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Written by:
Michelle Megna
Contributing Researcher
Michelle is a writer, editor and expert on car insurance and personal finance. She's a former CarInsurance.com editorial director. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she reported and edited articles on technology, lifestyle, education and government for magazines, websites and major newspapers, including the New York Daily News.

The definition of artisan use for car insurance purposes varies according to state laws and by the insurance company, each of which has its own definitions.

Artisan use refers to an insured vehicle used by a tradesperson or craftsperson who travels to and from job sites. Some insurance companies factor in the miles the insured drives to and from a job site when calculating artisan use rates. Commercial car insurance might be required instead depending on how the vehicle is used commercial car insurance might be required instead.

Artisan use policies usually apply to people who do work such as landscaping, construction, or any job in which they must carry tools or travel to and from locations to perform skilled work. It’s important to understand the difference between artisan use, business use, and commercial insurance.

In some scenarios, you can use a personal car insurance policy with a business endorsement or an artisan use policy. In other cases, you need commercial car insurance, otherwise known as a business auto policy.

Some carriers will allow you to add a business endorsement to a personal policy. Typically, you can get a personal auto policy with a business endorsement when the following applies:

  • You are self-employed
  • No employees will be driving the vehicle
  • You can purchase high enough limits to protect you and your company
  • There is only one vehicle that is identified for artisan use
  • You don’t use the vehicle for work on a daily basis

Every insurance company has its own definition of artisan use. This is not an exhaustive list, but artisan use usually applies to:

    • Aluminum contractors
    • Interior decorators
    • Air conditioning/Heating
    • Painters
    • Bricklayers/Masonry
    • Plaster/Stucco contractors
    • Cabinet installers
    • Appliance repair
    • Carpenters
    • Handyperson
    • Concrete contractors
    • Screened enclosure erectors
    • Electrical contractors
    • Surveyors
    • Fence installers
    • Swimming pool installers
    • Glass installers
    • Arborists

You should purchase a business auto policy instead of a personal auto policy when the following applies:

  • The vehicle is owned by the company and not by you personally
  • Employees will drive the vehicle
  • You need higher coverage limits than what is offered through a personal auto policy
  • It is your full-time job and you use the vehicle every day for work
  • There are multiple business-use vehicles
  • Equipment is permanently attached to the vehicle
  • You transport goods or people in your vehicle

It’s vital to have the right car insurance policy to protect yourself, your business and any employees you might have. Speak to an insurance representative to determine whether an artisan use policy is the right choice for your specific situation.

Laura Longero

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Laura Longero

Executive Editor

Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

John McCormick

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John McCormick

Editorial Director

John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.

Leslie Kasperowicz

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Leslie Kasperowicz

Managing Editor

Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.

Nupur Gambhir

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Nupur Gambhir

Managing Editor

Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.

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Michelle Megna
Contributing Researcher

Michelle is a writer, editor and expert on car insurance and personal finance. She's a former CarInsurance.com editorial director. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she reported and edited articles on technology, lifestyle, education and government for magazines, websites and major newspapers, including the New York Daily News.