situations that allow you to deduct the cost of commercial auto insurance for tax purposes when you use your vehicle for commercial or business use. If you are self-employed, you may be able to deduct your commercial auto insurance premium under Schedule C; if you are an employee and do not receive mileage or expense reimbursement, you can use Form 2106 (Employee Business Expenses). Your best bet is to contact the IRS or a tax advisor for clarification.
Does Commercial Auto Insurance Cover Personal Use?
Personal use will be covered for a company-owned vehicle providing the company has commercial auto coverage. If you are driving your own vehicle to and from work without using your vehicle for commercial purposes then it would be covered under your personal auto policy.
If you are using your personal vehicle occasionally for commercial purposes, you will either need to have sufficient liability coverage under your personal auto policy or purchase commercial auto insurance. The best option will depend on the circumstances; if you are using your vehicle for any kind of business purpose, be sure to talk with your agent. The business may be required to get a non-owned business liability endorsement for these situations.
If your personal vehicle is insured as a commercial vehicle and other members of your family use the vehicle for personal purposes, then you may have to get a “non-owned vehicle” endorsement. Ask your agent about what is required for these situations.
Do I Need it To Deliver Pizza?
If you use your own vehicle to deliver pizza, there are several options you can consider:
- Buy a commercial lines policy.
- Get non-owner coverage from the pizza business owner. This will give you liability coverage for injuries and property damage to others, but will not cover property damage to your own vehicle.
- Obtain coverage from insurance companies that offer policies specifically tailored for personal vehicles used for delivery situations. The insurance company may even discount the rates if you use the vehicle for seasonal use such as a summer job.
One of the best ways to find a commercial auto policy to suit your individual commercial vehicle insurance requirements is to speak with an independent agent in the Trusted Choice network who specializes in business insurance. An independent agent can compare policies and rates so you can find a policy you can afford.
If you use your vehicle for commercial purposes or plan to do so in the near future, contact an agent today to find the commercial vehicle coverage you need so that both you and your business are protected.
Get Your Free Commercial Vehicle Insurance Quote Today
Western Mass Auto Insurance makes it easy to get affordable commercial insurance. Our insurance quotes are available online or over the phone at (413) 543-3800 for Indian Orchard or (413) 781-3800 for the Forest Park area. You can also stop by one of our Two Conveniently Located Offices where an insurance representative can assist you.
Commercial Insurance Premium FAQs
What is commercial insurance coverage?
Commercial Automobile policies provide coverage for bodily injury and property damage to others, no-fault personal injury coverage, and physical damage coverage for your own vehicle for collision or other damage resulting from the ownership or use of commercial vehicles in a business.