Personal Auto vs. Commercial Auto Insurance – What You Need to Know
Hey there, Jeremy from Ochsner Insurance here. I was standing in front of our equipment shed the other day, thinking about all you landscapers out there who are using your personal trucks for work. Towing trailers. Hauling mowers. Moving gear from job to job.
It works great—until it doesn’t.
Let me ask you: is that truck insured under a personal auto policy? If so, and you’re using it for business, you could have a major problem if there’s ever a claim.
Let’s break down why.
Personal vs. Commercial Auto Insurance – What’s the Difference?
Your personal auto insurance policy is designed for… well, personal stuff. Driving the kids to school. Running errands. That sort of thing.
But a commercial auto insurance policy is built for business use. If you’re towing equipment, hauling materials, or carrying your crew to job sites, your risk is higher—and your policy should reflect that.
What Could Go Wrong? Here’s a Real-World Scenario:
Imagine this: you’re driving to a job site with your trailer loaded up—mowers, trimmers, blowers, the works. You rear-end someone on the way.
The adjuster looks at the police report. It says you were on a business errand. Your personal auto insurance company says, “Sorry—this isn’t covered.”
Now you’re on the hook for:
- Repairs to both vehicles
- Medical bills
- Legal costs
All because the vehicle was being used for business—and your policy wasn’t written for that.
4 Reasons Landscapers Need Commercial Auto Insurance
- Bodily Injury & Property Damage
- Covers injuries to others and damage you might cause with your truck while working.
- Physical Damage to Your Vehicle
- Protects your own vehicle if it’s damaged in a crash or hit while parked.
- Trailer & Hired/Non-Owned Auto Coverage
- Covers the trailers you’re towing and any vehicles you borrow or rent for jobs.
- Higher Liability Limits
- A lot of commercial jobs require insurance certificates with higher limits than a personal policy can offer.
Is It Time to Make the Switch?
If you’re using your personal truck for work, it might be time to take a serious look at commercial auto insurance. One denied claim could wipe out your business.
And if this is the first time you’re hearing about these issues—or you’ve never had this conversation with your current agent—maybe it’s time to talk.
Shoot us a message or give us a call at Ochsner Insurance. We’ll review what you have, walk you through what you might need, and help make sure your landscaping business is protected, so you can keep doing what you do best!
Thanks for reading. Here’s to your success out there—one yard, one install, one satisfied customer at a time.
—
Jeremy Ochsner
Ochsner Insurance – Ask. Understand. Serve.