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Published: Dec 19, 2022 20 min read
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Best for Most Vehicle Types
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Best overall

AM Best Rating

A+

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All 50 states

Best for Customizable Coverage
Nationwide
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Most affordable

AM Best Rating

A+

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48 states (Not Alaska or Louisiana)

Best for Large Businesses
Sentry
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Best for large businesses

AM Best Rating

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Provides Protection for a Variety of Vehicles
State Farm
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If you need coverage for your business fleet, our picks for the best commercial auto insurance companies give you several options. The companies on this list offer a mix of policies: liability, medical payments, comprehensive, collision and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

As with private passenger insurance, you can lower your monthly commercial auto insurance premium by bundling policies with business insurance. You can also reduce your premiums with business experience, having a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and insuring your personal vehicle with the same company.

We put together a comprehensive list of what each commercial car insurance company has to offer to help you decide which one is the best pick for you.

Our top picks for the best commercial auto insurance companies

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Best commercial auto insurance companies reviews

Why we chose it: Progressive is the largest commercial auto insurer in the country, offering a wide range of services. Coverage types include liability, physical damage, medical payments, uninsured motorist, hired auto, any auto, and non-owned coverage. Progressive can also cover many vehicle types, including business automobiles, trucks and trailers.

Pros
  • Largest insurer of commercial vehicles
  • Many potential discounts
  • Extensive range of coverage options
  • Available in all 50 states
Cons
  • Doesn't sell policies online
  • Must work with an agent
HIGHLIGHTS
A.M. BEST RATING
A+
JD POWER RATING
Below average (861/1,000)
NAIC Complaint Index
Below median (0.67)

Progressive’s commercial auto insurance policies are highly customizable. The company even lets you adapt your policy to seasonal changes, which is useful if you need to insure more or fewer vehicles during certain times of the year.

Progressive offers numerous discounts on its commercial auto insurance, such as discounts for CDLs, bundling and paying by EFT. You can also claim a discount if you also insure your personal vehicle with Progressive.

According to Progressive’s website, its average monthly premium for commercial auto insurance is $205 for business auto. For contractors, the average cost is $196 per month. Keep in mind, however, that prices with Progressive may vary depending on whether you buy insurance online or over the phone with an agent.

Progressive has a strong AM Best rating of A+ and its NAIC Complaint Index for commercial auto insurance is 0.67, below the national median. However, its latest J.D. Power rating for auto claims satisfaction is 861 out of 1,000, well below the industry average.

Why we chose it: Nationwide offers many coverage options, like liability coverage, comprehensive and collision, and uninsured and underinsured motorists. It also lets you expand your coverage through endorsements such as roadside assistance, new vehicle replacement, auto loan or lease coverage and rental reimbursement.

Pros
  • Strong reputation for customer satisfaction and financial strength
  • Vantage 360 services includes a 10% discount
  • Available in all 50 states
Cons
  • Not all vehicle types are covered
  • Must work with an agent
HIGHLIGHTS
A.M. BEST RATING
A+
J.D. Power Score
Above average (854/1,000)
NAIC Complaint Index
Below median (0.92)

Vantage 360 is Nationwide’s telematics service for small businesses. It allows you to manage a fleet of vehicles and monitor drivers’ routes and activity. Individual drivers can also earn points for good diving behavior that they can later redeem for gift cards.

Nationwide claims that drivers who use telematics apps have 47% fewer claims. And business policyholders who opt into Vantage 360 may be eligible for a 10% discount on select coverages — provided they take a recorded trip within 45 days of enrollment. Coverage is available for various vehicles, including cars, trucks and vans.

With Nationwide, you can pair your commercial auto coverage with business owners' insurance, general liability, workers' compensation and umbrella insurance. While the company has an online quote tool, we found that it won’t always provide a quote unless you call its sales team. Similarly, you must call an agent if you want to buy a policy.

Nationwide includes a number of options to customize your coverage. These options, which Nationwide calls endorsements, include expanded towing and labor, rental reimbursement and auto loan or lease gap coverage.

