Coverage by Trade

Coverages / Commercial auto liability

Auto · 32 of 37 trades

Commercial auto liability

Liability for vehicles owned or used by the business; physical damage is optional. State minimum auto liability applies to business vehicles. Interstate for-hire carriers of vehicles 10,001 lb GVWR and up must carry the 49 CFR 387.9 minimums ($750,000 non-hazardous property; $1,000,000 oil; $5,000,000 bulk hazmat).

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  1. 1Trades carrying it 32 of 37
  2. 2Highest injury rate 8.5 per 100
  3. 3Lowest of them 1.5 per 100
  4. 4Typical requirer Trades that drive to the j
Local messengers and local8.5Couriers and express deliv7.9Carpet and upholstery clea5.6Warehousing and storage4.8Waste collection4.7Framing4.6Used household and office 4.3Siding3.2General freight trucking3.1Plumbing, heating and air-3Landscaping services3Drywall and insulation2.9
2024 recordable injury and illness cases per 100 FTE for the trades whose checklist includes commercial auto liability (top 12 of 32), bars to scale against the highest rate on this site (8.5). Source: BLS SOII Table 1.

What it is for

A personal auto policy excludes business use beyond commuting, so a van carrying crew and tools, a tow truck or a delivery car needs a commercial auto policy. Liability is the required part; collision and comprehensive are optional. Two legal floors apply. Every state sets minimum auto liability limits for any vehicle. And interstate for-hire carriers operating vehicles of 10,001 lb GVWR or more must carry the 49 CFR 387.9 minimums — $750,000 for non-hazardous property, $1,000,000 for oil, $5,000,000 for bulk hazardous materials — and have the insurer file proof with FMCSA. The FMCSA minimums page sets out the schedule.

How it is bought

Trades that carry commercial auto liability

Trades that drive to the job or haul. On this site, 32 of 37 trades list it, from local messengers and local delivery at 8.5 recordable cases per 100 workers to security guards and patrol services at 1.5.

Local messengers and local delivery 8.5Couriers and express delivery services 7.9Carpet and upholstery cleaning services 5.6Warehousing and storage 4.8Waste collection 4.7Framing contractors 4.6Used household and office goods moving 4.3Siding contractors 3.2General freight trucking 3.1Plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors 3Landscaping services 3Drywall and insulation contractors 2.9Poured concrete foundation and structure contractors 2.8Structural steel and precast concrete contractors 2.8Glass and glazing contractors 2.7Specialized freight trucking 2.7Limited-service restaurants 2.6Residential building construction 2.5Janitorial services 2.5Roofing contractors 2.4Tile and terrazzo contractors 2.4Motor vehicle towing 2.3Exterminating and pest control services 2.2Flooring contractors 2Masonry contractors 1.9Nonresidential building construction 1.9Automotive repair and maintenance 1.9Electrical contractors 1.8Finish carpentry contractors 1.8Painting and wall covering contractors 1.6Site preparation (excavation) contractors 1.5Security guards and patrol services 1.5

What to ask a broker

Other coverage types

Coverage descriptions are editorial. Legal figures: 49 CFR 387.9 — Schedule of limits, public liability (eCFR). Injury rates: BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, Table 1 (2024), incidence rates per 100 full-time workers. Checked 2026-10-23.