Professional services firms that own or lease vehicles to deliver documents, transport clients or take care of other business are required to carry commercial auto insurance.
Just about every state requires car insurance, which covers vehicle owners’ financial responsibilities should they or one of their employees cause an accident while driving a work vehicle.
Job site Indeed classifies professional service firms as those that provide businesses with specialist skills, such as:
- Lawyers
- Financial advisers
- IT consultants
- Accountants
- Architects and designers
Shopping for insurance isn’t always easy. Insurance companies take into account different factors when determining premiums, among them the type and number of vehicles owned or leased, the claims history of anyone who will be behind the wheel, where the business operates and the type of coverage the firm is looking to buy – such as liability, collision or comprehensive or other types of insurance.
“When shopping for insurance, it’s also important for business owners to understand the differences between their personal liability auto insurance, commercial auto insurance and hired and non-owned auto insurance,” says Kristin Thelen, director of account management for Insureon, a small business insurance agency.
It’s recommended that professional firms look for an insurer that knows their business.
“There are companies that specialize, and may be able to provide risk management/ loss control services in addition to enhanced expertise for the type of business,” says Bob Passmore, department vice president of personal lines at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), a national insurance trade association. “The [insurer’s] broker can help assist in matching the type of risk to insurers that specialize in that risk.”
In this guide, we’ll share the average cost of commercial auto for white-collar professionals, look at how insurers calculate premiums and share tips for saving money on a commercial car insurance policy.
CarInsurance.com Insights
- The average cost of commercial vehicle insurance for a professional services firm is $1,954 per year, or about $163 per month.
- Professional service firms that own or operate cars, vans and other vehicles for work-related activities need commercial auto insurance.
- Rates vary significantly by business type, company size, the type and number of vehicles operated, the coverage type and amount and other factors, but experts say there are many ways to reduce your premiums.
How much is business auto insurance for professional services businesses?
The average cost of commercial vehicle insurance for professional services businesses is $1,954 per year, or about $163 per month. However, the actual amount your business will pay depends on several rating criteria.
How are commercial vehicle insurance rates determined for professional services businesses?
When you apply for a commercial auto policy, the insurance company uses different criteria to determine the risk of insuring your professional services business.
Location is one of the biggest factors that affects commercial auto premiums for professional services businesses. Rates differ by state, city and ZIP code. For example, if your business garages its vehicles in a neighborhood with high crime, you can expect to pay a higher insurance premium.
Vehicles and vehicle usage are other factors. If the firm has a number of cars and vans that drive long distances to deliver documents, it can expect to pay more than a shop that has a single car that runs short errands.
Do policy limits affect professional services firms’ premiums?
Nearly every state requires businesses to carry a minimum amount of auto insurance. Most states demand liability insurance, which covers the costs if you or your employees injure others or damage property in an accident. Some states also require uninsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection (PIP).
States set the minimum amount of liability coverage car owners need to have, which varies from one state to the next. However, the minimum often isn’t enough to adequately protect your business. Insurers usually recommend a limit of $1 million, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), an industry trade group.
While a $1 million policy will be more expensive than the state minimum, Triple-I says it doesn’t add much to the price when considering the additional protection it provides.
And most experts say businesses should get more than just liability coverage. They recommend collision, which covers crashes with another vehicle or object, and comprehensive, which is there for non-collision events, such as theft. Firms can also consider a full coverage policy, which includes liability, collision and comprehensive insurance.
What insurance companies offer insurance for professional services?
Most commercial insurance companies sell vehicle insurance for professional services businesses, among them:
- W.R. Berkley
- The Hartford
- State Farm
- Liberty Mutual
Insurance.com, which is operated by the same company that owns CarInsurance.com, has a list of the top 10 commercial auto insurance carriers.
How to shop for a policy
APCIA’s Passmore says there are some important things to consider when buying commercial auto insurance:
- Shop around. “Many companies will use an insurance broker to help them do that, or if the company is large enough, they may have their own risk management professionals,” he says.
- Know what coverage your state requires. “Just as is the case for personal auto, there are often state or even federal requirements for minimum liability limits, which can vary depending on how the company uses their vehicles,” he says. “The business may determine that these minimum limits provide adequate protection for the business’s assets, or it may wish to purchase additional coverage.”
- Consider collision and comprehensive insurance and select a deductible.
How professional services can save on their business vehicle insurance
There are many ways a company can save on its business vehicle insurance, says the APCIA’s Passmore, including:
- Installing safety equipment and devices that can help companies manage their auto insurance risk. “For example,” he says, “tracking driving behaviors via telematics is much more common in commercial vehicles than in personal vehicles.”
- Having a comprehensive safety program that is consistently monitored and enforced. “Many insurers provide these kinds of services to their policyholders,” he says.
- Selecting a higher deductible. “But that means the company will pay more out-of-pocket if there is a claim,” he says. “The company is in the best position to determine the amount of deductible that is best suited for the company.”
Sources
Indeed. “Career advice” Accessed July 2025.
FAQ
Does your industry affect the cost of commercial auto insurance?
Yes, companies working in high-risk industries, like trucking, pay more for business vehicle insurance than lower-risk industries, such as professional services.
What’s the difference between commercial and personal auto insurance?
Personal auto insurance covers the car you use every day for non-business use, such as going to the store or running the kids to school. Commercial auto insurance, also called business vehicle insurance, covers vehicles used for work purposes, like delivering documents, transporting goods or equipment or transporting employees. It’s important to remember that a personal auto insurance policy won’t cover vehicles used for business.
Get advice from an experienced insurance professional. Our experts will help you navigate your insurance questions with clarity and confidence.
Browse all FAQs