
In Virginia, commercial auto insurance costs can vary greatly depending on the type of vehicle, driver experience, and coverage limits. A commercial vehicle with a high-risk driver can increase premiums by 50% or more.
The average annual cost of commercial auto insurance in Virginia is around $1,500, but this can range from $800 to $3,000 or more. This wide range is due to various factors such as the type of vehicle, driving record, and coverage options.
Business owners with a good driving record and a low-risk vehicle can expect to pay lower premiums. For example, a small business owner with a clean driving record and a sedan may pay around $1,000 per year.
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Understanding Commercial Auto Insurance
In Virginia, commercial auto insurance requirements are clear-cut. You'll need to have a minimum liability limit of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $20,000 for property damage.
Virginia state law mandates that commercial auto policies carry both uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverages. UM coverage protects you if you're injured by someone who doesn't have insurance, or in the event of a hit-and-run incident.
Some commercial auto policies are required to carry higher limits based on the types of vehicles they insure. This ensures that you're adequately protected in the event of an accident.
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Choosing the Right Coverage
Commercial auto insurance in Virginia typically includes liability coverage, which covers bodily injury and property damage caused by business vehicles. This is a must-have for businesses operating vehicles for commercial purposes.
To determine the right coverage for your business, consider the risks involved in your operations. For example, if you're a contractor, you may need to cover damage to goods and equipment being transported in your vehicles.
Here are some key types of coverage to consider:
- Liability Coverage: Covers bodily injury and property damage caused by your business vehicles.
- Collision Coverage: Pays for damage to your business vehicles resulting from collisions.
- Comprehensive Coverage: Covers non-collision-related damage to your business vehicles.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Provides protection if your vehicle is involved in an accident with a driver who has insufficient or no insurance.
Remember, a personal auto policy usually won't cover commercial vehicles, so make sure to choose a policy that meets your business needs.
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What Will My Plan Cover?
Your commercial auto insurance plan in Virginia will cover whatever the policy outlines. A commercial auto insurance policy in Virginia must at least include bodily injury liability and property damage liability, but it may include other types of protection as well.
In Virginia, commercial auto insurance must cover, at a minimum, bodily injury liability and property damage liability. However, policies can be customized to include other types of coverage, such as collision or comprehensive.
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A Virginia commercial auto insurance plan will cover non-collision-related damage to your business vehicles, such as theft, vandalism, fire, natural disasters, and falling objects.
Here are some of the key types of coverage included with commercial auto insurance in Virginia:
- Liability Coverage: Covers bodily injury and property damage caused by your business vehicles.
- Collision Coverage: Pays for damage to your business vehicles resulting from collisions with other vehicles or objects, regardless of who is at fault.
- Comprehensive Coverage: Covers non-collision-related damage to your business vehicles.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Provides protection if your business vehicle is involved in an accident with a driver who has insufficient or no insurance.
- Medical Payments Coverage: Covers medical expenses for injuries to drivers, passengers, or pedestrians in your business vehicle, regardless of fault.
- Cargo Coverage: Protects goods and equipment being transported in your business vehicles from damage or loss.
- Rental Reimbursement Coverage: Offers financial assistance for renting a vehicle while your business vehicle is being repaired after a covered incident.
- Roadside Assistance Coverage: Provides services such as towing, battery jumps, and tire changes if your business vehicle breaks down.
In Virginia, commercial auto insurance policies must have a minimum liability limit of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $20,000 for property damage (i.e., 25/50/20). Some policies are required to carry higher limits based on the types of vehicles they insure.
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Discounts
Discounts can make a big difference in your insurance costs. You can save 15% or more by paying your commercial auto insurance premium in full.
Purchasing and Using Commercial Auto Insurance
If you use your personal vehicle for work, your personal auto policy won't cover you in case of an accident.
You'll need to purchase hired and non-owned auto insurance, which covers accidents in personal, leased, and rented vehicles used for work purposes. This liability policy will help pay for claims or lawsuits against your business if you or an employee gets into an accident while driving a personal car for a work errand.
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Using Personal Vehicle for Work
Using your personal vehicle for work can be a convenient and cost-effective option, but it's essential to understand the insurance implications. Your personal auto policy may not cover you in case of an accident while driving for work purposes.
If you or an employee gets into an accident while driving a personal car for a work errand, hired and non-owned auto insurance can help pay for claims or lawsuits against your business.
To determine if you need hired and non-owned auto insurance, consider how you and your employees use personal vehicles for work. You may need to ask questions like "How many commercial automobiles do you have?" and "How are those vehicles used?"
Hired and non-owned auto insurance won't cover damage to the vehicle used by your business, so it's crucial to have a separate policy for commercial vehicles.
Here are some questions to consider when evaluating your personal vehicle usage for work:
- How many commercial automobiles do you have?
- How are those vehicles used?
- How many miles does each vehicle typically travel in a year?
- How many drivers do you have?
- What are their ages and level of experience?
- Have your drivers taken a safe driving course?
Car Price Inquiry
When you're considering the cost of commercial car insurance, one factor to keep in mind is the type and value of the vehicles you're insuring.
The number of vehicles you have on the road can also impact your insurance costs, with multiple vehicles generally increasing the overall cost.
Vehicle type and value are also major factors in determining commercial auto insurance costs, with more expensive or high-risk vehicles typically requiring higher premiums.
A claims history can also affect the cost of your commercial auto insurance, with businesses that have had frequent claims likely to pay more.
Employee driving records can also impact your insurance costs, with businesses that employ drivers with poor records likely to pay more for insurance.
