Personal auto insurance policies are written for personal use of a vehicle. When a vehicle is used for business purposes, a personal policy may not provide coverage for incidents that occur while the vehicle is in business use. This gap applies to a wide range of New Jersey business owners, including real estate agents who drive clients to property showings, contractors who use their trucks to transport tools and materials, and any business owner who regularly drives to client locations.
Muller Insurance writes commercial auto insurance for New Jersey businesses through Amtrust, Cumberland Mutual, Farmers, N&D, Plymouth Rock, and Progressive.
Who Needs Commercial Auto Insurance in NJ
Real Estate Agents and Brokers
Real estate professionals in New Jersey use their vehicles regularly for business, driving clients to showings, traveling between properties, and attending closings. If an accident occurs during one of these business trips, a personal auto policy may deny the claim on the grounds that the vehicle was in commercial use. A commercial auto policy covers the vehicle for both personal and business use, eliminating this gap.
Small Contractors
Contractors who use pickup trucks, vans, or other vehicles to transport tools, materials, or equipment to job sites are using those vehicles commercially. Most personal auto insurers will not cover accidents in vehicles regularly used to haul commercial loads. Commercial auto coverage is appropriate for any contractor vehicle used in the course of business.
Property Managers and Building Owners
Property managers and apartment building owners who regularly drive between properties for inspections, maintenance coordination, or tenant meetings use their vehicles for business purposes. If the vehicle is used frequently for these activities, commercial auto coverage is the appropriate policy.
Service Businesses and Mobile Operations
Any business whose employees or owners regularly drive to customer locations, deliver goods, or operate mobile service vehicles should evaluate whether commercial auto coverage is appropriate. This includes cleaning services, delivery businesses, landscapers, and similar operations.
What Commercial Auto Policies Cover in NJ
- Liability coverage: covers bodily injury and property damage caused to others in an accident.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage: covers the business driver when the at-fault party has no insurance or insufficient coverage.
- Comprehensive and collision coverage: covers physical damage to the business vehicle.
- Medical payments coverage: covers medical costs for the driver and passengers after an accident.
- Hired and non-owned auto coverage: covers vehicles rented or borrowed for business use, and personal vehicles used by employees for business errands.
Commercial Auto Insurance in NJ vs. NY
Some NJ business owners also operate in New York, driving across the Hudson River for client meetings, property showings, or job sites. Both NJ and NY commercial auto requirements apply depending on where the vehicle is registered and where it operates. Amtrust, Plymouth Rock, and Progressive write commercial auto in both NJ and NY, which is useful for businesses that operate regularly in both states.
Our Carriers for Commercial Auto Insurance in NJ
- Amtrust: writes commercial auto in NJ and NY.
- Cumberland Mutual: writes commercial auto in NJ.
- Farmers of Salem: writes commercial auto in NJ.
- N&D Group: writes commercial auto in NJ.
- Plymouth Rock: writes commercial auto in NJ and NY.
- Progressive: writes commercial auto in NJ and NY.
Contact Muller Insurance
For a commercial auto insurance quote in NJ, call Muller Insurance at 201-659-2403 or visit MullerInsurance.com. We write commercial vehicle coverage for realtors, contractors, property managers, and business owners across New Jersey and New York.
