Commercial Auto Insurance

Common Questions About Commercial Coverage

As a business owner, you want to ensure that your organization, employees, work vehicles, and equipment are kept safe. The best way to protect your company and its assets is to obtain commercial coverage with small business insurance.

Commercial coverage can help you recover losses related to natural disasters, theft, and fire. Small business insurance is similar to your homeowners and automobile insurance policy, as it protects you from accidents and liability issues.

You’ve likely put a lot of time and money into building your business, so keeping it afloat is probably one of your top priorities. The employees you hired have also spent much of their time helping you grow your company and deserve protection from accidents and losses as well.

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What Types of Vehicles are Covered in Michigan Commercial Auto Insurance?

When you think of commercial auto insurance, you might envision a large-sized truck. This is more than likely because trucks are often associated with work vehicles. While trucks are one type of vehicle covered by Michigan commercial auto insurance, trailers, vans, buses, and cars can be too.

Those who typically qualify for commercial auto insurance own a business or use their vehicles for work purposes. The type of vehicle you drive is not as much of a factor as is how you use the vehicle. When you apply for insurance, there will be questions relating to how the vehicle is used. This information lets your insurance company know if your vehicle or trailer should be covered under a commercial auto insurance policy.

Commercial auto insurance policies are similar to personal auto insurance policies, with one main difference being that they provide you with more coverage. When you are a business owner or driving your vehicle for business, you need that extra coverage. If you don’t have the right policy, one accident could cost you a fortune or a lawsuit.

It could be helpful to schedule an appointment with a professional insurance agent to determine whether you qualify for Michigan commercial auto insurance. If you do, you will want the right amount of protection, whether you have one vehicle or a fleet of business vehicles.

An appropriate policy for you will be one that you feel comfortable with and that has high enough liability coverage to protect your assets.

Commercial auto insurance coverage in Michigan

In Michigan, there are two main types of commercial auto insurance policies: physical damage and liability coverage. Included within these commercial auto insurance policies are often six types of coverage.

Collision loss

This pays for repairs to your vehicle when damage occurs from an accident. The damage doesn’t necessarily have to be caused by another vehicle, as it can be caused by a random object (garbage can, rock, etc.) as well.

Comprehensive loss

Comprehensive physical damage coverage pays for damage that comes about from non-collision causes, such as weather, flood, fire, vandalism, or theft.

Bodily injury liability coverage

This coverage pays for accident-related injuries or death when you’re at fault. In some cases, it may even provide you with a legal defense.

Property damage coverage

Property damage coverage pays for accident-related damage to someone else’s property when you’re at fault. In some cases, it can provide you with a legal defense.

Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage

In an accident where the at-fault driver does not have liability insurance or doesn’t have enough to cover your expenses, you will still be protected through your commercial auto insurance policy.

Personal injury or medical payments coverage

This pays for medical expenses if you or your passenger’s health care insurance does not cover the costs, regardless of fault. This could include needs such as a hospital stay, medication, or x-rays.

Does the state of Michigan require commercial auto insurance?

By law, the state of Michigan does require you to obtain commercial auto insurance. Any company that owns a fleet of automobiles that are designed for commercial purposes needs this special kind of insurance policy. It is the only way to protect yourself, your vehicles, and your business.

You cannot legally drive in Michigan or any state without standard and commercial auto insurance. The main reason for this is because of your liability for any damage you cause. Without an insurance policy, those whose vehicles are damaged or who have been injured would not be protected financially.

You may be a careful and responsible driver, but unfortunately, accidents do happen. While a commercial auto insurance policy protects others when you are at fault, it protects you as well.

Not everyone is a safe driver. Someone may hit your vehicle, resulting in thousands of dollars of damage or medical costs. This is the type of unforeseen and unfortunate event you want to be prepared for.

What types of vehicles are covered under this type of policy?

