For many small businesses, the company truck or van is more than just a mode of transportation; it serves as a mobile office. However, new survey data underscores the financial risks associated with these vehicles. According to Pie Insurance's 2025 State of Workplace Safety Report, 42% of surveyed businesses with commercial vehicles reported an auto-related incident in the past year, with an average out-of-pocket cost of $5,725 per accident.
The findings, based on a YouGov survey of 1,018 U.S. small-business owners and decision-makers at companies with 2 to 500 employees, highlight the need for business owners to reassess their commercial auto insurance. Inter Insurance Agency notes that these results serve as a timely reminder for companies to review how their vehicles are insured.
“For many small businesses, the work truck isn't just a way to get from one place to another. It's essentially a rolling office,” said Tim Derham of Inter Insurance Agency. “When that vehicle is damaged or involved in an accident, you're potentially dealing with much more than a repair. You may be dealing with interrupted jobs, lost working time and liability exposure.”
Commercial auto insurance is designed to protect vehicles used for business purposes, including company cars, vans, and pickup trucks. Policies can include liability, collision, comprehensive, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Liability coverage helps protect against claims for bodily injury or property damage, while collision coverage pays for damage to the insured vehicle in an accident. Comprehensive coverage handles non-collision losses like theft, vandalism, or weather damage. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage offers additional protection if another driver lacks adequate insurance.
For contractors, plumbers, electricians, landscapers, delivery companies, and other mobile businesses, vehicles are often in use all day and are essential to completing jobs and serving customers. Inter Insurance Agency recommends that businesses periodically review their commercial auto policies, especially when adding vehicles, hiring employee drivers, or changing vehicle usage.
“The important question is whether the coverage you purchased still reflects the business you're operating today,” Derham said. “A business can change significantly in a year, and its insurance should keep pace.”
The survey, commissioned by Pie Insurance and conducted by YouGov, was fielded January 9-18, 2025. For more information, businesses can visit Pie Insurance or Inter Insurance Agency.
