The Hartford vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway: How Do They Compare for Commercial Auto Insurance?

The Hartford lists collision, comprehensive, liability, medical, and rental-car options and reports average customer costs of $574 monthly, but uses agencies or Tivly for quotes. THREE offers an online Business Auto quote as part of its combined policy. 4,5

What Is The Hartford?

The Hartford suits SaaS and software small businesses seeking a BOP and an online quote; buyers needing commercial auto through self-service or built-in California EPL coverage should use another route. Eligible small-business quotes can start online in minutes. 1,2,3

Read the The Hartford profile

Read the The Hartford Commercial Auto Insurance page

THREE small business insurance: coverage, issuer and buying routes

THREE markets a packaged commercial insurance product through a direct quote route and partner agents. Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company is named as issuer on THREE’s sample policy. 5,6

Read the THREE by Berkshire Hathaway profile

Read the THREE by Berkshire Hathaway Commercial Auto Insurance page

What Is Commercial Auto Insurance?

Commercial auto suits businesses that use vehicles for work and need liability protection; damage to your own vehicles is a separate coverage choice. If employees drive personal or rented cars, check how those trips are handled. 8,9,10,11

Read the full coverage guide

Key Differences in Commercial Auto Insurance

Quote access and vehicle classes

The Hartford says it does not currently sell small-business commercial auto online and sends buyers to a local agency or its partner Tivly. It lists cars, cargo vans, commercial trucks, pickups, box trucks, and service utility trucks, with state-specific requirements. THREE directs small-business prospects to an online quote and licensed advisor help, but its reviewed Business Auto record does not name vehicle classes or state limits. A buyer seeking a self-serve start can use THREE’s route, then confirm vehicle fit in the returned offer. 4 5 7

Cost context and coverage options

The Hartford reports customers pay about $574 a month on average, with limits depending on business, vehicles, drivers, cargo, and location. It lists liability, collision, comprehensive, medical payments, uninsured-motorist, and rental-car coverage options. THREE’s public record does not publish an equivalent average price or enumerate auto options. Compare actual premiums at matching limits and identify any separate rental or physical-damage terms. 4 7

What to Confirm in Commercial Auto Insurance Quotes

  • Ask The Hartford which agency route and liability limits apply to your vehicles and state. 4
  • Ask THREE for per-vehicle limits and the complete coverage schedule. 7
  • Compare annual costs only at matched limits, deductibles, and driver information. 4 5

Review Scores

These averages can combine ratings for different products, locations, and customer groups, including approximate BBB grade conversions. Read each review for the sources, scope, and calculation.

The Hartford

4.9/ 10

Review Score

5 rated sources

The Hartford’s service record is mixed: NerdWallet rates it 4.5/5 but reports below-average small-business satisfaction. Low Trustpilot ratings add a service concern, although they mix policy types.[1][2][4][5][6][7]

Read The Hartford reviews

THREE by Berkshire Hathaway

7.3/ 10

Review Score

2 rated sources

The inspected sources report separate measures: NerdWallet’s 4.0/5 editorial rating is excluded from the source-rating average; Trustpilot displayed 2.5/5 from five user posts and BBB displayed 4.8/5 from 265 reviews. Trustpilot and BBB include different purchase, service and agent/intermediary interactions, not a verified common policyholder cohort. BBB separately lists complaints. Any source-rating average weights eligible platforms equally and is not a pooled, representative customer-experience estimate or a claims-quality measure.[4][3][1][2]

Read THREE by Berkshire Hathaway reviews

Offering Details

The Hartford vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway: Commercial Auto Insurance: documented features by provider

CriteriaThe Hartford Commercial Auto InsuranceTHREE Business Owners Policy
Role in This Line

The Hartford's commercial auto insurance helps cover property damage and medical expenses when a business or its employees cause an accident using company vehicles. 4Company-reported. Commercial auto product page as read 2026-09-23.

THREE presents Business Auto as a component of its combined Business Owners Policy rather than identifying it as a separate standalone policy on the reviewed product page. 7Company-reported. Company-described U.S. package structure. The page does not establish underwriting terms or that every listed category will be included for every applicant.

Issuing Insurer

Confirm in your quote.

The linked sample policy's declarations identify Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company as issuer. 6Company-reported. This is the issuer named on the public sample only; the sample does not establish the issuing entity for every state-specific quote or buyer's issued policy.

Who It’s For

The Hartford says coverage requirements vary by state, and names industries it targets: beauty shops, consulting, photography, retail, technology and restaurants; covered vehicle types include cars, commercial cargo vans, commercial trucks, pickup trucks, box trucks and service utility trucks. 4Company-reported. Commercial auto product page as read 2026-09-23.

The reviewed product page does not state separate eligibility rules for Business Auto; the general quote and advisor route is not proof that a particular business qualifies for it. 7,5Not publicly disclosed. Eligibility and state availability remain unestablished for an individual risk until THREE returns its quote and applicable forms.