Commercial auto insurance costs an average of $147 per month, which may seem steep, but 37% of Insureon small business customers pay less than $100 per month for their policies.
If you're looking to save money on your commercial auto insurance, you may want to consider raising your policy deductible or lowering your policy limits.
Curious to learn more? Check out: State Farm Commercial Auto Insurance Cost
Benefits and Costs
A commercial auto insurance policy in Virginia costs an average of $147 per month, but the cost can vary based on factors like the number of vehicles you need to insure.
You can choose from various types of coverage to complete your business's commercial vehicle insurance policy, including collision insurance, liability insurance, comprehensive insurance, medical payments insurance, uninsured/underinsured motorists insurance, and personal injury protection.
Here are some of the types of coverage you can select:
- Collision insurance: Covers damage to your business vehicles from a collision with another driver, regardless of fault.
- Liability insurance: Covers property damage or bodily injury your business causes a third party with a company vehicle.
- Comprehensive insurance: Covers damage to your business vehicles due to a non-collision event such as a flood or theft.
- Medical payments insurance: Covers medical treatments if company drivers or their passengers get injured in an accident while operating company vehicles for business purposes.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorists insurance: Covers costs of accidents with other drivers who don't carry enough car insurance to cover their portion of expenses.
- Personal injury protection: Covers costs like medical payments, lost wage replacement, and certain other expenses.
Your commercial auto insurance plan will cover whatever the policy outlines, and a Virginia commercial auto insurance plan must at least include bodily injury liability and property damage liability.
For more insights, see: Sixt Liability Coverage
Factors Affecting Cost
The cost of commercial auto insurance in Virginia can vary significantly depending on several factors. The nature of your business is a major factor, with high-risk industries like trucking or construction facing higher rates compared to lower-risk businesses like consulting.
Your business's fleet size can also impact rates, with larger fleets potentially qualifying for discounts but also posing a higher overall risk. The type of business you're in can affect your premiums, with some industries considered higher risk than others.
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Vehicle type and usage are also crucial factors, with vehicles used for transporting heavy loads or extensive travel often incurring higher premiums. The make, model, and usage of your commercial vehicles impact insurance costs, with some vehicles being more expensive to insure than others.
Driver profiles also play a significant role, with drivers having clean records and extensive experience typically resulting in lower premiums. Business location is another important factor, with areas with higher traffic, crime rates, or weather-related risks generally leading to higher insurance premiums.
Coverage limits and types can also impact premiums, with higher coverage limits and additional coverages increasing costs. Claims history can also affect rates, with frequent or high-value claims leading to increased premiums.
Here are some key factors that affect the cost of commercial auto insurance in Virginia:
- Type of Business
- Fleet Size
- Vehicle Type and Usage
- Driver Profiles
- Business Location
- Coverage Limits and Types
- Claims History
- Vehicle Safety Features
- Annual Mileage
- Business Operations
These factors can all impact the cost of your commercial auto insurance policy, so it's essential to carefully consider them when shopping for coverage.
Will Not Cover

If you're considering commercial auto insurance for your business in Virginia, it's essential to know what's not covered. Pollutant damage or destruction to company vehicles, for example, is not typically covered.
Theft, destruction, or damage to business equipment and inventory is also not covered by commercial vehicle insurance. This is because it's usually covered under commercial property insurance.
Malicious or intentional acts against third parties or their property by company drivers are not covered. This includes incidents caused by drivers while they were intoxicated.
Here are some examples of what's not covered by commercial vehicle insurance in Virginia:
- Pollutant damage or destruction to company vehicles
- Theft, destruction, or damage to business equipment and inventory
- Malicious or intentional acts against third parties or their property by company drivers
- Incidents with company vehicles caused by drivers while they were intoxicated
- Employee workplace injuries and illnesses (covered under workers' compensation)
Is Tax-Deductible?
In Virginia, commercial vehicle insurance is tax-deductible. Companies can claim the cost of commercial auto insurance as a business expense.
You can deduct the cost of commercial vehicle insurance from your taxable income, which can help reduce your tax liability. This can be a significant benefit for businesses that rely heavily on their vehicles for operations.
Having tax-deductible commercial vehicle insurance can save you money on taxes, which can be reinvested in your business. This can be especially helpful for small businesses or startups that are trying to stay afloat.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best insurance for commercial vehicles?
For commercial vehicles, NEXT Insurance is the best option for small businesses, while Farmers is recommended for contractors. Consider getting a quote from NEXT Insurance for a tailored solution or calling Farmers at (866) 379-3321 for more information.
Does commercial car insurance cost more?
Yes, commercial car insurance generally costs more than personal auto insurance due to higher coverage levels and risk protection. This increased cost is a result of the added liability and financial exposure that comes with commercial driving.
What is the new law in Virginia about auto insurance?
As of July 1, 2024, Virginia requires all cars to be insured with a policy that includes at least 30/60/20 liability limits. This means $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, and $20,000 for property damage liability.
How much is $1 million commercial insurance?
A $1 million commercial insurance policy typically costs around $824 per year, but prices may vary depending on your business specifics. Contact us to get a personalized quote and learn more about our liability insurance options.
Sources
- https://www.progressivecommercial.com/commercial-auto-insurance/virginia/
- https://www.insureon.com/small-business-insurance/commercial-auto/virginia
- https://jenkinsinsuranceva.com/commercial-auto-insurance-virginia/
- https://glmins.com/business-insurance/commercial-auto-insurance-virginia/
- https://www.trustedchoice.com/l/virginia/commercial-vehicle-insurance/
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