Commercial Auto Insurance Made Simple for California Businesses

California is famous for Hollywood and the Golden Gate Bridge, but it’s also home to over 4 million small businesses, which employ nearly half of the state’s workforce. Many rely on vehicles for business operations, and even using a personal car for work may require California commercial auto insurance. With Infinity Insurance Agency Inc. (IIA), you can compare California commercial auto insurance options in minutes. Get free commercial vehicle insurance quotes, along with:

• Same-day certificates of insurance: Often issued after your policy is bound and payment is complete
• Flexible vehicle coverage: California fleet insurance is available through our carriers, along with the option to cover a single truck
• Spanish-bilingual assistance: Removing language barriers to make your experience better

Commercial auto insurance can help keep your small business running smoothly, offering broader coverage and higher liability insurance limits. It may also be needed for work tasks like transporting equipment, visiting job sites, or delivering goods. IIA is experienced in California commercial vehicle insurance and can guide you through the process. 

Who needs commercial vehicle insurance?

Commercial truck insurance in California is essential for businesses that use vehicles for work. By law, all vehicles that are operated or parked on California roads require auto insurance. However, personal auto insurance doesn’t cover transporting equipment, visiting vendors, or carrying goods for a fee, which is why commercial auto insurance is important. Many larger or specialized vehicles, such as semis, dump trucks, and delivery trucks, also require commercial truck insurance in California to meet higher liability coverage standards. Consult an agent to ensure your business meets California’s auto insurance requirements.  

Common businesses in California that may require commercial auto insurance include, but are not limited to:

• Construction
• Contracting/building development
• Home improvement services
• Lawn care services
• HVAC repair services
• Car mechanic services
• Wholesale delivery/ pickup services
• Food trucks

How a commercial auto insurance policy works

Coverage options that IIA can help you explore through the carriers we work with, which you can include in your commercial auto policy, are:  

• Liability (bodily injury/property damage): Required by law in California, this coverage can help pay for injuries to others and damage to their property if your business is responsible in a car accident.  
• Comprehensive: Can help pay for damage to a covered vehicle caused by non-collision incidents such as theft, vandalism, fire, or severe weather
• Collision: Can help pay for damage to a covered vehicle resulting from a collision with another vehicle or object, regardless of fault
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM): Can help pay for injuries and certain damages if you or your business drivers are involved in an accident with a driver who has no insurance or insufficient insurance
• Medical payments (MedPay): Can help pay for medical expenses for the driver and passengers in a covered vehicle, regardless of fault  
• Personal injury protection (PIP): Where applicable, this coverage can help pay for medical expenses and lost wages or essential services following an auto-related injury, independent of fault.  
• Hired & non-owned auto: Can help cover your business from liability when employees use rented, leased, or personally owned vehicles for business purposes

A commercial auto insurance policy can help pay for covered losses up to the coverage limits you select. In addition to commercial auto coverage, it can be helpful to explore other types of coverage options for businesses in California, like commercial general liability insurance (CGL), which can help mitigate some of the risks and liabilities associated with running a small business. 

California auto insurance requirements

California commercial auto insurance requirements mandate that all vehicles carry minimum liability coverage, which includes:

• $30,000 for bodily injury/death for one person
• $60,000 for bodily injury/death for more than one person
• $15,000 for property damage liability

These limits are commonly known as 30/60/15 coverage and can provide third-party coverage only; they do not cover your injuries or your drivers’ or damage caused by theft, vandalism, or natural disasters, among other events. Depending on your business operations, vehicles, or regulatory obligations, higher limits or additional coverage may be necessary. Now is a great time to check both your commercial and personal coverage limits.

Through our carriers, IIA helps streamline proof of financial responsibility. Once coverage is bound after payment, you can typically receive a certificate of insurance the same day.  

What affects pricing (and scaling to fleets)

Many small business owners know a little savings go a long way. Several factors may influence the cost of your commercial auto insurance in the Golden State:

• Your business’s industry
• The make and model of your company vehicles
• The driving history of your employees
• The type of cargo you plan to carry or deliver
• The location/zip code of your business
• Your business’s travel radius
• Your policy deductible and limits
• Your business’s claim history

As your business grows, adding vehicles or drivers can be necessary, and we make it simple. Once you operate multiple vehicles, a California fleet insurance policy may help simplify coverage, improve efficiency, and offer cost advantages as your operations grow.  

Ways to save

Luckily, there are ways to land some significant commercial car insurance discounts. Your IIA agent can work with you to discover an affordable policy and help you find discounts that can potentially reduce your coverage expenses.

Contact one of our licensed providers to discuss your eligibility for potential discounts such as:

• Multi-vehicle: Earn savings by insuring multiple vehicles under one policy.
• CDL experience: Take advantage of discounts applied to bodily injury, property damage, medical payments, and collision coverage for drivers accumulating two or more years of experience measured by the date they were originally issued a commercial driver’s license. Please note this discount only applies to heavy, extra heavy and medium weight class vehicles.
• Business experience: You can score savings by showing your business has a great financial track record.
• Commercial General Liability (CGL): Obtain savings through your bodily injury, property damage, medical payments, comprehensive, FTC, and collision coverages when proof of a commercial general liability policy is provided by the named insured.
• Proof of insurance: If you can prove that you’ve carried insurance coverage in the past, you may be able to obtain discounts on your new coverage.
• Pay in full: Pay your premium in full or enroll in autopay to potentially receive additional discounts.
• Telematics / Safe driver programs: Demonstrate safe driving behavior through telematics devices or apps provided by some insurers, and you could qualify for reduced premiums.  
• Right deductibles: Selecting higher deductibles, which is the amount you pay out of pocket before insurance can pay for collision or comprehensive claims, can help reduce your premium while maintaining adequate coverage.  

How it works

Getting the right insurance for your business vehicles doesn’t have to be complicated. With IIA, the process is straightforward, fast, and designed to help your business keep moving smoothly. Here’s how it works:

• Share your business and vehicle details: Tell us about your business, vehicles, and how they’re used so we can help you find options that fit your unique needs.
• Compare carrier options & endorsements: We can present you with multiple insurance options through our carriers so you can see which choices provide the best combination of coverage and cost.
• Start your policy and get digital proof fast: Once you’ve chosen your coverage, set your limits, and submitted your payment, we can activate your policy right away. Often, you can receive your digital ID cards and certificate of insurance (COI) the same day.  

Get started today

Get a commercial vehicle insurance quote today to cover your vehicles and keep your business moving. Call 1-855-478-3705 for Spanish-bilingual assistance and expertise from agents knowledgeable in California auto insurance requirements. You can often receive same-day certificates of insurance after your payment and choose from coverage options through our multiple carriers. Compare commercial auto insurance in California now.