Understanding Gap protection is essential for those leasing or financing their trucks. It proves valuable when your business vehicle is stolen or deemed a total loss in an accident, and you still owe on the loan. 

While gap insurance is typically supplemental, it’s worth considering shielding your business from unforeseen financial setbacks that could disrupt operations. Need to grasp what gap insurance is, how it operates, and who requires it? 

Here’s a brief guide to help you understand everything and determine if it’s necessary for you.

What Is Gap Insurance?

Gap insurance stands for guaranteed asset protection insurance. It’s an add-on insurance coverage that protects you if an unrecovered theft or total loss of your truck occurs.

If your loaned or leased business vehicle is stolen or irreparably damaged in an accident and you still owe money on your loan, your insurance company will typically compensate you based on the vehicle’s actual cash value or its stated value at the time of the incident. 

This reimbursement reflects the current market value of a similar vehicle, not necessarily the amount you initially paid for the vehicle or the remaining loan balance.

Because vehicles depreciate fast, losing about 20% of their purchase value within a year, the actual value amount your insurer pays will probably not be enough to clear your outstanding loan balance. And this is where gap coverage comes in. 

Gap insurance helps cover the difference between your insurer’s standard comprehensive or collision coverage payout and the remaining loan or lease balance. So you can clear the amount you owe your lender and avoid making loan payments for a truck that no longer exists or is inoperable.

To qualify for gap coverage, you must have other auto-insurance coverage options, specifically comprehensive or collision coverage, on your policy.

What Does Gap Insurance Cover? 

Unlike most types of commercial truck insurance, GAP insurance coverage does not cover bodily injuries or pay for property damages and repairs. Instead, it works as a safety net, helping you clear your outstanding loan balance if you suffer total loss for your truck. 

Also, note that GAP insurance doesn’t cover extra charges associated with your loan, like finance and excess mileage charges. 

Who Should Get A Gap Insurance Cover? 

Consider purchasing gap insurance coverage if you:

• Are operating on a lease. Gap insurance is a requirement for obtaining a lease from most lenders.

• Have a long financing term for your truck. The longer you finance your vehicle, the higher the chance you’ll owe more than the vehicle’s worth, since your truck will continue to depreciate with time. 

• Have a low down payment on your new truck purchase or none. If the down payment you made when buying your vehicle was less than 20% (or none) of its purchase price, you’ll probably get negative equity once you leave the dealership. It will be wise for you to purchase gap coverage to protect your business from negative equity.

• Want to protect your business assets from depreciation? Some vehicles depreciate faster than others. You’ll benefit from gap insurance if your truck falls under this category. Here’s how to calculate your vehicle’s depreciation rate to determine if gap coverage is necessary.

• Have a loan rollover. Say you transfer your existing car loan balance onto a new vehicle loan. If your new loan is more than your vehicle’s worth at the time of loan renewal, gap coverage will be helpful to you.

What Is The Difference Between Gap Insurance And Commercial Auto Insurance?

Commercial auto insurance is mandatory for businesses to operate in nearly all states. It covers all the cars your company uses for business, offering protection against specific risks, including collision and non-collision incidents and their aftermath. 

Gap insurance works as an optional add-on coverage. You’ll have to purchase other commercial auto insurance policies before getting it to boost your financial stability. Gap insurance also works well for the business vehicles you finance through a loan or lease – it doesn’t apply to all commercial vehicles like commercial auto insurance. 

Further, gap protection doesn’t cover various risks as commercial auto liability insurance does. Instead, gap insurance covers the difference between your truck’s actual cash value and the amount you owe your leasing agency or lender.

How Long Does Gap Insurance Last?

Once you include gap coverage in your insurance policy, it remains active for the duration of the policy. But you can cancel it when you keep making payments and reduce your loan balance to less than your vehicle’s current value. You’ll have to monitor your loan balance against your truck’s market value regularly to know when to cancel the insurance.

How To Purchase Gap Insurance

The simplest, most affordable way to purchase gap insurance is to check with your insurer and see if they can include it in your existing policy. If not, consider getting it from a trusted vehicle financing institution like Mission Financial Services. You can also get gap insurance from car dealerships, although their price will likely be higher than most insurance companies.

Final Thoughts

Although optional, Gap coverage is essential, especially if you’re on a loan or lease repayment plan. It will save you from paying loan debt on a totaled truck, i.e., a truck that can no longer make you money. 