Nationwide has an A+ rating from AM Best. And while it fell below the industry average in J.D. Power's latest Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, it ranked third among insurers in the firm's U.S. Small Commercial Insurance Study. Nationwide General Insurance Company has a 0.92 NAIC complaint index for its commercial auto line, just below the industry median.

Why we chose it: The Hartford's telematics program, FleetAhead, doesn't just help small business owners qualify for discounts, it's also a tool for developing drivers. The software creates a baseline for drivers based on their behavior on the road and can recommend coaching strategies to help them improve their performance. Drivers also get feedback while they drive, which helps reduce risks in real time.

Pros
  • Broad range of coverage options
  • Coverage for both large and small businesses
  • Available in all 50 states and D.C.
  • Discounts for hybrid and electric vehicles
Cons
  • Online quotes not available
  • Few options for single vehicles
  • Must call to purchase a policy
HIGHLIGHTS
A.M. BEST RATING
A+
J.D. Power Score
Below average (819/1000)
NAIC Complaint Index
N/A

The Hartford is one of the most well-known and trusted names in the insurance industry. The company has been around for more than 200 years and provides commercial auto insurance primarily for business fleets. It offers a wide range of services, including downtime loss, rental reimbursement and towing coverage. Its network of over 1,000 auto repair shops also makes it easier to take care of repairs no matter where you are.

Coverage options from The Hartford include liability, comprehensive and collision, uninsured/underinsured motorist, medical payments and non-owner insurance. The company also offers some unique services and discounts. For instance, it includes gap coverage for leased and loaned vehicles and coverage of electronic devices. Plus, you can get an additional 10% of the cost of total loss vehicles you replace with hybrid, electric or natural gas ones.

The Hartford has an A+ rating for A.M. Best but is ranked below the industry average in the latest J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. You must also call an agent to get a quote or purchase a policy.

Why we chose it: Farmers is the top choice for single-vehicle policies. With its specialized coverage for independent contractors and a wide range of coverage options, Farmers is ideal for independent contractors. Coverage includes using personal vehicles for business use if you don’t have a dedicated business vehicle.

Pros
  • Specialized coverage for contractors
  • Coverage in all 50 states
  • Broad range of coverage options
Cons
  • Few discounts
  • Online quotes not available
  • Must work with an agent
HIGHLIGHTS
A.M. BEST RATING
A
J.D. Power Score
Below average (830/1,000)
NAIC Complaint Index
Below median (0.24)

Standard commercial auto insurance coverage options through Farmers include non-owned auto, uninsured/underinsured, liability and comprehensive.

Farmers also offers insurance options you may not find elsewhere, such as coverage for food trucks. This product lets you customize a policy to your needs, combining auto insurance with other coverage options for restaurant owners, including equipment breakdown, food contamination shutdown and spoilage insurance.

Farmers doesn't provide quotes online, and you must work with a local agent to buy a policy. Its A rating from A.M. Best is slightly lower than competitors’ ratings, and discounts from Farmers are somewhat limited. Still, its specialized coverage for single vehicles makes it worth considering for certain businesses.

Why we chose it: Auto-Owners is our top pick for those who don’t want to overpay on commercial auto insurance. Possible discounts through Auto-Owners include multi-policy, paid-in-full, fleet monitoring, group coverage and seasonal vehicle use. The company also has excellent financial strength ratings, and customer complaints are few and far between.

Pros
  • Many discounts available
  • Additional expense coverage
  • Coverage for motor carriers
Cons
  • Online quotes not available
  • Must work with a local agent
HIGHLIGHTS
A.M. BEST RATING
A++
J.D. Power Score
Above average (847/1000)
NAIC Complaint Index
Below median (0.64)

Auto-Owners offers all the standard policy options like comprehensive and collision, liability and medical payments. It also has coverage for newly acquired autos and road trouble service. If you happen to incur additional expenses when you have car trouble, such as car rental or hotel booking costs, it will help cover those too.

