INSURANCE NEWS & INSIGHTS

Important Illinois commercial auto insurance requirements, business vehicle rules, driver requirements, coverage information, rating factors, loss history, claims, and official resources. This page is intended for non-trucking business vehicles such as: Contractor pickup trucks Cargo vans Service vans Sprinter vans used for ordinary business operations Company cars Sales vehicles Maintenance vehicles Landscaping vehicles Plumbing, HVAC…

Illinois motor vehicle liability policies are generally required to include Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage at least at the statutory minimum limits. Illinois law also provides rules regarding higher Uninsured Motorist limits and Underinsured Motorist coverage. This can be particularly important when employees are operating company vehicles and are injured by: An uninsured driver A…

A Personal Auto policy is designed primarily for personal vehicle use. A vehicle should be properly insured as commercial when the ownership or use requires commercial coverage. Examples may include vehicles: Titled to a corporation or LLC Used by employees Carrying tools or equipment Making service calls Traveling between jobsites Used for deliveries Used for…

When a vehicle is owned by: Corporation LLC Partnership Other business entity the named insured and vehicle ownership should be accurately shown on the Commercial Auto policy. A mismatch between the registered owner and insurance policy can create problems involving: Claims Insurance verification Certificates Financing Registration

Illinois has different registration classifications depending on vehicle type and weight. For example, Illinois B-Truck plates are issued to qualifying Second Division vehicles weighing 8,000 pounds or less. The correct registration depends on the actual vehicle. Read more:Illinois Secretary of State — B-Truck License Plates

Insurance companies normally require information about the individuals who regularly operate insured business vehicles. This can include: Business owners Employees Family members working for the business Managers Sales employees Service technicians Temporary drivers Do not allow undisclosed regular drivers to operate company vehicles without reviewing the situation with the insurance company.

Commercial Auto insurers frequently review drivers' Motor Vehicle Records. An MVR may show information including: Accidents Speeding violations Reckless driving DUI Suspensions Revocations License status Other moving violations A poor MVR can affect: Eligibility Premium Driver acceptance Deductibles Available insurance companies Some insurers may exclude or refuse to approve drivers with unacceptable records.

Commercial Auto premiums are based on many different factors. Insurance companies may consider: Driver Information Age Driving experience License status Accidents Violations MVR history Vehicle Information Year Make Model VIN Vehicle value Vehicle weight Safety features Cost to repair Business Use Type of business How the vehicle is used Materials carried Equipment carried Frequency of…

Commercial Auto applications frequently ask how far vehicles normally travel. For example: Local Intermediate Longer-distance operations A contractor driving primarily within 25 miles of the office may present a different exposure from a business vehicle regularly traveling hundreds of miles. Always provide an accurate operating radius.

Commercial Auto insurers need the location where each vehicle is normally kept overnight. This is the garaging address. It may be different from the company's mailing address. Garaging territory can affect premium because insurers evaluate factors such as: Accident frequency Theft exposure Vandalism Population density Claim costs Notify your agent when vehicles move to another…