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
Zurich U.S. Business Insurance: Products, Access, and Claims
Zurich U.S. serves Middle Market businesses and large or national accounts with commercial property-casualty and specialty insurance. Buyers can explore product lines and work through an agent or broker; the insurer named on a quote or policy identifies which Zurich company underwrites that coverage. 5,6
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
Key Differences in Commercial Auto Insurance
Business vehicle range and damage terms
The Hartford lists commercial cars, vans, pickups, box trucks and service trucks, with bodily injury and property damage liability, collision, comprehensive, medical payments and rental-car options. Zurich’s reviewed program is tailored to rental fleets; its physical-damage menu includes specified perils, comprehensive and collision, while its catastrophic option excludes collision, overturn and conversion. Buyers with a mixed work fleet should compare The Hartford’s listed vehicle and endorsement range; rental operators should read Zurich’s specific option conditions. 4 7
Buying route and underwriting intake
The Hartford says small businesses cannot currently buy this coverage online and directs them to a local agency or its partner Tivly. Zurich takes rental-fleet applications by phone and requests vehicle values, rental use, passenger transport and operating procedures. Both routes involve a conversation, but Zurich’s stated intake focuses on rental-fleet controls; ask The Hartford’s agent which vehicle classes and limits can be quoted. 4 7
What to Confirm in Commercial Auto Insurance Quotes
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
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 reviewsZurich U.S.
Review Score
No reviews found
The available Zurich review evidence is mixed and comes from distinct populations: a car-rental-business editorial rating, broad global and U.S. review-platform snapshots, and a BBB business-profile grade. These are not a representative measure of every Zurich commercial policy or claim.[1][4][5][6][7]
Read Zurich U.S. reviewsOffering Details
The Hartford vs Zurich U.S.: Commercial Auto Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | The Hartford Commercial Auto Insurance | Zurich Commercial Auto for rental fleets |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Confirm in your quote. |
| 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. | Confirm in your quote. |
| 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. | Zurich’s rental-fleet commercial auto includes state financial-responsibility liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist and no-fault PIP options. 7Company-reported. Zurich U.S. brand; exact underwriting company may vary by policy and state; commercial auto for rental fleets; United States. The opened Zurich page is specific to U.S. commercial rental fleets; it does not establish all commercial-auto classes. Actual coverage is governed by policy terms and underwriting. For rental fleets, Zurich identifies specified-peril, comprehensive and collision physical-damage options. Its catastrophic option requires an occurrence involving two or more insured autos and excludes collision, overturn and conversion. The page separately says physical-damage coverage is not provided for conversion, false pretense or trick and devise. 7Company-reported. Zurich U.S. brand; exact underwriting company may vary by policy and state; commercial auto for rental fleets; United States. The opened Zurich page describes coverage for commercial rental fleets; it does not establish terms for other commercial-auto classes. Actual coverage is governed by policy terms and underwriting. |
| 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. | Confirm in your quote. |
| 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. | Zurich takes applications by phone and requests fleet size, vehicle age/value/type, rental use, personal-use details, customer transport and operating procedures. 7Company-reported. Zurich U.S. brand; exact underwriting company may vary by policy and state; commercial auto for rental fleets; United States. The opened Zurich page is specific to U.S. commercial rental fleets; it does not establish all commercial-auto classes. Actual coverage is governed by policy terms and underwriting. |
Full Comparison
More The Hartford vs Zurich U.S. Comparisons
Other Commercial Auto Insurance Comparisons
Sources
The Hartford
- Legal Notice. The Hartford; The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. holding-company description; no representation that all products are available in all locations; P&C writing-company table as of December 31, 2025 including Hartford Fire (NAIC 19682) and Hartford Underwriters (NAIC 30104); life writing companies including Hartford Life and Accident (NAIC 70815). Accessed 2026-09-16.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Zurich U.S.
- About Us | Zurich U.S. | Commercial Insurance. Zurich U.S.; About Zurich U.S.; customer and industry description; FAQ on U.S. product focus. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Agents and Brokers | Zurich U.S. Zurich U.S.; Agent/broker route and locator. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Vehicle Rental Business Insurance: Car, Motorcycle, Truck, RV | Zurich. Zurich U.S.; Commercial rental fleets, auto liability and physical damage, application and claims. Accessed 2026-09-29.
Commercial Auto Insurance Guide
- Commercial Insurance Guide. California Department of Insurance; Commercial Automobile: Coverage, Classification and Limits. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Auto Insurance. NAIC; Coverages. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- 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.
- 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.
