As a responsible business owner, you’re very aware of the risks that can stem from running your day-to-day operations. You work hard to make sure all your planning includes all forms of risk – from theft and property loss, to employee injuries – and everything in between.

But what about your vehicle insurance? If your company provides cars or other types of vehicles for employee use, or if you find yourself using your personal car for a substantial amount of business activities, you may want to make sure you’ve got the right kind of vehicle insurance.

While it’s always best to get a complete review from a trusted, professional insurance broker or agent, here are a few things to keep in mind when making sure you’re getting the coverage you need.

Won’t my personal insurance be enough?

If you can answer “yes” to any of these questions, you may need commercial insurance for your car or other vehicles:

• Are any of your vehicles used for delivery purposes?

• Do your vehicles carry hazardous (or flammable) materials used in your business?

• Are any of your vehicles equipped with cranes, winches, or other equipment like ladder racks or toolboxes?

• Are your vehicles used for messenger services, delivery, or chauffer services?

• Are your vehicles owned or leased by a partnership or corporation?

These are just some of the circumstances that can cause you to need commercial car insurance coverage.

A traditional Businessowners Policy (BOP) doesn’t include coverage for vehicles, so if you use a car or other vehicle for work purposes, you’ll need a separate policy. And while it’s true that personal auto policies can provide some coverage for certain things, it’s not likely to cover vehicles that are used primarily for business purposes. This could leave you and your company open to serious gaps in coverage, possibly resulting in large losses.

What Exactly is Covered?

The scope of the coverage you choose can encompass a lot of different scenarios, or just a few – depending on your company and how the vehicles are used. You could choose to insure all the vehicles your business owns, hires or leases, or all vehicles used for the business, including ones that aren’t actually owned, hired or leased. Obviously this last type of coverage is safer, as it protects your company and your employees in more situations.

You can choose different levels of physical damage or theft coverage, as well as liability coverage, so be sure you speak with your insurance agent or broker when deciding exactly which types of scenarios need to be covered.

When Your Business Vehicle is Also Your Personal Vehicle

Sometimes employees or executives use their company car for business and personal use – and don’t even own a personal vehicle. Most business car insurance policies don’t cover the car when it’s being used for personal driving, so be sure you check to make sure you get any additional coverage needed if your vehicle is being used in this way.

In some cases, employees drive their own vehicles for business purposes, such as picking up supplies or running an errand. Many business owners don’t realize that they can be leaving themselves open to liability in these scenarios – so be sure you’re aware if this type of activity is occurring in your business.

What If I’m Self-Employed?

You may face a different set of circumstances if you are self-employed. The coverage you need could depend on how many miles you drive your car. If you use your vehicle to transport merchandise, or if you travel more miles for work than you do for personal reasons, you might need a commercial policy. Business insurance could cost you more than your personal coverage, but if you really are using your car primarily for business, you could save yourself quite a bit of money in the end.

It’s also important to make sure you have the right kind of coverage, as well as enough of the right kind of coverage. You don’t want to go to the trouble of getting business insurance for your vehicles, only to leave yourself open by not having enough coverage. The best way to determine the amount of coverage needed is to do you planning with a trusted insurance professional who specializes in business insurance.

Remember, the best way to keep premiums down is to avoid accidents! Make sure that neither you nor your employees feel so much pressure to perform that safety is compromised. This can set a poor example for your company – as well as cost you in damages or higher premiums. To find out exactly which types of coverage are needed for your business, and to get help with determining how much coverage is best, be sure to work with a trusted, experienced business insurance broker.