Maryland Commercial Auto Insurance
Customizable coverage options for your business vehicles
Protect your business vehicles with a Maryland business auto insurance policy
Many of Maryland’s 604,000 small businesses need commercial auto insurance to safeguard their livelihood from the accidents and mishaps involving their business vehicles. Commercial vehicles are typically exposed to more risk than personal autos and often require specific coverages and limits that aren’t usually supported by a personal auto policy.
Over 750,000 small business owners across the nation trust us to protect their work vehicles and livelihoods. Each gets customized coverage to match their unique needs whether they run a technology company in Rockville or a manufacturing business in Baltimore.
Commercial auto coverage for a variety of business types:
Business Auto
Vehicles driven by employees or used for business activities, such as visiting clients or making deliveries, usually need commercial auto insurance. Personal auto insurance usually doesn’t cover vehicles used for work purposes.
Contractors
Contractors need commercial auto coverage for things like transporting various tools and supplies and traveling between job sites. These are business-related activities that need the additional protection of a commercial policy.
Food Truck
Food trucks and other food service businesses like restaurants and ice cream vendors depend on their commercial vehicles. Most food trucks have expensive equipment attached to them that a commercial auto policy can cover.
For-Hire Livery
Any vehicle used to transport people for a fee must be insured by a commercial auto policy. This includes taxis, limousines, and non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) vehicles. Some ridesharing vehicles might require commercial coverage.
Heavy Truck
We’re the #1 truck insurer in the nation*, insuring everything from dump trucks to tractor trailers. Our network of truck repair shops and specialty claims services is accessible whether you’re driving locally or outside of Maryland.
Tow Truck
We offer protection whether you own a wrecker, rollback or roadside repair vehicle. You can add specialty tow coverages like On-hook and Garagekeepers Legal Liability to protect you when a customer’s vehicle is in your possession.
Maryland commercial auto insurance cost
Several factors affect the cost of your Maryland commercial auto policy, including your:
Profession
Some industries have more risk than others. A painter who carries tools and equipment to various job sites every day can expect to pay more than an accountant who runs occasional errands.
Vehicle
Your vehicle’s size and use affect your rate. A heavy food truck with a grill and a deep fryer will likely have a higher premium than a small bakery delivery van with minimal equipment.
Driving history
Your commercial auto insurance carrier will run a motor vehicle report on all drivers with access to your business vehicles. Drivers with accidents or violations on their driving record will usually cause your rate to increase. You can expect your insurance company to take the past three years of driving history into account.
Location
It’s common to pay more for commercial auto coverage in a large city like Baltimore than a smaller city like Gaithersburg. Keep in mind, prices are usually higher in locations that experience more claims or more expensive settlements than other locations. Areas susceptible to weather-related events such as hurricanes and floods are also factors.
Travel radius
The distance you routinely travel can influence your commercial auto rate. A vehicle with a local route within Baltimore’s city limits is considered lower risk than a vehicle with a regional route that covers all of Central Maryland.
Coverage needs
The amount of coverage you need affects your premium. Policyholders with the Maryland state minimum limits of 30/60/15 will pay less than a policyholder needing a combined single limit of $1M.
Did you know?
Maryland’s state minimum liability limit 30/60/15 is called a split limit. It separates, or “splits”, the dollar amounts payable by your insurer for bodily injury and property damage into three groups. By choosing Maryland’s state minimum limits, your policy will pay up to:
- $30,000 for each person injured in an accident
- $60,000 for all people injured in an accident
- $15,000 for all property damaged in an accident
Learn more about liability coverage.
Discover ways to save on your commercial auto insurance.
Maryland commercial auto insurance requirements
Maryland state law requires all commercial auto policies to have a minimum liability limit of $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident for bodily injury and $15,000 for property damage (i.e. 30/60/15). Some policies are required to carry higher limits based on the types of vehicles they insure.
It's required that all commercial vehicles have uninsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM). In Maryland, this coverage helps pay for the medical expenses that result from injuries caused by both uninsured and underinsured drivers and hit-and-run situations.
It’s important to select limits that are best for your business in addition to what’s required by Maryland state law. Lacking the right amount of protection for your unique risk could leave you responsible for financial debts that might be difficult to handle on your own.
Maryland commercial auto resources:
- Consumer’s Guide to Auto Insurance (Maryland Insurance Administration)
- Motor Carrier Insurance Requirements (DOT Operating Authority)
Common professions that need commercial auto insurance in MD:
- Food trucks
- Caterers
- Cleaning services
- Wholesalers
- Consultants
- Contractors
- Snow plow services
- Event planners
- Dry cleaners
- Rideshare
Browse more examples of professions we insure.
Get Maryland commercial auto insurance with Progressive
We’re the #1 commercial auto insurer* in the country, insuring over 1.5 million commercial vehicles. Here’s a few of the many reasons small business owners trust us:
24/7 policy service by phone or online
We understand you might need help outside of regular business hours whether you need to adjust your coverages, request an insurance certificate or pay a bill.
Specialized commercial claims adjusters
Our in-house adjusters are specialized in handling commercial auto claims to help you get back on the road fast after an accident.
Discounts
Save up to 15% by paying your policy in full and take advantage of our other commercial discounts† to get the best rate for your Maryland policy.
Business insurance options
In addition to commercial auto insurance, we can help you find other business coverages including general liability, professional liability, workers’ compensation and more.
Commercial auto insurance anywhere in Maryland
We offer Maryland commercial auto insurance statewide including these major cities:
- Baltimore
- Germantown
- Waldorf
- Glen Burnie
- Gaithersburg
- Columbia
- Silver Spring
- Ellicott City
- Frederick
- Rockville
More information
* No. 1 truck and commercial auto insurer from SNL Financial's 2019 national written premium data. Truck is classified as all For Hire Specialty (FHS) vehicles, all For Hire Transportation (FHT) vehicles, and all vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) greater than 16k for Tow, Contractors, and Business Auto.
†Discounts vary and may not be available in all states and situations.