Commercial auto insurance that follows your business.
The vehicle, the driver, and the reason for the trip all matter. We help business owners review company vehicles and work-related use of rented or personal vehicles without assuming one policy covers every trip.
Owned, hired, and non-owned vehicles are different exposures.
Commercial auto insurance can address liability arising from covered business vehicles and, when selected, physical damage to those vehicles. A company van making deliveries presents different questions from a pickup carrying tools or a salesperson’s car. Ownership, registration, vehicle type, and actual use help determine the appropriate policy and coverage designations.
Owned auto concerns vehicles the business owns and schedules or otherwise covers under the policy’s terms. Hired auto generally concerns qualifying vehicles rented, leased, hired, or borrowed by the business, subject to policy definitions. Non-owned auto can address business liability arising from qualifying vehicles the business does not own, such as an employee’s personal car used on company errands.
Hired and non-owned liability does not automatically insure damage to a rented vehicle or an employee’s own car. Review physical damage, rental agreements, and other insurance separately. We discuss commercial auto insurance in New York and New Jersey, as well as operations across Connecticut. Coverage depends on the actual policy terms, conditions, and exclusions. We explain the available options without promising a price or a claim outcome.
The pieces we review with you.
Owned auto liability
Review which vehicles are covered and which liability limits apply. Correct business names, ownership details, and coverage symbols are important when vehicles are purchased or replaced.
Physical damage
Comprehensive and collision can address different causes of damage to insured vehicles. Deductibles, valuation, equipment, and lender requirements need a separate review from liability.
Hired auto
Business rentals and qualifying borrowed vehicles may need hired auto liability. Hired auto physical damage, rental conditions, and exclusions should be discussed rather than assumed included.
Non-owned auto
Employees using personal vehicles for work can create business liability even without a company fleet. This coverage is not a replacement for the employee’s own auto insurance.
State-specific protections
Discuss applicable no-fault, uninsured motorist, and other required or available coverages. Registration and garaging details help the carrier apply the appropriate state forms.
Additional liability limits
Review whether an umbrella or excess policy includes the commercial auto exposure. Limits and scheduled underlying coverage must align with the terms of the additional layer.
A clear picture of vehicles and drivers.
Carriers typically request a complete driver list and may review motor vehicle records, or MVRs, as part of underwriting. Include owners, employees, and occasional drivers who may operate covered vehicles. Changes in drivers should be reported promptly. Provide personal driver information through the process we arrange, rather than putting sensitive license details into a general message.
Describe vehicle use plainly: deliveries, service visits, transport of materials, and commuting are not interchangeable. Carriers also ask about garaging, operating radius, overnight travel, and trips across state lines. A vehicle based in Queens that regularly works in New Jersey should be described that way, not only by its registration address.
New York and New Jersey differ in auto insurance requirements and available forms. We review registration, principal garaging, and operating locations with the carrier at a high level; the applicable rules and policy wording control. TLC, passenger transport, delivery platforms, and other for-hire activities may require specialized coverage and licensing review. Tell us before beginning those activities, because ordinary commercial auto eligibility should not be assumed.
Common gaps and contract requirements
- A personal policy relied on for business use without discussing that use with the carrier.
- Hired auto liability mistaken for coverage for damage to a rental vehicle.
- Employee errands overlooked because the business owns no vehicles.
- Drivers, garaging locations, or delivery activities missing from the application.
- Passenger transport or for-hire work added without reviewing eligibility and requirements.
What to have ready for a quote.
- Current auto declarations pages and any umbrella policy.
- Vehicle identification numbers, ownership details, and registration states.
- Driver list and the business’s driver approval process.
- Actual garaging locations, travel radius, and details of business use.
- Loss history, rental practices, and lender or customer insurance requirements.
How Ocean Blue helps
Ocean Blue is an independent brokerage serving NYC, Long Island, Westchester, NJ, and CT. Adam or Peter will help organize your vehicle information and discuss available options for the work you actually perform. We also look at how auto liability connects with your other business policies.
Upload your current declarations pages through the Magic Box below to begin. Let us know before buying a vehicle, adding drivers, or changing operations. Those updates can affect the policy and should not wait until a certificate is urgently needed.
Explore related coverage: our business insurance overview, general liability, contractors insurance, and Queens & Rockaway service.
Back to business insuranceYour questions, answered.
Insurance shouldn’t leave you guessing. Here are a few things you may want to know.
When should a business consider commercial auto insurance?
When it owns vehicles or uses vehicles for business activities, it should review the exposure. Ownership, vehicle type, use, and carrier eligibility matter. A personal policy should not be assumed to cover every business trip.
What is hired and non-owned auto coverage?
It can address business liability involving qualifying rented or non-owned vehicles. Employee-owned vehicles used for work are a common non-owned exposure. Coverage definitions and exclusions govern; damage to those vehicles requires a separate discussion.
Do you need a list of every driver?
Provide everyone who may drive business vehicles, including owners and occasional drivers. Carriers may use MVRs and their own eligibility standards. Tell us when drivers change so we can review the update with the carrier.
Can a New York business drive into New Jersey?
Tell us about cross-state trips and the actual operating radius. Coverage depends on policy terms and applicable requirements, not simply where the business office is located. Registration and garaging information should remain accurate.
Does commercial auto automatically cover TLC or for-hire use?
No. Passenger transport, platform work, and other for-hire activities may need specialized underwriting and coverage. Share the precise activity before starting it. We can review insurance options without making licensing or legal conclusions.
How can I request a commercial auto quote?
Use the Magic Box to upload your current policy, then tell Adam or Peter about the vehicles and their use. We will explain the driver and vehicle information needed for a carrier review. You can also call 718-709-5000.
In our clients’ own words.
Upload your current policy. We'll take it from there.
Drop in your declarations page or current policy — PDF, photo, or screenshot. Adam or Peter will review it, shop the market, and get back to you. No long forms.
- Upload your dec page
- We review and shop it
- Adam or Peter calls you with options
Talk to Adam or Peter.
Tell us what you're building or buying. One of us will walk through what you need.