California Commercial Auto Insurance
Even if your business uses cars and trucks that are not the primary way your business makes money, they could end up becoming the primary way your company loses money. Without an appropriate commercial auto insurance policy you may overpay and still be left under-insured.
In California, commercial auto insurance is different than personal vehicle insurance. In many cases, there may be multiple cars and trucks to insure, and the liability from accidents or claims can extend to your business as a whole.
Making sure your coverage levels for your business auto insurance are adequate to protect your business (and you personally) from claims—even those that may be unwarranted—can help you avoid a devastating change of luck.
Worried about the costs of commercial auto insurance?
Don’t be. Business auto insurance is relatively inexpensive, especially given its importance to the protection for your business.
What should my commercial auto insurance policy cover?
California commercial auto insurance can provide coverage for cars & trucks for all of these risks:
- Comprehensive and Collision
- Emergency Roadside Assistance
- Liability
- Medical Payments
- Uninsured Motor Vehicles
- Non-Owned and Hired Autos
Why do I need such comprehensive business auto coverage?
Employees of our local businesses often drive to and from clients, or vendors, on daily deliveries, irregular duties, or special request errands.
While this may help keep sales on the rise, when your employee uses a vehicle for business purposes, their personal auto policy coverage NO LONGER APPLIES in the event of an accident, property damage, or fatality caused by an employee. This is a serious distinction many business owners are either unaware of or try to avoid considering. Nevertheless, it could wipe out your entire business in a single moment. We have seen it happen.
A prime example of the need for commercial auto insurance
As one business owner found out, it’s always best to ask if you don’t know what type of policies you may need. The owner had a love for fashion, and a knack for finding gently-used clothing. She hoped one day to own a shop of her own, and eventually she decided to take a leap of faith to open her own vintage clothing boutique.
It didn’t take long for the boutique’s business to start booming. It expanded to include a new website—making it possible to ship anywhere in the U.S. Before long, she made the connection: why not complete personal deliveries for locals? She purchased magnetic signs to apply on her personal car to market her business.
Months later, she was making her regular Tuesday deliveries, when the unthinkable occurred—she backed into a young man on a bicycle. While he was not seriously injured, he was hospitalized overnight for monitoring.
The business owner thought all would be well, since the cyclist was not seriously hurt. The next day, however, the claims adjuster called to inform her that since she was doing business at the time of the accident, the claim would not be covered by her current personal auto insurance carrier.
Faced with a huge hospital bill and letter of lawsuit from the cyclist’s attorney, she was forced to shut down her business and forfeit her dream.
Do you really need commercial auto insurance?
Answer this simple question: can you afford to expose your income, your personal property, and your employees to a high level of risk? If the answer is “no,” then SCM can help.
What to expect from SCM
A commercial auto insurance policy, also known as business auto, is purchased and set in place to protect business assets and the owner for claims that arise during business-related travel. At SCM, you’ll speak with an experienced agent whose main goal is to design a policy fit to your particular business needs.
Whether the driving of the vehicle is for the occasional run, a possible new venture, or a daily necessity, SCM is here to make sure coverage is applicable and answer any questions you may have.
The SCM Difference
You may think you want the cheapest insurance you can find, but realize you may not be getting everything you bargained for …
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 California commercial auto insurance advisers. We protect businesses 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.
Click on the quote request button now and let the professionals at SCM help you forge the strongest shield possible to help you protect the things you care about most.