Commercial car insurance – breaking down the essentials

Whether you’re looking to protect one business vehicle or a whole fleet, commercial car insurance helps your business cover the costs of unexpected events like accidental damage or theft.

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By

Cameron Thach

Reviewed by

Justine Mclean

Updated

Fact checked

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Key takeaways

  • It's comprehensive coverage for vehicles used exclusively for business activities.
  • You can protect multiple business vehicles or entire fleets under one policy.
  • Great ways for businesses to cover specialist motor vehicles like tractors, forklifts, and bulldozers.

What is commercial car insurance?

Commercial car insurance is a type of comprehensive policy that provides protection for motor vehicles which are used to perform specific business tasks.

This can be anything from - but not limited to - transporting goods, moving heavy materials, or passengers for business purposes.

This kind of policy is designed to help you manage any costs involving accidental damage caused by your business vehicle to other cars or property or if your vehicle is damaged by a third-party.

What types of vehicles are covered by commercial car insurance?

Commercial car insurance can cover a range of vehicles. Some examples include:

  • Sedans
  • Vans
  • Utes
  • Forklifts
  • Bulldozers
  • Tractors
  • Cement trucks

What is commercial fleet motor insurance?

Commercial fleet insurance is a specialised policy that offers coverage for multiple vehicles owned or leased by your business.

Many policies allow you to automatically include and remove vehicles, which makes it a lot easier to protect your operations if you're working with multiple motor vehicles.

What isn't covered by commercial car insurance?

As with any insurance policy, it's important to be aware of the exclusions. Always refer to the insurer's product disclosure statement (PDS) for complete details or talk to a broker. Common exclusions are:

  • Any damage or loss prior to purchasing the policy
  • Fines or punitive damage
  • Damage from a driver who's not listed on the policy
  • Vehicles not registered or considered unroadworthy

How do I get commercial car insurance?

It depends on the type of commercial policy you're looking for. It can be as simple as comparing options online and applying directly through a provider.

If you're looking for more specialised or complex protection, you can speak to a broker to find a tailored package that fits your business needs.

Who offers commercial car insurance?

While some car insurance providers allow you to purchase commercial car insurance directly or through their website, our research shows that most commercial policies are purchased through a broker.

Car insurers who offer commercial policies:

Commercial brokers:

  • 360 Motor Insurance
  • All Trades Cover
  • GSK Insurance
  • HIA Insurance Services
  • Imar
  • Marsh
  • Professional Insurance Brokers
  • Newcastle Insurance group
  • Vero
  • Windsor Management Insurance Brokers

If your business needs aren't as extensive or you only use your car for the occasional business activity you may not need a commercial policy. There are insurers who may cover you to some extent for business use with a personal insurance policy.

FAQs

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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been reviewed by Justine Mclean, a member of Finder's Editorial Review Board.
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Written by

Insurance Content Writer

Cameron is the local insurance scholar at Finder. With a diverse background writing in independent education, web-3, and finance, his mission is to build helpful content and that speaks to readers in language they understand. See full bio

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2 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    GloriaMarch 7, 2019

    Would I need business car insurance if I only work at home? However, I occasionally drive my car to work.

      AvatarFinder
      JoshuaMarch 7, 2019Finder

      Hi Gloria,

      Thanks for getting in touch with Finder. I hope all is well with you. 😃

      Basically, you would only need business car insurance if you are using your car for business purposes. Since the majority of the time you are working in your home, your car might only be considered as a car for personal use.

      For this reason, you might be interested instead of checking other types of car insurance policies. You will be able to compare car insurance side-by-side and get quotes. You can also check different types of car insurance as well as how to switch policies.

      Once you find a car insurer, they would most likely provide a policy that would best fit your needs and preference. From there, you should be able to confirm whether business car insurance is right for you or not.

      I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out again.

      Have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Joshua

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