Auto-Owners is one of a few insurers to receive an A++ rating from AM Best. It also earned the top spot for independent agent satisfaction, according to a 2022 J.D. Power study. However, the company doesn't offer online quotes, and you’ll have to work with a local agent to buy a policy.

Why we chose it: Sentry offers customizable commercial policies that work well for fleets and large businesses. Sentry primarily serves businesses in construction, manufacturing, retail, trucking and car dealerships. Its business auto insurance offering includes options for dealerships, motor carriers and motor truck cargo.

Pros
  • Includes coverage for non-work vehicle use
  • Coverage for dealerships and motor carriers
  • Available in every state
Cons
  • Online quotes not available
  • Must work with an agent
HIGHLIGHTS
A.M. BEST RATING
A+
J.D. Power Score
N/A
NAIC Complaint Index
Below median (0.68)

Sentry's commercial vehicle insurance offering includes commercial auto liability, physical damage and non-trucking liability. The latter covers you if you occasionally use your work vehicle for personal use, which makes the company another great option for contractors.

Sentry offers several discounts to customers who participate in training programs. These include video coaching sessions and theft prevention and online safety courses.

While Sentry isn’t rated in the latest J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, it has an A+ rating from A.M. Best. However, the company doesn’t offer online quotes, so you must call the number on its website.

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Other companies we considered

Travelers

Pros
  • Coverage for physical damage
  • Covers many different vehicle types
  • Industry-specific coverage
Cons
  • Online quotes not available
  • Must work with an agent

Travelers has coverage for many vehicle types, including passenger vehicles, light trucks, heavy trucks and vehicle fleets. It offers liability, uninsured/underinsured motorists and physical damage coverage as well as industry-specific coverage for industries like oil & gas and the public sector.

Travelers' commercial insurance is well suited to small and large fleets. It offers coverage in most states but doesn't provide quotes online. You will have to work with an agent in your area to obtain a quote and purchase a policy.

Travelers has an A rating from AM Best but ranks well below the national average in J.D. Power's most recent U.S. Auto Insurance Claims Satisfaction Study.

State Farm

Pros
  • Top rating for financial strength
  • Top rating for customer satisfaction
  • Coverage in all 50 states
Cons
  • Online quotes not available
  • Limited online options for commercial use
  • Must work with an agent

State Farm’s commercial plans can be customized to meet your needs. Policies cover vehicles you own and lease and medical fees for you and your employees.

State Farm doesn’t have an online quote tool, meaning you’ll have to work with a local agent to get a quote or purchase a policy. However, its website does have a chat and includes a tool to find an agent near you.

As for third-party ratings, State Farm received an above-average rating in J.D. Power's 2022 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. Nevertheless, its NAIC complaint ratio for commercial auto insurance is quite a bit higher than the industry median (2.73).

Great West Casualty Company

Pros
  • Strong financial strength ratings
  • Very few customer complaints
  • 24/7 claims filing
Cons
  • Can't request a quote without talking to an agent
  • Not available in Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts or New York

Great West Casualty, a subsidiary of Old Republic, specializes in commercial truck insurance, and it’s worth considering for any business that operates in that sector. It provides many types of coverage, including liability, owner-operators, physical damage and umbrella insurance.

Great West Casualty has been in business for over 65 years. In addition to its underwriting services, the company offers seminars and publishes videos and newsletters aimed at helping customers improve safety and meet regulatory compliance.

You can request a quote online, you'll have to wait for an agent to reach out to you with a quote. Great West Casualty has an A+ rating with AM Best and very few NAIC complaints against its commercial auto insurance line.

Allstate

Pros
  • Online quotes available
  • Claims service available 24/7
  • Many vehicle types covered
Cons
  • Items inside the vehicle are not covered

Allstate is among the top 10 largest commercial auto insurers in the industry and has one of the highest ratings in the 2022 J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. It offers liability, collision and comprehensive, and uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage and rental reimbursement.

