| If, like many Americans, your family car is also | | | | personal auto policy provides? Generally, a |
| used for purposes that could be considered | | | | commercial auto policy offers higher limits of |
| commercial use, you may want to steer yourself | | | | liability, but less or no coverage in areas that are |
| into a chair and look over your insurance policy. | | | | typically not associated with commercial auto |
| You'll need to consider buying a commercial policy | | | | risks. |
| or making sure that your existing personal auto | | | | - Do you need special coverage for situations |
| policy covers the vehicle for business use. | | | | encountered while conducting business? |
| Whether or not you need a commercial policy | | | | Commercial auto policies usually offer these |
| depends on how you use your vehicle and what | | | | coverages, and they're normally not available with |
| company you have it insured with. Every | | | | personal auto policies. These include hired and |
| company has different guidelines and may | | | | nonowned auto coverage and coverage for |
| surcharge for business-use coverage on a | | | | towing a trailer for business use. |
| personal auto policy. | | | | - Do you need to list any employees as drivers? |
| If you're not sure whether business use is | | | | Commercial auto policies allow you to list anyone |
| covered on your personal policy, it's important to | | | | that you employ. You don't have that option with |
| call your insurance company or agent. Texas | | | | a personal auto policy. In general, you'll need |
| Prime Insurance and Progressive Insurance has | | | | commercial auto coverage if the vehicle you use |
| put together these four questions you may want | | | | is owned by a corporate partnership or driven by |
| to ask: | | | | employees, or if it's used to haul tools or |
| - How do companies determine commercial use? | | | | equipment weighing more than 500 pounds, make |
| One definition could include "engaging in | | | | deliveries or heavy enough to require state or |
| transporting goods for compensation or a fee," | | | | federal filings. |
| which includes pizza or newspaper delivery, | | | | |
| catering, door-to-door consulting services, | | | | For more information about commercial auto |
| landscaping or snowplowing services, logging | | | | insurance, visit |
| business, day care/church van services or | | | | Did You Know? |
| farm-to-market delivery. People who do these | | | | If, like many Americans, your family car is also |
| kinds of work should consider purchasing a | | | | used for purposes that could be considered |
| commercial vehicle policy. | | | | commercial use, you may want to steer yourself |
| - Do you need more liability coverage than a | | | | into a chair and look over your insurance policy. |