--- title: Do I need a commercial auto policy or personal auto policy? description: "If you're a business owner who depends on your vehicles, ask your agent if your insurance policy provides the protection you need. A commercial policy may be the solution and can be customized to fit your specific business needs." --- [Blogs and Insights ](https://hutins.com/blog) # [Do I need a commercial auto policy or personal auto policy?](https://hutins.com/blog/do-i-need-a-commercial-auto-policy-or-personal-auto-policy) Written by [CJ Hutsenpiller](https://hutins.com/blog/author/cj-hutsenpiller) | January 22, 2025 If you're a business owner who depends on your vehicles, ask your agent if   your insurance policy provides the protection you need. A commercial policy   may be the solution and can be customized to fit your specific business needs. ***HOW DO I KNOW WHEN I REALLY NEED A COMMERCIAL AUTO POLICY?*** The definition of “commercial use” varies by company. You should talk with your agent about a commercial auto policy if:   • You have a trailer or permanently attached   equipment like ladder racks, shelving, etc.   • You have a commercial license plate   • You have other people drive your vehicles for work   ***WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE TYPES OF BUSINESSES THAT WOULD REQUIRE A COMMERCIAL AUTO POLICY?***       Generally, business classifications like sole proprietorships, partnerships or corporations would require a commercial auto policy. Some business type examples include pizza   and newspaper delivery, real estate, catering, door-to-door consulting services, landscaping or snowplowing services, and day care or church van services.       ***WHAT KIND OF LIABILITY LIMITS DO I NEED?***   As a business owner, you may want higher liability limits. to meet contractual needs or just to better protect the business you've built. In general, a commercial auto policy can offer higher liability limits than a personal auto policy. ***DOES MY PERSONAL POLICY COVER ME FOR BUSINESS-SPECIFIC ISSUES?***   Coverages can vary. For example, if a trailer attached to your vehicle damages another vehicle while on a job, your personal auto policy may not cover the repairs. A   commercial auto policy usually will.       ***DO THE PASSENGERS OR CONTENTS IN MY VEHICLE MATTER?***   Historically, personal lines carrier policies exclude coverage when persons or property are being transported for a fee. We have a commercial program will fit the needs of taxi and   black cars, including full-time Uber and Lyft drivers.   ***WHAT ABOUT CERTIFICATIONS OR FILINGS?***   Documentation requirements—like certificates of insurance or filings for trucking—are generally good indicators that a commercial policy is needed.         ### Want to chat with an agent about commercial auto?       [Book a call w/ Rebekah ](https://calendly.com/rebekah-c-insurance-agent/15min)                                   24 views0 comments Post not marked as liked ## Recent Posts [See All](https://www.hutins.com/blog) [If Your Insurance Agent Told You You Have Full Coverage – They Lied to You](https://www.hutins.com/post/if-your-insurance-agent-told-you-you-have-full-coverage-they-lied-to-you)  115 1 like. Post not marked as liked1 [Why Did My Insurance Go Up? Understanding the Impact of Inflation on Tennessee Insurance Rates](https://www.hutins.com/post/why-did-my-insurance-go-up-understanding-the-impact-of-inflation-on-tennessee-insurance-rates)  981 Post not marked as liked [The 2020 Tornado Outbreak: Understanding Tornado Insurance in Tennessee](https://www.hutins.com/post/the-2020-tornado-outbreak-understanding-tornado-insurance-in-tennessee)  50 Post not marked as liked ## Comments  Write a comment... [View full post](https://hutins.com/blog/do-i-need-a-commercial-auto-policy-or-personal-auto-policy) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "CJ Hutsenpiller" }, "dateModified" : "2025-01-22T12:15:24.486Z", "datePublished" : "2025-01-22T12:15:24Z", "headline" : "Do I need a commercial auto policy or personal auto policy?", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 341, "url" : "https://43915122.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/43915122/11062b_279a1c7624524e7d9a06a6cd97d0b8d6~mv2.webp", "width" : 454 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://hutins.com/blog/do-i-need-a-commercial-auto-policy-or-personal-auto-policy", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 60, "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png", "width" : 60 }, "name" : "Blogs" } } ```