Protect your business vehicles with a New Jersey commercial auto policy
Many of New Jersey’s 952,000 small businesses need commercial auto insurance to protect from accidents that involve their work vehicles. Commercial vehicles are usually exposed to more risk than personal autos and often require specific coverages and limits that aren’t typically supported by a personal auto policy.
Hundreds of thousands of small business owners across the nation trust us to protect their work vehicles and livelihoods. Each gets customized coverage to match their unique needs, whether they own a cleaning service in Jersey City or a landscaping business in Trenton.
Commercial auto coverage for a variety of business types:
New Jersey commercial auto insurance cost
Several factors affect the cost of your New Jersey commercial auto policy, including your:
Profession
Some industries have more risk than others. A plumber who carries tools and equipment to various job sites every day can expect to pay more than a tech firm that runs occasional errands.
Vehicle
Your vehicle’s size and use affect your rate. A large carpet cleaning van with an attached vacuum system will likely have a higher premium than a small delivery van with minimal equipment.
Driving history
Your commercial auto insurance carrier will run a motor vehicle report on all drivers with access to your business vehicles. Drivers with accidents or violations on their driving record will usually cause your rate to increase. You can expect your insurance company to take the past three years of driving history into account.
Location
It’s common to pay more for commercial auto coverage in a large city like Newark than in a smaller city like Toms River. Keep in mind, prices are usually higher in locations that experience more claims or more expensive settlements than other locations. Areas susceptible to weather-related events, such as hurricanes and floods, are also factors.
Travel radius
The distance you routinely travel can influence your commercial auto rate. A vehicle with a local route within Camden’s city limits is considered lower risk than a vehicle with a regional route that covers the entire Costal Plain region.
Coverage needs
The amount of coverage you need affects your premium. Policyholders with the New Jersey state minimum limits of 15/30/5 will pay less than a policyholder needing a combined single limit of $1M.
New Jersey commercial auto insurance requirements
New Jersey state law requires you to have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage to pay for the medical expenses of your drivers and passengers regardless of who is at fault for an accident.
The state law requires all commercial auto policies to have a minimum liability limit of $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident for bodily injury and $5,000 for property damage (i.e., 15/30/5). In New Jersey, this is known as residual bodily injury and property damage (RBI-PD) because it pays in excess of a third-party’s PIP coverage.
You might be required to carry higher limits based on the types of vehicles listed on your policy. It’s best practice to select limits that are right for your business in addition to what’s required by New Jersey state law.
New Jersey commercial auto resources:
Common professions that need commercial auto insurance in NJ:
Browse more examples of professions we insure.
Commercial auto insurance anywhere in New Jersey
We offer New Jersey commercial auto insurance statewide, including these major cities:
- Newark
- Toms River
- Paterson
- Edison
- Camden
- Jersey City
- Clifton
- Elizabeth
- Trenton
- Passaic
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