Hired and Non-owned Auto Insurance – Employees using own vehicles for company business
If you have employees that are driving around on your business’s behalf in a hired or personal vehicle, you could be liable if they get in an accident. Don’t worry though, there is a special insurance just for that, and we offer it too!
Hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA) covers commercial liability expenses triggered by accidents involving hired (e.g. rental cars) or borrowed vehicles (e.g. employee-owned) for business use. All businesses that rely on rented vehicles or ask employees to run errands in their personal vehicles should consider HNOA insurance as a wise investment.
Hired Auto
Hired auto are vehicles your business leases, hires, rents, or borrows that are used in the course of doing business. Vehicles you lease, hire, rent, or borrow from any of your employees, partners, limited liability members, or household members are not considered hired autos.
If you were to rent a vehicle for business purposes and cause an accident, hired auto insurance can help cover the costs if a lawsuit is filed against your business due to the accident.
Non-Owned Auto
Non-owned autos are vehicles owned by employees and used for company business. Common instances that lead to non-owned auto claims include the following:
- Administrative employees using personal vehicles to run business errands, such as going to the bank or the post office once a week.
- Sales or customer service employees given an allowance for personal vehicle use in lieu of a company vehicle.
Non-owned auto coverage would be applicable if an employee were involved in an accident in a situation like the ones above, and were found negligent. Laws vary from state to state, but in general, if you are in the course of employment when the accident occurs and you are negligent, the employer is responsible.
Non-owned auto liability insurance would be applied after the employee’s personal auto limit is exhausted, so it is essential that the employee have appropriate coverage limits on their personal insurance.
What is Covered by HNOA Insurance
Hired and non-owned insurance provides liability coverage for property damage and bodily injuries caused by you or your employees while driving for work. Here’s how it works:
- The coverage would apply if your business is sued for negligence due to an automobile accident.
- It does not pay for collision damages to the hired or non-owned vehicle.
- Hired and non-owned auto coverage can usually be added as an endorsement to your general liability insurance policy.
Why You Need This Coverage
In the event of an accident, your business could be found negligent for various reasons, including:
- The employee’s insurance has lapsed.
- The employee only carries the minimum limits required by the state and the amount of damages exceeds this limit.
- The employee’s vehicle is not properly maintained.
- The employee’s driving record is below standard.
- Your company does not have any fleet controls or policies in place to address these issues with employee vehicles that are used for business purposes.
The purpose of hired and non-owned auto insurance is to protect your business. Don’t let a gap in coverage leave your business assets at risk. Contact us today to see where HNOA can fit into your insurance coverage!