Also, some providers offer additional benefits with their gap insurance packages and at low costs. With Mission Financial Services gap protection, for example, you’ll be fully covered (including reimbursement for your insurance deductible) after an unrecovered theft or total loss event.

You can enjoy the peace of mind you need to grow your business, knowing you won’t have to pay anything out-of-pocket in the unfortunate event you lose your loaned truck before clearing its loan. 

To learn more about how our add-on coverage options work or how we can help finance your new or used commercial truck purchase after a total loss, reach out to us. We’re always ready to help you thrive.

Getting the right commercial vehicle insurance is essential for any truck driver. While long-term policies are the norm, there are certain scenarios where you may need a temporary insurance policy. Making use of these policies is important, as you need to ensure your vehicle is properly covered whenever it’s on the road.

In this guide, we’ll break down what you need to know about temporary truck insurance – including options for 30-day and 24-hour insurance policies.

What is Short-Term Truck Insurance?

Short-term truck insurance is a temporary insurance policy that provides coverage for commercial trucks for a limited duration.

This type of insurance meets the specific needs of trucking companies or owner-operators who don’t require year-round coverage.

Why Do Truckers Need Temporary Truck Insurance?

Instead of opting for permanent insurance, truckers might choose short-term trucking insurance they can use for specific business circumstances. These include:

• Temporary operations: When a trucking company or owner-operator needs coverage for a brief period, such as during a special project.
• Seasonal work: Some trucking businesses experience seasonal fluctuations in demand. Short-term insurance allows them to obtain coverage only during the busy seasons when their trucks are in operation.
• Rental or borrowed vehicles: If a company temporarily adds a truck to its fleet or borrows a vehicle, short-term insurance can provide coverage for the duration of use.
• Testing or maintenance periods: When a truck is undergoing testing, repairs, or maintenance and won’t be on the road for an extended period, short-term insurance can help maintain coverage without the need for a full annual policy.

What Does Temporary Commercial Insurance Cover?

This insurance type covers various aspects of commercial operations. It includes non-trucking liability insurance, which protects against third-party claims.

Temporary commercial insurance often includes coverage for physical damage to owned or leased vehicles, protecting against losses such as collisions or theft.

The specific coverage details of your temporary policy may vary based on your needs. After all, the main purpose of temporary commercial insurance, or temporary bobtail insurance, is to provide flexibility.

What is Not Covered by Temporary Commercial Insurance Cover?

While temporary commercial insurance covers specific short-term needs, it commonly does not provide coverage for certain areas.

This typically includes pre-existing damage to vehicles, intentional acts of the insured that result in damage, and certain types of high-risk activities.

Insurance policies may also exclude coverage for non-business-related use of commercial vehicles.

Policies may also have limitations on coverage for specific types of cargo or may exclude certain hazardous materials. Temporary bobtail insurance or non-trucking liability insurance may also require a unique policy.

Types of Temporary Insurance for Commercial Vehicles

As a motor carrier, you can choose between various types of temporary coverage. Here are two of the main credible insurance coverage options over a temporary period.

30 Day Short Term Truck Insurance

30-day short-term truck insurance provides coverage for commercial vehicles lasting for a month.

It typically covers liability, physical damage, and other relevant aspects of commercial truck insurance for the designated 30-day period.

24-Hour Truck Insurance

24-hour truck insurance offers coverage for commercial vehicles on a daily basis. This type of insurance is designed for situations where coverage is needed for a very brief period, sometimes just a single day.

Who Needs 24-Hour Truck Insurance?

Here are two common scenarios where 24-hour insurance is used.

Transporting a New Truck

Businesses transporting a new truck from the dealership may opt for 24-hour truck insurance to ensure the vehicle is properly covered during its journey.

Moving Your Truck for Repairs

When a commercial truck needs to be moved for repairs or maintenance, 24-hour truck insurance can be valuable. It provides coverage for the brief period the truck is in transit to the repair facility.

Coverage Included in a 24-Hour Truck Insurance Policy

A 24-hour truck insurance policy typically includes essential coverage for the brief duration that it’s active. This type of insurance commonly provides liability coverage, protecting against third-party claims for bodily injury or property damage caused by the insured truck.

