Commercial Insurance — Michigan
Commercial Auto Insurance Michigan
Vehicles used for business purposes require commercial auto coverage — personal auto policies typically exclude business use. From a single service truck to a multi-vehicle fleet, Harborstone helps Michigan businesses evaluate the right commercial auto program.
Who This Coverage Is For
Commercial auto insurance is relevant for any Michigan business that owns, leases, or regularly uses vehicles for business purposes. This includes contractors and tradespeople with service trucks and vans, delivery and courier operations, landscaping and lawn care businesses, HVAC and plumbing companies, food service and catering operations, and any business with company-owned vehicles used by employees. If a vehicle is titled to a business, used to transport tools or equipment, or driven by employees in the course of their work, a personal auto policy is unlikely to provide adequate coverage for a business-related accident.
Coverage Options to Consider
Auto Liability
Covers bodily injury and property damage claims arising from accidents involving your business vehicles. Michigan's no-fault auto insurance system has specific requirements for commercial vehicles, and adequate liability limits are essential for any business operating on public roads.
Physical Damage
Covers damage to your business vehicles from collision, comprehensive perils (fire, theft, hail, vandalism), and other covered events. For businesses with significant vehicle values or financed vehicles, physical damage coverage protects a major business asset.
Hired Auto Coverage
Covers liability arising from vehicles rented or borrowed for business use — such as a rental truck used for a job or a personal vehicle rented while traveling for business. This fills a gap that standard commercial auto policies may not address.
Non-Owned Auto Coverage
Covers liability arising from employees using their personal vehicles for business purposes — such as running a business errand or making a delivery. If an employee causes an accident while on a business errand, your business may face liability exposure.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist
Provides protection when your business vehicle is involved in an accident caused by a driver who has no insurance or insufficient coverage. Michigan's auto insurance environment makes this coverage worth evaluating carefully.
Why Commercial Auto Insurance Matters
Personal Policies Don't Cover Business Use
This is the most common and costly gap in small business insurance. A contractor who causes an accident while driving to a job site in a vehicle covered only by a personal auto policy may find that the personal insurer denies the claim due to business use exclusions. The resulting liability exposure falls directly on the business owner.
Michigan's Auto Insurance Environment
Michigan has a unique no-fault auto insurance system with specific requirements for personal injury protection and liability coverage. Commercial vehicles have their own requirements, and the consequences of inadequate coverage in a serious accident can be severe. Understanding how Michigan's auto insurance laws apply to your business vehicles is an important part of managing your risk.
Fleet Vehicles Represent Significant Asset Value
For businesses with multiple vehicles, the combined value of the fleet can represent one of the largest asset exposures on the balance sheet. A serious accident, theft, or hailstorm that damages multiple vehicles simultaneously can create a financial impact that disrupts operations.
The Harborstone Approach
At Harborstone, we believe commercial auto insurance should reflect the actual vehicles your business operates, how they're used, and who drives them. Our goal is to help Michigan businesses evaluate commercial auto coverage that addresses their real fleet exposures — without gaps that could leave them personally liable after a business-related accident.
Let's Protect the Business You've Built.
Operating business vehicles in Michigan? Let's review your commercial auto coverage and make sure your fleet is properly protected.