Founder Shield vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance

Founder Shield is a retail insurance brokerage, described on its site as “the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group,” and places Founder Shield Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance with third-party carriers rather than underwriting the policy itself. ⁷Company-reported. About-us page; applies to Founder Shield's brokerage model generally, restated here for this line.

Heffernan places hired and non-owned auto liability as part of its home care, home health, and hospice insurance program, alongside owned-auto and other package coverages, rather than underwriting the coverage itself. ¹¹Company-reported. Home Care Business Insurance page as read on 2026-09-23; other Heffernan practices were not checked for this line.

Founder Shield says it places policies, including Founder Shield Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance, only with carriers rated A- or better by AM Best, chosen for the client's industry. It does not name the issuing insurer for this line; that depends on which carrier the policy is placed with. ³Company-reported. General carrier-selection FAQ, not specific to this line's placements.

Not described in the reviewed sources.

Founder Shield markets HNOA to businesses with mobile employees such as salespeople or delivery drivers, companies that rent vehicles, organizations that rely on volunteers, and small businesses without a company fleet. ⁶Company-reported. HNOA product page.

Heffernan markets this bundled auto coverage to home health, in-home care, hospice, staffing-agency, infusion-therapy, and home-health-aide businesses, and says its home care programs cover all states and agency sizes. ¹¹Company-reported. Home Care Business Insurance page as read on 2026-09-23; 'all states' is a company marketing statement, not a state-by-state availability table.

Founder Shield says HNOA is a liability-only policy covering third-party bodily injury, third-party property damage and legal defense costs when an employee uses a personal or rented vehicle for business and their personal auto policy denies or limits the claim. ⁶Company-reported. Product page; the issued policy and declarations control actual coverage.

Founder Shield notes HNOA does not cover physical damage to the hired or non-owned vehicle itself, accidents involving company-owned vehicles, or injuries to the employee driving (covered instead by workers' compensation). ⁶Company-reported. HNOA product page.

The home care package lists Non-owned and Hired Auto alongside Business/Owned Auto, so caregivers driving personal or rented vehicles for client visits are covered under a separate insuring agreement from the agency's own fleet. ¹¹Company-reported. Home Care Business Insurance page as read on 2026-09-23; the page does not detail limits, exclusions, or whether hired/non-owned auto is sold on a stand-alone basis outside the home care package.

Not described in the reviewed sources.

The reviewed page does not publish limits, deductibles, or premium ranges for the hired and non-owned auto coverage. ¹¹Not publicly disclosed. Home Care Business Insurance page as read on 2026-09-23.

Not described in the reviewed sources.

Heffernan says its home care insurance specialists walk clients through coverage and premium questions, including how to minimize costs and risks, and that it partners with CAHSAH and the Home Care Association of America. ¹¹Company-reported. Home Care Business Insurance page as read on 2026-09-23; described for the home care program generally, not exclusively for the auto coverage.

You request Founder Shield Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance through Founder Shield's website or an insurance advisor rather than binding coverage directly; Founder Shield says its placement team then approaches carriers on the client's behalf. ^7,3Company-reported. About-us and carrier-selection pages describe the general placement process, not a line-specific application form.

Heffernan tells home care businesses to start the insurance application process at least 30 days before working with clients and to contact the firm for a free rate quote, since rates vary by state. ¹¹Company-reported. Home Care Business Insurance page as read on 2026-09-23; applies to the home care package generally, not solely to auto coverage.