Physical damage coverage is also a standard inclusion, covering the cost of repairs to the insured truck in the event of accidents, collisions, or theft.

Additional coverage could be available depending on the policy and provider. While it offers temporary protection, it makes sure that the commercial truck and its operators are properly insured during the specific 24-hour time frame.

Factors That Affect The Short Haul Insurance Cost

Various factors influence the cost of short-haul insurance for commercial vehicles. It’s important that you understand these factors to help you get the best possible temporary policy for your needs.

The main things include the driving records of the operators, with a history of accidents or violations leading to higher premiums. The type and value of the commercial vehicles being insured also play a big role, as more expensive or specialized vehicles will typically cost more.

The coverage limits and deductibles chosen by the policyholder also impact the premium, with higher limits and lower deductibles typically resulting in increased costs.

The geographic area of operation, the nature of the cargo being transported, and the distance of the short-haul routes also add to determining the insurance cost. Insurers might also consider the safety features of the vehicles and any risk management practices implemented by the business.

Final Thoughts

As an owner-operator, protecting your truck is a top priority. This is why having the right insurance coverage at all times is critical for successfully and safely running your business.

Even if it is just a quick drive from the dealership to your facility, you need to make sure that your vehicle is always insured. Making use of temporary insurance policies can be incredibly valuable here, offering an essential safety net in case of an emergency.

Are you looking to purchase a new truck? Then getting the right financing is your first step. See what we offer at Mission Financial Services- the easiest way for truck drivers and owner-operators to acquire financing for a commercial vehicle.

Getting commercial tow truck insurance is mandatory in most states if your business operates tow trucks. It’s also a requirement in most lease and contract agreements to ensure you can handle the additional, unique risks of running various tow truck business operations.

Below, we discuss what commercial tow truck insurance is, and what types of coverage your insurance policy should include if you want to run a towing business in several states.

We also highlight a few optional coverage options that different towing companies ought to consider helping you fully secure your specific towing business from various financial losses.

What Is Tow Truck Insurance?

Tow truck insurance is a commercial auto insurance coverage for towing companies. It considers how complex and expensive accidents involving tow trucks are and offers adequate protection from the financial implications of these incidents.

If a tow truck accident occurs and you are the at-fault party, you’ll be responsible for damages to your car, the towed vehicle, and other vehicles involved. This is besides covering the medical bills for all injured victims. In this scenario, the right tow truck insurance solutions will help you to:

• Cover the repair and replacement cost of your truck, customer vehicles, and third-party vehicles involved in the accident (up to your policy limit)
• Compensate injured victims for all the physical, emotional, and psychological losses incurred because of the incident (up to your policy limit)
• Cover all legal fees throughout any lawsuits you may face after the accident (separate from your policy amount)

What Does Tow Truck Insurance Not Cover?

It’s critical to note that tow truck insurance does not cover the following:

• Intentional damage – this includes any injuries or damage you inflict on other people or their property knowingly
• Certain types of cargo, including explosives, pharmaceutical drugs, and alcohol
• Damages beyond your policy limits – your towing truck insurance company will only cover damages and expenses to a maximum of your policy limit per incident.

Tow Truck Insurance Requirements

Following the U.S. federal law, all tow truck operators must purchase auto liability insurance to conduct their business. This is the minimum tow truck insurance requirement in all states. Other requirements vary from state to state.

Some regions require you to get the following:

• Medical payments coverage
• General liability coverage
• Physical damage insurance and
• Worker’s compensation insurance if you have several employees.

Also, you must meet all the federal and state insurance filing requirements to comply with all insurance laws. Learn more about this on FMCSA’s detailed summary of insurance filing requirements.

Types of Commercial Tow Truck Insurance

There are several types of commercial towing truck insurance coverage. Here are a few essential coverage options you should include in your tow truck insurance policy to run your towing venture smoothly:

Liability Coverage

Liability coverage includes bodily injury and property damage liability.

Bodily injury liability insurance compensates third-party victims for injuries caused by a tow truck accident involving you or your employees. Property damage liability coverage pays for damage to their property.

Liability insurance is the fundamental coverage required for all tow truck operators nationwide. States often establish minimum coverage amounts for operating in their region; for instance, Texas mandates approximately $500,000 in liability coverage per tow truck per accident.

Physical Damage Coverage

Physical damage coverage also comes in two forms – collision and comprehensive coverage.