Commercial auto insurance covers many different types of vehicles. Including but not limited to the following vehicles used for business purposes:

Tow trucks
Trucks for construction
Ice cream trucks
Refrigerated trucks
City buses
School buses and vans
Passenger vans
Home movers trucks and vans
Log haulers
Dump trucks
Garbage trucks
Catering company vehicles used to deliver food and drinks
Limousines

Aside from these vehicles, any automobiles that are being used for business-related services will need commercial auto insurance. However, this does not mean that using your car to run errands on occasion makes your vehicle a commercial vehicle.

Commercial vehicles are used for at least several hours each day. This is why they require a particular policy, as they are on the road longer and exposed to more risks than personal vehicles.

Keep your business protected from the unexpected with Frost & Remer

If you are looking for an affordable yet professional and reputable insurance company, we have you covered.

There are many advantages to choosing commercial auto insurance over any other type of insurance for your business fleet. It will help you protect your wallet, property, and your business name. We know that the last thing you want is for one single accident to put your company in debt or affect your professional reputation.

At Frost and Remer, our customers mean everything to us. This is why we strive to help you feel safe and worry-free. When you know that your vehicles and drivers are insured in one secure policy, it will ease your mind.

Contact us today to ask about commercial auto insurance, and we will give you a full policy review and risk assessment. With this information, we will provide you with the best coverage and a premium you can afford.

Photo: Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Things to Ponder When Choosing Your Commercial Truck Insurance Policy

So you’ve finally decided to use commercial truck insurance for your business’ fleet of vehicles. Good choice. Not only will you have greater protection for your trucks and drivers, but you will also get to protect your business name as well. However, choosing this type of insurance is as tricky as any other type of insurance. To help you get the best choice among the available options, here are some things to consider on buying that policy.

Understand the Coverage Provided

Commercial auto insurance works like your personal car policy. It offers standard coverage such as collision and comprehensive, as well as liabilities and motorist protection. However, one thing that differs commercial truck insurance from the normal auto plan is that 1.) You can use this for a whole fleet of trucks instead of one car and 2.) You will only provide less information as you would for a personal auto policy.

Special Coverage for Your Truck

It’s good to know that there are special protection plans for your commercial truck in Flat Rock. These coverage includes business-related services that will protect your auto; something more than the standard policy provides. If you are will to invest for further coverage for your trucks, this is one thing to consider. For one, Motor Truck Cargo offers protection against lost, stolen or damaged cargo during transit. Trailer Interchange protects the insured vehicles against potential losses to non-owned trailers. Non-Trucking liability offers protection to those who are permanently leased to an ICC-standard carrier.

Know What Type of Trucks Are Covered

No matter what kind of truck you own, you need this type of insurance in order to drive them. This means that your regular car insurance policy won’t cut it. Just like cars, there are many types of commercial trucks. This include dump trucks, tow trucks, tractor-trailers, straight trucks and pickup trucks. Well, commercial truck insurance covers all of these vehicles. It’s a type of plan that can be purchased for a single company truck, or for dozens of them.

There are so many advantages in choosing commercial truck insurance over any type of vehicle insurance for your business fleet. Talk to your agent to see which plan works best for your vehicles. If you are still looking for a great insurance company here in Michigan, you can start with Frost & Remer.

4 Essential Points for Choosing a Commercial Truck Insurance Company

Because it involves fleets of mammoth vehicles, working in a commercial trucking industry can be frightening. Many accidents can occur without warning, and before you know it, a handful of lawsuits can be filed against your company. This is why it’s important for you to have a Flat Rock commercial truck insurance. Whenever you or your drivers encounter a problem, your issues are covered and there’s no need to risk your finances and reputation to pay for the trouble.

