Commercial Auto — For the Truck That Runs the Buildings.
Maintenance trucks, the super's vehicle on a supply run, a small property-management fleet — once a vehicle is used for the rental business, a personal auto policy may not respond. Commercial auto closes that gap.
Why a personal auto policy may not respond
Personal auto policies are written for personal use, and most contain business-use limitations. When a vehicle is used regularly for the rental operation — hauling materials, making supply runs, driving between properties — a claim arising from that business use can be limited or denied on a personal policy. The bigger the role the vehicle plays in the business, the bigger the gap.
What commercial auto covers
| Liability | Bodily injury and property damage you're responsible for in an at-fault accident — at commercial limits. |
| Physical damage | Collision and comprehensive on owned vehicles. |
| Medical / PIP | NJ no-fault medical coverage for occupants. |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist | Protection when the other driver has no or inadequate coverage. |
Hired and non-owned auto — the quiet exposure
Even landlords who don't own a "company truck" often have exposure: a super using a personal vehicle for company errands, or a rented truck for a turnover. Hired and non-owned auto coverage addresses accidents in vehicles you don't own but use for the business — a gap many landlords don't realize they carry until an employee's at-fault accident on the job lands on them.
What it typically costs
- Rated on vehicles, drivers, use, and radius of operation
- A single maintenance truck is usually a manageable annual premium
- Hired-and-non-owned can often be added as an inexpensive endorsement
FAQ
My super just uses his own car. Do I need commercial auto?
You may need hired-and-non-owned auto coverage even without owning a vehicle, because an at-fault accident while he's running company errands can come back to the business. We evaluate the exposure and add the right coverage.
Can't I just put the truck on my personal policy?
For genuine business use, a personal policy often limits or excludes the claim. A vehicle that's regularly part of the rental operation usually belongs on commercial auto so coverage actually responds.
Does this connect to my umbrella?
Yes. A commercial umbrella can sit over commercial auto liability, extending your limits. We coordinate the underlying auto limit with the umbrella's requirements so it attaches correctly.
Put the business vehicle on the right policy.
Whether it's an owned truck or staff driving their own cars for you, we'll place the auto exposure correctly and coordinate it with your umbrella.