If an employee drives a personal car to a customer, what should we ask about?
NAIC says commercial auto policies may cover non-owned vehicles used for business, including employee-owned cars, but the actual policy wording and insureds matter.[2]
Tell the broker who drives, how often, for what work, in which states, and whether rental cars are used. Ask which commercial form addresses those uses and what limits apply.[2]
Ask employees to review their personal policies as a separate step. The source does not establish that personal auto or a commercial policy automatically covers every business trip.[2]
Read the Sales Insurance Buying Guide
Sources and Further Reading
- Launch Your Business: Get Business Insurance — U.S. Small Business Administration. Get business insurance and four steps to buy; general coverage categories and quote comparison guidance. Do not rely on the page’s overbroad employee insurance statement.
- Small Business Insurance — National Association of Insurance Commissioners. BOP and exclusions; general liability and exclusions; professional liability, crime and cyber; business property. General educational descriptions, not policy terms.
NAIC descriptions of general liability, professional services, crime and auto categories.
- Cybersecurity for Small Business — Federal Trade Commission. Supplier risk, response planning and cyber-insurance buyer questions. Educational guidance, not policy wording.
FTC supplier and cyber-policy buyer questions.
- Cyber Insurance — Federal Trade Commission (content developed with NAIC and federal partners). First-party coverage, lines 46–77; third-party coverage, lines 78–102. Examples are not a promise for any policy.
FTC cyber first-party and third-party examples.
- Commercial Insurance Guide — California Department of Insurance. Revised June 14, 2024; commercial property, inland marine, boiler and machinery/equipment breakdown, commercial general liability, commercial auto, umbrella, and workers compensation. California-focused guidance; confirm other jurisdictions and actual policy wording.
Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this guide and works in the commercial insurance market. This is general buyer education; policy terms and state-specific obligations determine coverage and requirements.
Updated 2026-09-28. Editorial Policy
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.
