West Valley Commercial Auto Insurance
Whether you own several commercial vehicles or you drive your personal car for your small business, you need commercial auto insurance.
Commercial vehicles are abundant on the streets of West Valley, Utah. If you are a local business owner who has company vehicles—from delivery vans to pickups or construction vehicles—you will want to be sure you have the right commercial vehicle insurance policy. An independent insurance agent can help you find competitively priced coverage that is compliant with all state and federal laws and affordable for your business. Find an insurance agent in or near West Valley to learn more about your coverage options and make an informed choice.
Why Is Commercial Vehicle Insurance So Important?
Commercial vehicles are assumed to face greater risks than most personal vehicles. They are out on the road more, and for that reason alone have a greater risk of being involved in a crash. If your commercial vehicle is involved in an accident that results in serious injuries or fatalities, you can be faced with a very expensive lawsuit. And even minor fender benders can result in property damage costs and loss of income for your business. The state of Utah compiles crash statistics for a variety of different types of vehicles. In recent years, heavy trucks and buses had the highest fatal crash rate per registered vehicle in the state.
Utah total crashes by vehicle type
- Property damage only crashes, heavy trucks and buses: 3,261
- Injury crashes, heavy trucks, and buses: 840
- Fatal crashes, heavy trucks and buses: 27
How Much Does Commercial Auto Insurance Cost in West Valley, UT?
Commercial vehicle insurance costs can vary significantly from one business to the next. Insurance companies assess risk and calculate rates according to a variety of factors that are unique to your business, including:
- The number of vehicles your business is insuring
- Each vehicle’s type, year, make, model and safety features
- Each vehicle’s passenger capacity if used for transporting people
- Whether your vehicles)will be used to transport hazardous materials
- The estimated number of miles your vehicles will be driven annually
- The driving histories of the employees who will be operating the vehicles
- The amount of coverage you wish to purchase
Because each insurance company has its own method for determining costs, it pays to compare rates before purchasing a policy. That way you can be sure you are getting the coverage you want at a competitive price.
How Much Commercial Vehicle Insurance Does My Business Need?
Commercial auto insurance coverage is determined by state or federal law, depending on the type of vehicle, the vehicle’s weight, the number of passengers, what the vehicle carries (e.g., innocuous goods or hazardous materials), and whether it is engaged in interstate commerce. Most small business owners don’t own vehicles that are subject to federal law, and they must purchase commercial auto insurance coverage that meets the same requirements as all personal auto insurance policies. All personal and commercial auto insurance policies in Utah must include:
- Personal injury protection (PIP): $3,000 minimum coverage requirement, pays your medical expenses and some lost income if you are injured in an accident.
- Bodily injury and property damage liability coverage: Pays for third-party medical bills and car repairs. Required limits are 25/65/15, or $25,000 per person, $65,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage.
Passenger carriers, freight carriers, trucks over 10,000 pounds, and vehicles that carry hazardous substances must follow federal regulations for liability insurance coverage.
What Does Commercial Auto Insurance Cover?
All commercial vehicle insurance policies in West Valley will include the state-mandated coverage. In addition, insurance companies offer several other types of coverage that may be included as standard in their policies or offered as optional coverage.
- Collision coverage: Covers damage to your vehicle sustained in a collision, regardless of who was at fault.
- Comprehensive coverage: Covers the cost to repair damage to your vehicle due to non-collision events such as fires and property crimes.
- Uninsured motorist coverage: Covers your employee’s medical expenses and damage to your vehicle’ following an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver.
- Towing and roadside assistance: Covers the cost of a service call if your company vehicle becomes disabled while it is out on the road.
- Non-owned or hired auto liability insurance: Provides liability coverage for non-owned vehicles being used for business purposes, such as when you rent or lease a vehicle or when you or an employee use a personal vehicle for business purposes.
Your local independent insurance agent can help you determine which coverage types may be beneficial for your unique needs.
Why Work with an Independent Insurance Agent?
Shopping for the right commercial vehicle insurance coverage does not have to be difficult or time-consuming. A local independent insurance agent can answer your insurance insurance-related questions, offer trustworthy advice, and obtain customized quotes from multiple insurance companies.
Contact an agent near you to begin your search for the best commercial vehicle insurance policy for your West Valley business.
https://highwaysafety.utah.gov/crash-data/utah-crash-summaries/