As you choose your local commercial truck insurance provider, it’s important to look at these four essential points:

Make sure that the Flat Rock company is reputable. Service providers can earn either a good or a bad name among trucking brands. One way to check into this is to go online and see reviews about the company. See their client’s comments and discern whether this company will be of an advantage to you. Just make sure that you only use reliable sites to view recommendations.
Value the company’s experience. One of the primary things to consider in a company is their years of service. Experience is important as this gives one various viewpoints in how to handle different issues. Choose companies that has been long established and has gained a good background among its clients. The history of a company can give you the assurance that the company will be capable of your trust.
Take a look at the insurance premiums. This is very crucial to your business as an investment. If you are just starting out, you may want to choose basic premiums for your commercial truck insurance policy. If you have been in the scene for a long time, choose a larger coverage bracket to protect your fleet.
Customer service is also important. For any type of business, accommodating any inquiries of their clients is a must. The same is with insurance; look at the way they handle their clients and see if they have a committed personnel to handle questions and issues.

After looking at these areas in a commercial truck insurance provider, you can be able to filter out who’s the best for your business. Remember to take a good amount of time in researching. Make an informed decision and protect your trucks with a good, credible coverage.

The Different Types of Commercial Auto Insurance in Flat Rock

The basics of auto insurance can be understood by most drivers, but when it comes to commercial auto insurance, things are quite different. There’s a wide range of different categories and coverage plans, along with a spectrum of various business types and operations, as well as the vehicles utilized to match their services. If you’re a business owner looking for a plan to cover your fleet, this guide will help you understand the idea of getting a commercial auto insurance policy in Flat Rock.

Business cars. Your business may involve providing transportation for clients, or have employee cars for the trade. It is necessary that you have the right form of coverage for this. When you are driving miles daily for your daily operations, it is essential that your driver and that the vehicle is covered by a commercial auto insurance plan. Whether you provide shuttle services, deliver food or go door to door or office meetings, having your business cars will protect your property and your brand.
Home movers. Usually utilizes large trucks and tractor trailers, household movers carry huge materials which are prone to risks. It is important that you protect your vehicles as well as the goods it carry. As your business involves transporting someone’s valuable possessions, it is good to have everything appropriately covered by a policy for commercial auto insurance in Flat Rock.
Specialty trucks. Commercial truck coverage is also available for a plethora of trucking services. This includes refrigerated trucks, log haulers and dump trucks.
Contractors. You may use your fleet of trucks and cars for rent, repair, landscaping and construction. As it is essential for any constructor to use a vehicle to get to the site and transport their tools and supplies, having insurance for these vehicles is also beneficial.

Aside from this list, there is a wide range of different types of autos suited for commercial auto insurance in Flat Rock. From heavy construction to delivery services, it is vital for you to find the most appropriate plan to protect your vehicles, drivers and goods to make your business more successful.

Tips on Minimizing Commercial Auto Insurance Claims

If you are a business allowing employees to use vehicles for transport, logistics and service, then taking good care of these cars is always a priority. Unfortunately, it is an innate human nature to abuse privileges when given the freedom, especially when it comes to driving properly insured around Monroe.

One main reason why commercial vehicular accidents occur is employees are reckless with their vehicles. Of course; it’s not theirs, and they’re not paying for the commercial auto insurance Monroe MI. But then again you as the boss need to draw out the line and reduce the risks of accidents and mishaps involving your cars, which also affects your company entirely.

Make sure you’re armed with the right insurance. You may have an auto insurance policy, but a commercial auto insurance policy is made for your company’s fleet and you should be armed with it. See how this benefits you by reading the post here: https://insurancebyfrost.com/needs-commercial-auto-insurance-monroe-mi.
Drivers should be responsible for their own traffic violations. Your employees should diligently obey the state law when driving your company car. Why? Because they’re not driving it for their own use; they’re your company’s representative and any damage associated with them drags your business name along. If your employee receives a citation, he/she must pay for it. If this continues, you may take away his privilege of driving your company’s car or worse, terminate them.
Don’t let any unauthorized driver use the car. Warn your employees about having anyone drive the car without your permission. This includes the employee’s spouse, children, friends or other family members. Only an authorized mechanic should be permitted to work on the vehicle; otherwise, they may put your commercial auto insurance Monroe MI coverage at risk.
The car should be inspected twice a year. This is your chance to make sure that the car has been properly looked after. The employees who have not taken care of their vehicles should be given a mandate, and you can recommend incentives for those who are able to maintain the quality of their vehicles.

