Do roofers need commercial auto?
If a truck is used for your roofing business or driven by employees, you need a commercial auto policy, whether the truck is titled to the business or to you personally. Personal auto policies typically exclude vehicles used mainly for business, and they don't cover employees driving for you. A claim denied for business use leaves you paying for the accident yourself.
Drive the same truck on weekends? A commercial auto policy can be quoted for both business and personal use, so one policy covers the truck on the job and off the clock.
Most general contractors and commercial owners also require a certificate showing commercial auto, usually with a $1,000,000 limit and the GC added as an additional insured.
What each coverage means
| Coverage | What it pays for | Do roofers need it? |
|---|---|---|
| Liability (bodily injury & property damage) | Injuries to other people and damage to their vehicles or property when you or your driver cause an accident. Also pays your legal defense. | Required by law. Contracts usually want $1M. |
| Uninsured / underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) | Injuries to you and your passengers when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough. | Strongly recommended. California insurers must offer it, and you have to reject it in writing. |
| Medical payments | Medical bills for people in your vehicle, no matter who caused the accident. Usually a small limit like $5,000. | Optional. Employees hurt while driving for work fall under workers' comp. |
| Comprehensive | Damage to your truck from theft, vandalism, fire, falling objects, hail, glass breakage and hitting an animal. | Yes, unless the truck is old enough to replace out of pocket. Required if financed. |
| Collision | Damage to your truck from hitting another vehicle or object, or rolling over, regardless of fault. | Yes for newer or financed trucks. |
| Hired auto | Liability when you rent or borrow a vehicle for business, like a rented dump truck or box truck. | Yes. Inexpensive and often required by contracts. |
| Non-owned auto | Liability to your business when an employee causes an accident in their own car while working, like picking up materials. | Yes. Their personal policy pays first, but you're the one who gets sued. |
| Rental reimbursement | A rental while your truck is in the shop after a covered claim. | Worth it when a truck down means a crew can't work. |
| Towing & labor | Towing and roadside help after a breakdown. | Optional. |
| Loan / lease gap | The difference between what you owe and what the truck is worth if it's totaled. | Yes if you owe more than the truck is worth. |
Covered auto symbols, the box GCs check
Every commercial auto policy uses numbered symbols to define which vehicles are covered. General contractors often reject a certificate because of the symbol, not the limit.
- Symbol 1, Any auto
- Covers any vehicle: owned, hired or non-owned. The broadest, and the one many contracts require.
- Symbol 2, Owned autos only
- Covers every vehicle you own, including newly bought ones.
- Symbol 7, Scheduled autos
- Covers only the vehicles listed on the policy. A new truck isn't covered until it's added.
- Symbol 8, Hired autos
- Vehicles you rent or borrow.
- Symbol 9, Non-owned autos
- Employees' personal vehicles used for your business.
If your contract says "any auto" and your certificate shows Symbol 7, 8 and 9, the GC may hold your payment until it's fixed. Send us the contract before you bind.
Trailers and tools in the truck
- Trailers. Liability usually extends to a trailer while it's attached to a covered truck. Damage to the trailer itself is covered only if the trailer is listed on the policy with physical damage coverage.
- Tools and materials. Auto insurance covers the truck, not what's in it. Tools, compressors and materials stolen from a truck or trailer need tools and equipment coverage.
- Dump trailers and debris hauling. Tell us if you haul tear-off debris or materials for others. It can change how the policy is written.
Drivers and what affects your rate
- List every driver. Carriers check each driver's motor vehicle record. A driver who isn't listed, or one the carrier excluded, can lead to a denied claim.
- Driving records matter most. Accidents, DUIs and moving violations in the last three to five years drive the price, especially for younger drivers.
- Vehicle size. Heavier trucks and dump trucks cost more than pickups and vans.
- Garaging ZIP code and radius. Where trucks are parked overnight and how far they travel both affect the rate.
- Deductibles. Higher comprehensive and collision deductibles lower the premium.
Get a roofing insurance quote
One application, several markets that write roofing. Free review of your current policy.