With Allstate, you can get quotes online and submit claims 24/7. It has an A+ rating from AM Best, but it has an above-average number of NAIC complaints against its commercial auto policies.

AmTrust Financial

Pros
  • Industry-specific coverage
  • Liability limits up to $1 million
  • Downtime loss coverage available
Cons
  • Online quotes not available
  • Must work with an agent

AmTrust is well suited to contractors, covering businesses like electrical, plumbing, roofing, HVAC, distribution, energy and appliance repair.

Coverage types include liability and physical damage coverage for light, medium and heavy vehicles. Everything from single units to large fleets can be covered, with liability limits from $300,000 to $1 million. Other benefits include downtime loss coverage — for when covered losses prevent you from operating — and diminishing deductibles.

AmTrust received an A rating from AM Best but has a higher complaint ratio against its commercial auto line than other competitors.

Federated Insurance

Pros
  • Industry-specific coverage
  • Customized policies
  • Variety of coverage types
Cons
  • No online quotes
  • Must work with an agent

Federated Insured provides coverage to people like contractors, car dealerships, retailers and wholesalers. It also insures industries like cabinet and woodworking, funeral services and printers. It has an extensive portfolio of services, with everything from general liability to commercial auto and commercial umbrella.

Federated Mutual Insurance Company has an A+ rating from AM Best and no complaints against its commercial auto policies logged with the NAIC for 2021.

Pros
  • Special coverage for truckers
  • File claims online or over the phone
  • Online quotes available
Cons
  • Coverage not available in all states

Acuity Insurance

Acuity Insurance provides commercial auto insurance to many types of industries, including construction, retail, trucking and wholesale. It offers liability, physical damage, uninsured/underinsured motorist and PIP coverage.

Acuity also offers several perks, such as $3,000 in coverage for electronic logging devices and special coverage for truckers.

Acuity allows customers to get quotes online and submit claims either online or over the phone. It has an A+ rating from AM Best and few NAIC complaints. However, Acuity is not licensed in all states, so check whether its services are available where you live.

Commercial Auto Insurance Companies Guide

While commercial auto insurance is similar to personal auto insurance, there are some noticeable differences. This guide covers what you need to know about commercial auto policies and how to find the best rates.

Main things to know before choosing a commercial auto insurance company

One of the most important things to know about commercial auto insurance companies is that they aren’t all the same. Some work with just a handful of types of clients or businesses, while others will take on almost any kind of client.

The same is true for coverages: coverage options and limits may vary by company. With this in mind, ask the insurer you are considering to go over what its policies cover before you sign up.

Commercial auto insurance must be tailored to your business, so not all companies will be the right fit. To get the best service and discounts, find insurers that regularly work with the kind of business you have and compare car insurance quotes from each one.

What is the average cost of commercial auto insurance companies?

The cost of commercial auto insurance can vary widely depending on factors such as your state and the type (or types) of vehicle you're looking to insure, your personal driving record and your industry.

As Nationwide notes, there isn’t an average cost of commercial auto insurance that applies to all businesses. Ask for quotes from a few commercial auto insurance companies and compare prices and discounts to get the best deal.

What does commercial auto insurance cover?

Commercial auto insurance covers many different things, depending on the business. However, here are the most common coverage options:

  1. Liability insurance protects you and your company against bodily injury or property damage if you are found legally responsible after an accident.
  2. Comprehensive coverage protects you if your vehicle is damaged by something other than another vehicle, such as vandalism, theft, fire, flooding, hail or accidents involving animals.
  3. Collision coverage protects you when you hit another vehicle or object, are hit by another vehicle or your vehicle rolls over.
  4. Uninsured/underinsured motorist pays for medical expenses, loss of income and other damages to you and your employees if you are in an accident caused by a motorist who is uninsured or underinsured.
  5. Medical payments coverage helps you, your employees and your passengers cover medical expenses arising from motor vehicle accidents.
  6. Personal injury protection (PIP) is another type of coverage that pays for medical expenses and, in some states, lost income.

