Most of the 700,000 landscaping operations doing business today are small firms working with anywhere from a single pickup to a handful of trucks. But each is vital. If a vehicle is involved in an accident or is damaged by a falling tree, repair costs could financially set back an owner.
In just about every state, landscaping businesses that own or lease vehicles are required to carry liability auto insurance. This type of insurance covers your financial responsibilities if you or one of your employees causes an accident while driving a work vehicle. These policies include bodily injury and property damage liability.
In addition to liability insurance, landscapers can add collision and comprehensive insurance. Collision covers an accident with another vehicle or object. Comprehensive covers non-collision events, like fire, theft, natural disasters, vandalism, broken glass and animal damage.
Most landscaping companies pay about $150 to $200 monthly for commercial auto insurance.
However, what your landscaping business pays for liability, comprehensive and collision insurance depends on several factors, such as the age of the drivers and their driving records, the types of vehicles you own, what those vehicles are used for, the coverage you choose and other criteria, says Kristin Thelen, director of account management for Insureon, a small business insurance agency.
In this guide, we’ll share the average cost of commercial auto insurance for landscaping businesses and explain how insurance companies calculate premiums. We’ll also provide some tips on how landscapers can save money on their insurance.
- Commercial auto insurance is required in most states for landscaping companies that own or lease vehicles.
- The cost of commercial vehicle insurance depends on where you operate your landscaping business, the number of trucks and other vehicles you have, and other factors such as the policy and insurer you choose.
- The average cost of commercial vehicle insurance for landscaping businesses is $2,452 per year, or about $204 per month, according to small business insurance broker Insureon.
How much is commercial auto insurance for landscaping businesses?
The average cost of commercial vehicle insurance for landscaping businesses is $2,452 per year, or about $204 per month, according to small business insurance broker Insureon.
However, as mentioned above, the actual amount a particular landscaper pays will depend on several different factors, including the insurance company they choose. For instance, while the average cost is about $200 a month, small business insurer Next says its median monthly cost for landscapers is $153.
Prices also vary depending on the number and type of vehicles you use. Among those commonly employed by landscapers:
- Dump trucks
- Pickup trucks
- Vans
- Utility vehicles
- Box trucks
How are commercial auto insurance rates determined for landscaping businesses?
Why is there such a difference in pricing?
Insurance companies use different criteria to determine their risk of insuring your business. The riskier your business, the more you’ll pay for insurance.
Where your landscaping business operates is one of the biggest factors. For example, an insurer will charge a higher rate if your business is in a state that experiences severe weather, such as floods, or if you park your work dump truck and vans in a high-crime neighborhood.
Vehicle usage is another factor that determines your business auto insurance cost, and many landscapers who do lawn maintenance have their trucks and vans on the road throughout the day as they cover their routes.
Other factors include:
- The number and type of trucks, vans and pickups you use
- Your claims history
- Your driving record and those of your employees
- Your policy limits
Do policy limits affect commercial auto insurance premiums?
Nearly every state requires small businesses to carry a minimum amount of commercial auto insurance. Most states require liability insurance, but some have additional requirements, like uninsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection (PIP).
Many landscaping businesses can benefit from a full coverage policy, which includes liability, collision and comprehensive insurance.
When it comes to policy limits, the minimum often isn’t enough to adequately protect your business. Many insurance companies recommend a business coverage limit of $1 million, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), an industry trade group. While you might think a higher limit will add to your costs, Triple-I says it doesn’t add much to the price, especially considering the additional protection it provides.
How landscapers can shop for commercial auto insurance
When looking around for a commercial policy, experts recommend getting quotes from at least three different insurers.
Here are some tips for getting the most accurate commercial auto insurance quotes:
- Gather all your documents. Pull together your driving records as well as those of your employees. You must submit drivers’ names, addresses and driver’s license numbers to your insurer.
- Decide what coverage you want. As mentioned earlier, you have the option of going with just liability or adding on collision and comprehensive insurance.
- Choose your policy limits. Think carefully about how much insurance you need. If you work along a coast where hurricanes hit or have trucks driving regularly through congested streets, you’ll want higher coverage limits.
- Select a deductible. This is what you pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in. A higher deductible will decrease your monthly premium, while a lower one will result in a higher rate.
How businesses can save on commercial auto insurance
Commercial auto insurance rates can be expensive. But there are several strategies you can use to save money.
- Ask for discounts. Many commercial auto insurance companies offer discounts for maintaining a clean driving record or for enrolling in a driver safety program.
- Bundle your policies. You can usually save money on commercial auto insurance when you get different policies – such as commercial auto, general liability and commercial property insurance – from a single carrier.
- Pay in full. Many insurers will give you a discount on your policy if you pay in one lump sum rather than monthly.
- Enroll in a telematics program. Some insurance companies offer programs that track driving behaviors and reward you and your employees if everyone drives safely.
- Choose a higher deductible. Upping your deductible will lower your monthly premium. But be careful: If you have an accident, you want a deductible that your business can afford.
- Shop around. Experts say to get at least three different quotes that you can compare so you can see which insurer is offering the best rates. But be sure to compare the same coverage types and limits.
Which insurance companies offer landscapers commercial auto insurance?
Most commercial insurance companies sell vehicle insurance for landscaping businesses, including:
- AmTrust
- Auto-Owners
- biBerk
- The Hartford
- Next
- Progressive
- Thimble
- State Farm
Sources
Insurance Information Institute. “Business Vehicle Insurance” Accessed June 2025.
Frequently asked questions
Does your industry affect the cost of commercial auto insurance?
Yes, different industries pay different rates for insurance because of the different risks each poses to insurance companies. Businesses in high-risk industries, like trucking and manufacturing, pay higher premiums than lower-risk ones, such as professional services.
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