Coverage Features

The Hartford lists common commercial auto coverage options: bodily injury liability, property damage liability, drive-other-car coverage for executives, collision, comprehensive, medical payments, uninsured/underinsured motorist, and rental car coverage. It excludes unrelated medical expenses, contents inside the vehicle, accidents in an employee's personal vehicle for personal reasons, and rental-vehicle repair costs while a company vehicle is being fixed. 4Company-reported. Commercial auto product page as read 2026-09-23. General coverage description; the issued policy controls.

THREE's Business Owners Policy page lists Business Auto among its marketed coverage categories in the combined policy. This describes the product page, not whether the category appears in a particular quote or responds to a loss. 7,6Company-reported. Official THREE package marketing for Business Auto. The sample policy is state-selectable and does not establish that this item is included in every quote or issued policy.

Limits and Retentions

The Hartford reports average commercial auto costs of about $574 a month ($6,884 a year) for its customers; the page does not publish standard liability limits, which it says depend on business type, vehicle type, driving records, cargo and location. 4Company-reported. Company-reported average as of 2026-09-23 (page last updated by The Hartford August 27, 2026); not a coverage limit.

The reviewed public product page does not state a separate limit or deductible for Business Auto; THREE says the quote-specific insurance summary lists limits and deductibles. 7,6Not publicly disclosed. No number is inferred from the sample policy. The quote and issued declarations control the buyer-specific limit and deductible.

How to Apply

The Hartford does not currently sell commercial auto coverage online for small businesses; it directs buyers to a local agency or to its partner Tivly for a quote instead of a self-serve online flow. 4Company-reported. Commercial auto product page as read 2026-09-23.

THREE directs small-business prospects to an online quote and says licensed Small Business Advisors can help with the process. 5Company-reported. This is the route for the overall THREE product. It does not show whether Business Auto will be offered for a particular business or whether a customer can bind that line without an issued policy.

Full Comparison

More The Hartford vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway Comparisons

Other Commercial Auto Insurance Comparisons

Sources

The Hartford

  1. SaaS Insurance for Your Business. The Hartford; Audience list (software startups, SaaS, IT consulting); Get a Business Owner’s Policy; What Is Business Owner’s Policy Insurance?; general liability introduction and Get a Quote; Get Commercial Property Insurance; Commercial Property Insurance for Your Business; Benefits of The Hartford’s WC Insurance for Employers and Employees; cyber insurance and data breach descriptions; Get a quote for cyber insurance; EPLI introduction and Private Choice Premier; add-ons (workers’ compensation, data breach, commercial auto); technology professional liability mention; small-business availability banner; industry-average premium footnote; footnote 2 state restrictions; footer product-availability disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Find a Local Insurance Agent. The Hartford; Small-business and midsize agent locators; FAQ that buyers can purchase without an agent by calling or quoting online; statement that agents may charge fees. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. Commercial Auto Insurance Coverage. The Hartford; Banner: The Hartford does not currently offer this coverage online for small businesses; What Does Commercial Auto Insurance Cover?; What Is Not Covered?; What Types of Vehicles Are Covered?; Do I Need Commercial Auto Insurance?; How Much Does Commercial Auto Insurance Cost? Accessed 2026-09-23.

THREE by Berkshire Hathaway

  1. Jargon-free small business insurance - THREE by Berkshire Hathaway. Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, dba THREE; Lines 23, 39, 70–81 and 406–410: business location quote entry, single-policy description, issuer, business focus, online quote and licensed Small Business Advisor route. Quote entry inspected without submitting a form. Accessed 2026-09-30.
  2. The Policy: 3 Jargon-free pages - THREE by Berkshire Hathaway. Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, dba THREE; State-selectable sample policy: Summary (Declarations) identifies Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company as issuer and says the insurance summary lists limits and deductibles; sample policy text and state selection do not establish terms for a particular quote or issued policy. Accessed 2026-09-30.
  3. Business Owners Policy - THREE by Berkshire Hathaway. Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, dba THREE; Product page: “No need for multiple policies” and one comprehensive policy; Business Liability, Property and Business Auto categories and the listed line names. Product page footer identifies Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, dba THREE. Accessed 2026-09-30.

Commercial Auto Insurance Guide

  1. Commercial Insurance Guide. California Department of Insurance; Commercial Automobile: Coverage, Classification and Limits. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Auto Insurance. NAIC; Coverages. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. Business Vehicle Insurance. Insurance Information Institute; Will My Personal Auto Policy Cover Business Use?; What Vehicles Are Covered?; What Coverage Do I Need if Employees Drive Their Personal Vehicles for Business?; Does a Business Umbrella Cover Autos?; Do I Need a Business Auto Policy?; Be Sure the Right Insured Is on the Policy. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  4. Business Auto Coverage Form. Insurance Services Office, Inc.; hosted by National General; I.A, printed/PDF page 1; II.A.1, printed/PDF page 2; III.C–D, printed/PDF page 6; II.B.6, printed/PDF page 3; III.B.3, printed/PDF page 6. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Updated . Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. The comparison applies the same criteria to both providers. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with the page URL and supporting source.

Get Help With Insurance Buying and Renewals.

Get help buying coverage and managing renewals, with less paperwork for your team. Start with a free consultation.

Talk to Spot