Collision coverage pays for the repair or replacement costs of your company’s tow truck if it hits another car or object, such as a pole. It also covers you if your tow truck rolls or overturns.

In contrast, comprehensive coverage protects you from several non-collision incidents, like vandalism, theft, fire, harsh weather, etc.

Medical Payments Coverage

Medical payments insurance pays the medical bills of your covered vehicle’s occupants if they sustain injuries in an incident involving your tow truck. Occupants here could be you or your tow truck drivers and other passengers.

Uninsured/ Under-insured Motorists Coverage

This coverage option covers medical expenses if you or your tow truck drivers get injured in an accident caused by a driver with insufficient liability insurance or one without insurance.

Workers’ Compensation Coverage

Workers’ compensation insurance is critical for tow truck companies with several employees. It compensates employees for any work-related injuries. It also covers legal fees for all employee injury-related lawsuits.

Additional Coverage for Towing and Storage Businesses

The coverage options above may not be adequate for various tow truck business operations. Here are some optional but vital additional coverage for different towing and storage businesses you should consider for maximum financial stability in your specific towing business:

On-Hook Towing Insurance

On-hook towing insurance protects you when towing customers’ vehicles. It covers the repair or replacement cost for a client’s vehicle if it gets damaged in a crash, theft, vandalism, or fire while you’re hauling it. This coverage is helpful if you’re a roadside assistance provider who often tows third-party vehicles.

You may also want to purchase cargo coverage to cover the items inside the vehicles you tow.

Garage Keeper’s Legal Liability Insurance

Garage keepers legal liability insurance is vital for towing service companies that store clients’ vehicles for repair, parking, or other services. It safeguards clients’ vehicles while in your care at a covered location, covering physical damage caused by theft, vandalism, collision, and more.

Consider commercial property insurance to protect your business premises, equipment, and tools.

Tow General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance protects you if you’re legally responsible for property damage and personal injury to a customer or third party. The damage or injury may be related to your business, but not your covered vehicles.

Final Thoughts

Insurance requirements differ for tow truck companies based on their specific services. For instance, a roadside assistance provider may need different insurance policies compared to a towing company specializing in repossession or operating a repair facility. This is because each company encounters distinct risks alongside the common risks shared by all trucking companies.

To choose the right coverage, evaluate your business goals and budget, then shop around to identify the best tow truck insurance provider to match your business needs. Ensure you get multiple quotes from various providers and compare them before settling for one.

Here’s an in-depth guide to the best commercial truck insurance brokers. Check it out to understand how to choose an insurance provider. You can also reach out to us for assistance, especially with add-on coverage.

Hauling hazardous materials is one of the most profitable commercial trucking ventures. It’s also the riskiest as it threatens public safety.

To minimize risks and promote public safety, the federal government imposes several restrictions on hazardous materials hauling. You cannot, for instance, conduct your hazmat trucking operations without purchasing a hazmat truck insurance policy with specific coverages.

Below, we discuss all you need to know about hazmat trucking insurance: What is it, and what coverage options do you need for your hazmat commercial trucking business to succeed?

What is Hazmat Truck Insurance?

Hazmat truck insurance protects companies transporting hazardous materials from both general trucking risks and specific hazards associated with handling dangerous substances.

These policies tend to be pricier due to safety concerns, but they offer similar benefits to regular commercial trucking insurance. This coverage ensures financial protection in case of accidents, covering losses and legal fees associated with settlements.

Who Needs Hazmat Truck Insurance?

 State and federal laws require all businesses that haul hazardous materials to purchase hazmat trucking insurance. 

Hazardous material includes anything that threatens human safety, is explosive, flammable, or poisonous. Several materials fit these criteria of harmful substances and are, thus, labeled hazardous or extra hazardous, depending on how dangerous they are. 

This includes business owners who operate hazardous waste transporters. These include entities or individuals who transport waste from their source to a different destination, say a recycling, treatment, storage, or disposal facility.

What Cargo is Classified as Hazardous Materials?