These tips will help you prevent potential problems with your fleets. For tips about trucks, see this blog post at https://insurancebyfrost.com/truck-talk-discovering-commercial-auto-insurance-monroe-mi-coverage-trucks/.

The Businesses That Need a Commercial Auto Insurance Monroe MI Policy

Commercial auto insurance Monroe MI is a special type of auto insurance that caters commercial and industrial use. If you are a business owner who has a fleet of vehicles used to transport goods and services from one place to another, this form of coverage is necessary not just to protect your cars, but your business as well.

There are different industries that requires appropriate coverage for business vehicles. Frost & Remer answers who needs this form of insurance through a blog post https://insurancebyfrost.com/needs-commercial-auto-insurance-monroe-mi/. Below are many types of businesses using commercial auto insurance Monroe MI coverage.

School Services. Daycare centers, pre-schools, elementary schools and even high schools use buses and vans in order to transport the children safely. Since these vehicles carry a very precious cargo, it is important that your customized commercial auto insurance Monroe MI policy carries comprehensive coverage to protect the employees, the children and the facilities in the vehicle. The policy should carry coverage to handle potential issues such as liability, property damage and medical damage.
Trucking and Logistics. If your company carries goods around town or the state, you want to have your drivers, vehicles and cargo protected. Since your trucks travel many miles per day, an extensive commercial auto insurance Monroe MI is necessary to protect your business. The policy will depend on many different factors; with the help of your agent, you will be able to put together the right policy for your fleet.
Catering company. Anyone in the catering business needs a set of specialized equipment in their vans in order to safely deliver foods and beverages. It is essential to take high priority in the edible goods, appliances and utensils carried in the vehicles. The commercial vehicle insurance policy you need to acquire should cover culinary equipment as well as your driver, cooks and other accessories.

It is extremely crucial to find a reputable company and establish a connection with them. For more of commercial auto insurance Monroe MI, Frost & Remer continues the truck talk at https://insurancebyfrost.com/truck-talk-discovering-commercial-auto-insurance-monroe-mi-coverage-trucks/.

Truck Talk: Discovering Commercial Auto Insurance Monroe MI Coverage for Trucks

Commercial Auto Insurance Monroe MI: What is it really?

If your company is into construction, logistics, or delivering anything that is heavy and massive, you must be using large, powerful trucks. These vehicles are perfect for conveying awkward items such as gravel and debris, huge machineries and even smaller vehicle types. Due to the size and weights of these trucks, accidents involving them are always disastrous. This is why it is important to cover each of these vehicles with commercial auto insurance Monroe MI.

Similar to personal auto insurance, the commercial auto insurance Monroe MI policy covers most of the needs of these trucks. Depending on the usage, cargoes and routes of these vehicles, commercial fleets can have different levels of coverage. There are main items included in the commercial truck insurance, and this includes:

Primary liability, which is the general level of plan that the state of Michigan requires. You as the company owner can choose the limit for the coverage. This will be deducted from the damages caused by the truck whenever it gets into an accident. Primary liability also includes personal injuries that people may suffer with during the accident.
General liability, which is the commercial auto insurance coverage type that helps one whenever the truck gets damaged through something other than an accident. This includes weather, theft and vandalism.
Cargo insurance, which aids the owner to insure everything their trucks are loaded with. You may find this coverage useful, especially if you carry expensive cargo. It will help you with both the damaged and the lost freight.
Trailer interchange, which is important to giant 18-wheelers with two separate parts. Sometimes, one of these parts are not owned by the same company. If you are responsible for the trailer that is owned by another business, you may be held responsible for the damage incurred during the time the item is in your possession. This type of coverage helps offset the cost.

Whatever truck you drive, whether it is a private passenger vehicle or a cargo, you will need a commercial auto insurance Monroe MI policy. Frost & Remer shares all about it here at https://insurancebyfrost.com/needs-commercial-auto-insurance-monroe-mi/. To know more about the company, visit this page: https://insurancebyfrost.com/about-us/.