Commercial Auto for Florida Contractors: Why Your Work Truck Needs the Right Coverage

For most Florida contractors, the truck or van is the business. It carries your tools, your materials and your crew to every job. If it's in an accident, stolen or flooded, your work can stop overnight.

At Schneider & Associates Insurance Agencies in Jonesville, we're a family-owned agency that caters to small businesses. We write commercial auto for Florida contractors through carriers including Progressive and Travelers, and we compare them to find the right policy for your vehicles.

Why commercial auto matters even more in Florida

Driving for work is riskier here than in most states. A few reasons:

• Uninsured drivers: Florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured motorists in the country. If one of them hits your truck, uninsured motorist coverage can pay for injuries to you and your crew.
• Low state minimums: Florida's minimum auto insurance requirements are among the lowest in the nation. They don't come close to covering a serious accident involving a loaded work truck, and many general contractors and commercial clients require much higher limits before you can work for them.
• Busy roads: growing populations, tourist traffic and constant construction zones mean more time in congested traffic and more chances for a crash.
• Hurricanes and flooding: a storm can total a vehicle parked in your driveway or yard. Comprehensive coverage protects your vehicles from wind, flood, falling trees and hail.
• Expensive lawsuits: auto accident claims involving business vehicles can be costly, and your business assets may be at risk if your limits are too low.

Why your personal auto policy isn't enough

Many contractors start out driving their own truck on a personal policy. That can leave a dangerous gap. Personal auto policies often limit or exclude coverage when a vehicle is used mainly for business, titled to a business or driven by employees.

Commercial auto is built for the way contractors actually work:

• Vehicles titled to your business or used to haul tools, materials and equipment
• Employees behind the wheel of company vehicles
• Trailers you tow to job sites
• Higher liability limits that meet contract and job-site requirements

If your employees ever drive their own cars to pick up supplies or run errands for you, ask us about hired and non-owned auto coverage. It protects your business if they cause an accident while working for you.

Florida contractors we insure

Through Progressive and Travelers, we can quote commercial auto for a wide range of Florida trades, including:

• HVAC and refrigeration: air conditioning, heating and commercial refrigeration installation, service and repair
• Plumbing: residential and commercial plumbers
• Electrical: electricians and electrical service contractors
• Sheet metal: ductwork and sheet metal contractors
• Carpentry and interiors: interior and exterior carpentry, drywall, plastering and stucco, insulation
• Flooring and tile: floor covering installation and interior tile, stone and marble work
• Painting: interior and exterior painters and paper hangers
• Masonry and concrete: masons and concrete contractors working on driveways, sidewalks and parking areas
• Exteriors: fencing, siding, glass installation, and metal doors and windows
• Lawn and landscape: lawn maintenance crews, landscapers and sprinkler installers
• Power washing: residential and commercial pressure washing
• Cleaning services: residential and commercial cleaning, carpet cleaning, window cleaning and septic tank cleaning
• Installers and handypersons: appliance, furniture and fixture installers, and handyperson services

Don't see your trade? Give us a call. As an independent agency, we have more than one place to look.

What a contractor's auto policy should include

• Liability: pays for injuries and property damage you cause to others. Choose limits that meet your contracts, not just the state minimum.
• Personal injury protection (PIP): Florida's no-fault coverage for medical expenses and lost wages after an accident.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist: protects you and your crew when the other driver has little or no insurance.
• Collision and comprehensive: repairs or replaces your vehicles after a crash, theft, storm or flood.
• Hired and non-owned auto: covers your business when employees drive their own or rented vehicles for work.
• Rental reimbursement and roadside assistance: keeps you working while your truck is in the shop.

One more thing: tools and equipment stored in your truck usually aren't covered by your auto policy. Ask us about tools and equipment (inland marine) coverage to protect what you haul.

Why comparing carriers pays off

Unlike workers' comp, commercial auto rates are not set by the state. Each insurance company prices your vehicles, drivers and trade differently, so the same truck can cost very different amounts from one carrier to the next. Because we work with both Progressive and Travelers, we can compare options side by side and help you find the best fit.

You may also save by bundling. Pairing your commercial auto with your general liability or business owner's policy can unlock multi-policy discounts, and paying in full can lower your cost further.

Get a commercial auto quote

We're family owned, we specialize in small businesses, and walk-ins are always welcome. You'll work with real people who know your business, from the first quote to your next claim.

Call us at (352) 333-3775, request a quote online, or stop by our office at 285 NW 138th Terrace, Suite 100, Newberry, FL 32669. Have your vehicle list (year, make, model and VIN), driver names and license numbers, and the type of work you do ready.

Coverage availability, eligibility and discounts vary by carrier and business type and are subject to underwriting approval.