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), all the examples of hazardous materials we’ve mentioned fall under nine classes of hazardous cargo:

Class 1 – Explosives

Class 2 – Gasses

Class 3 – Flammable liquid

Class 4 – Flammable solid

Class 5 – Oxidizing substances, e.g., organic peroxides

Class 6 – Poisonous (toxic) or infectious substances

Class 7 – Radioactive materials

Class 8 – Corrosives

Class 9 – Miscellaneous dangerous goods, like marine pollutants

Different classes of hazardous materials require varying amounts of liability coverage. Some, like the poisonous and radioactive classes, are difficult to insure unless you work with a knowledgeable and experienced hazmat truck insurance company. 

What Coverage is Offered by Hazmat Insurance Carriers?

 Hazmat truck insurance companies offer several insurance coverages.

Collision and Comprehensive

Collision and comprehensive hazmat trucking insurance protects your trucks and trailers from damages resulting from theft, vandalism, overturn, upset, fire, bad weather, and accidents with animals.

Pollution Liability

Pollution liability coverage covers cleanup expenses if pollutants spill in transit or during loading and unloading. This coverage also pays for damages that may occur due to the spill. 

Hazmat General Liability

Liability insurance covers incidents specific to the trucker’s actions and other non-trucking-related claims. These may include wrongful delivery of liquids. It’s worth noting that this type of hazmat truck insurance is usually a requirement for most hazardous materials trucking contracts. 

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance is mandatory (required by law) for all hazmat haulers. It pays for third-party bodily injury and property damages when your covered auto causes an accident.  

On average, FMCSA requires you to purchase a $1,000,000 minimum liability coverage, but this depends on the hazardous materials hauled. Some hazardous cargo require a minimum of $5,000,000 liability insurance to transport. 

Excess Liability

Excess liability coverage provides additional protection against settlement claims that may exceed your insurance liability limits, up to $50,000,000. 

Loading and Unloading

Loading and unloading protects hazardous cargo when being loaded or unloaded.

Medical Payments and PIP

Medical payments and personal injury protection (PIP) covers medical payments for any injuries your driver and other passengers in your car may incur in an accident, regardless of fault.

GAP Insurance

Hazmat truck and trailer values can depreciate faster than their financed value. Add-on GAP coverage protects you if your truck is stolen or totaled, covering the difference between compensation and your loan or lease balance.

Downtime Coverage

Downtime coverage helps you manage your truck payments and other essential bills if a covered loss pushes you out of business for an extended period.

Rental Reimbursement

Hazmat truck rental reimbursement coverage allows you to rent another truck and continue working if an accident puts your vehicle out of operation. It covers a chunk of the rental cost to help you remain profitable while waiting for your truck to get repaired.

Requirements for Hazmat Commercial Truck Insurance

The minimum insurance filing requirements for hazmat trucks depend on the types of hazardous materials hauled. 

Trucks transporting oil and hazardous waste require a minimum of $1,000,000 liability coverage. Trucks transporting gases, explosives, radioactive materials, or anything poisonous if inhaled require significantly higher coverage limits of $5,000,000 minimum. 

Haulers of hazardous cargo must comply with several safety-sensitive requirements outlined by FMCSA, including:

• Maintaining proper placards
• Keeping their commercial driver’s license (CDL) endorsements up-to-date
• Purchasing required safety permits and following all applicable regulations for hazardous trucking. 

Considerations When Choosing a Hazmat Trucking Insurance Carrier

When looking for a hazmat trucking insurance carrier, settle for a leading provider with both expertise in commercial trucking insurance and knowledge about the unique risks of hazmat trucking. 

To identify the best hazmat truck insurance company, shop around for one that offers:

• Competitive rates and discounts
• Help comply with all safety regulations
• 24/7 access to your insurance certificate
• Pre-employment Screening Reports (PSPs) for potential truck drivers to help you make informed hiring decisions
• Transparency when handling policy changes and renewals 

Final Thoughts

FMCSA subjects hazmat haulers to stricter hazmat regulations and higher liability limits than non-hazardous materials haulers for your safety and the safety of all road users. 

To follow all laws, ensure you get the right hazmat truck coverages and train your employees to handle hazardous freight accordingly. 

Take your time to find an experienced hazmat trucking insurance provider who’ll help you navigate the intricacies of hazmat trucking insurance like a business partner. So you won’t have to worry about hazmat safety violations and can conduct your business operations peacefully. 

For help financing truck repairs or replacement after an accident, reach out to us. We’ve been offering commercial vehicle loans for over 18 years and can tailor our loan packages to match your current needs.