Do I need commercial auto insurance for a work truck in Georgia?

Why it matters

Personal auto policies are written for personal driving. Many of them limit or exclude coverage when a vehicle is used mainly for business. If you have a wreck on the way to a job site with a trailer full of equipment, you don't want to find out on claim day that you had the wrong policy.

What commercial auto can include

• Liability for injuries and damage you cause to others
• Physical damage (collision and comprehensive) for your truck
• Coverage for employees who drive your vehicles
• Hired and non-owned auto, for rented vehicles or employees' own cars used for work

What you actually get depends on the policy and the carrier.

Bigger trucks and DOT numbers

Heavier trucks can come with extra rules. The FMCSA says a business operating in interstate commerce needs a USDOT number if a vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating (or actual weight, whichever is greater) is 10,001 pounds or more. A USDOT number is also required for vehicles designed or used to carry more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for compensation, more than 15 passengers (including the driver), or hazardous materials in amounts that require a safety permit. Georgia also runs an intrastate USDOT program for carriers operating only within Georgia. It applies to vehicles with a GVWR over 10,000 lbs, certain passenger vehicles, and placardable hazardous materials. Those vehicles must display the carrier's legal or trade name and its number, preceded by "USDOT" and followed by "GA". Federal and state filing and minimum-insurance rules depend on what you haul and where, so check with FMCSA or Georgia DPS, and with us.

How we help

We're an independent agency in Milledgeville. We compare the companies we represent and help you place your truck, or a whole fleet, on a policy that fits how you really use it. We can also handle certificates of insurance when a general contractor asks for one.