Some commercial auto insurance companies tailor their coverage to specific types of businesses. For example, some might provide coverage for the equipment inside contractors’ vehicles. Others let you add additional coverages, like roadside assistance, towing and auto loan or lease coverage.

Why do you need commercial auto insurance?

Besides being legally required in most states, commercial auto insurance is necessary to protect your business against liability lawsuits and other losses. In general, if you use a vehicle to complete tasks related to your business (other than commuting), you need a commercial auto insurance policy.

You may also need commercial auto insurance if you transport goods or people in your vehicle or need higher liability limits due to the nature of your work. The same applies if employees operate vehicles or vehicles are registered under the name of a corporation or partnership.

If you rent or borrow vehicles while doing business, commercial auto insurance may reimburse you for damages after an accident. Commercial auto insurance can even help you cover the difference between the value of your company vehicle and the outstanding balance on your auto loan or lease.

How to avoid commercial auto insurance scams?

Scams and fraud are common in the insurance industry, and the commercial car insurance sector is no exception. When purchasing a commercial auto policy, business owners should have a clear idea of their insurance needs so as not to end up paying for unnecessary coverage. It's also a good idea to review your commercial auto policy and understand exactly what it covers and to what extent. This should help you avoid surprises come time to file a claim.

Besides getting roped into unnecessary coverage, you should also watch out for scammers looking to file fake injury claims or get your personal information to file fraudulent accident claims against your policy. To avoid these types of situations, drive safely, consider installing a dash cam on your vehicle and document accidents thoroughly by taking plenty of pictures.

Commercial auto insurance companies FAQs

What does the term "auto rebill commercial carrier" mean on my insurance bill?

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The term commercial carrier or motor carrier generally refers to owners of large motor vehicles such as trucks, trailers and semi-trucks. If you see this line in your auto insurance policy, it most likely refers to the monthly commercial auto insurance premiums you pay for this type of vehicle.

Who has the best rates for commercial auto insurance?

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Commercial auto insurance rates can vary widely depending on your business type and the state in which you operate, so we recommend getting quotes from several different insurance carriers to find the lowest rates for your business.

If you don't know where to start, some insurers — particularly Auto-Owners and Progressive — offer many discounts for commercial auto insurance that can help you lower your premiums.

How can I find the best commercial auto insurance companies near my area?

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Many of the commercial auto insurance companies in this article operate in every state or nearly every state. Larger insurers like Progressive and Farmers have tools on their websites that let you enter your zip code to check whether coverage is available near you. Most commercial insurers also have a "find an agent" button to help locate agents in your area.

What is the difference between personal and commercial auto insurance?

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Commercial auto insurance usually includes coverage options you also get with personal auto insurance policies, such as liability, comprehensive and collision, and uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage.

However, unlike private passenger auto insurance, commercial policies tend to vary much more by insurance company both in what and how much they cover. These policies also offer higher coverage limits and cover a broader range of vehicle types and uses.

And since insurance companies take on more risk when insuring commercial vehicles (because of their higher coverage limits and potential for claims) commercial policies generally cost more than private passenger auto policies.

How can I get a commercial auto insurance quote?

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Most commercial insurance companies will only provide quotes over the phone. However, companies like Allstate, Federated Insurance and Great West Insurance Company provide quotes online.

To obtain a quote online, be prepared to provide your business address and phone number. You should also have your vehicle ID numbers (VIN) and driver's license information for all drivers who will be insured.

How we found the best commercial auto insurance companies

We found the best commercial auto insurance companies by comparing the following:

  • Available coverage options industry ratings customer complaints
  • Available discounts
  • Types of vehicles covered

Every business is different, and the best choice will ultimately come down to what works best for your company.

Still, some commercial insurance companies consistently come out on top regarding ratings from industry groups like J.D. Power, AM Best and NAIC. Our top picks for the best commercial auto insurance companies generally fare well in some or all those rankings, showing strong performance across the board.

Summary of the best commercial auto insurance companies of 2023