Commercial Auto Insurance

Yes, if your business owns or uses vehicles for work purposes in Tennessee, you are legally required to carry minimum liability coverage under state law. However, those minimums often aren't enough to fully protect your business from the real costs of an accident, especially if your operations involve transporting tools, products, or passengers. That’s why many small business owners in Chattanooga, East Ridge, and Cleveland choose to upgrade to comprehensive commercial auto insurance that includes bodily injury liability, property damage, and even uninsured motorist protection. At Patriot Insurance Solutions, we help local businesses understand Tennessee’s requirements and secure commercial vehicle policies that not only meet legal standards but also safeguard the business from lawsuits and repair bills.

While it might seem convenient, personal auto insurance typically excludes coverage for vehicles being used for business activities. That means if you’re driving to deliver a product, visit a client in Dalton, or haul tools to a job site in Cleveland, your personal insurer may deny your claim after an accident. Whether you're using your own car or a company-owned van, a dedicated commercial auto policy provides the protection you need for third-party claims, physical damage, medical expenses, and more. In Chattanooga and throughout Tennessee, we often advise sole proprietors, realtors, mobile service providers, and contractors to get a proper commercial auto quote to avoid costly gaps in protection.

A standard commercial auto insurance policy includes several core components designed to protect your business from liability and financial loss. These include liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage to others, physical damage coverage (collision and comprehensive) for your own vehicles, medical payments coverage for you and your passengers, and uninsured/underinsured motorist protection. Many of our Chattanooga-area clients—especially those operating delivery fleets or construction vehicles—also opt for hired and non-owned auto coverage to protect when employees drive personal or rented vehicles for work. If your operations take you across state lines into Georgia or Alabama, our policies can be tailored to cover regional routes, ensuring you stay protected wherever business takes you.

The cost of commercial auto insurance in Tennessee depends on multiple factors, including the type and number of vehicles your business owns, what they’re used for, your employees’ driving histories, your chosen coverage limits and deductibles, and your location—such as operating in downtown Chattanooga versus a more rural area like Bradley County. For example, a single catering van used locally will cost less to insure than a fleet of box trucks operating statewide. Businesses in high-traffic areas like Hamilton Place or Hixson may also see different rates due to increased risk. At Patriot Insurance Solutions, we compare quotes from top carriers to help you find affordable commercial auto insurance options that match your risk level, budget, and operational needs.

If your employees occasionally use their personal vehicles for business—such as making deliveries, attending client meetings, or transporting tools—they likely aren’t covered under your personal or standard business policies. However, a commercial auto policy can include hired and non-owned auto liability coverage, which protects your business if an employee is at fault in an accident while using their own car on the job. This is especially important for businesses in Chattanooga and the surrounding areas that rely on mobile sales reps, part-time delivery drivers, or subcontractors. Without this coverage, a single accident involving an employee's personal vehicle could lead to lawsuits or out-of-pocket costs that threaten your bottom line.