Occasionally, when an old truck is no longer useful to a business owner, they will sell it to a private individual. There are various reasons you might consider purchasing a one-time commercial vehicle for personal use. For example, it’s much easier to move with a truck, and what is a moving truck rental but a box truck?
Farmers sometimes purchase used commercial vehicles for use around the farm. Dump trucks for hauling dirt, big rigs for hauling feed, hay, or shavings, and box trucks for taking produce to the farmer’s market are all examples of new uses for old commercial vehicles. If you’ve purchased a commercial vehicle like a box truck for personal use, it’s your responsibility to insure it.
You might wonder how you get box truck insurance for personal use. Do you need a special policy? Can you put your box truck on your regular insurance? The answer is that it depends on how you use the truck. This article will discuss how to get the right box truck insurance for personal use.
- What kind of insurance do I need if I drive a box truck for personal use?
- Will box truck insurance for personal use be more expensive?
- How much does box truck insurance for personal use cost?
- Shopping for the best box truck insurance for personal use
- Best box truck insurance companies
What kind of insurance do I need if I drive a box truck for personal use?
Regardless of how you use your vehicles, you need insurance. Most states require at least trucking primary liability insurance. The question then becomes how to know if you are purchasing the correct box truck insurance for personal use. It’s always a good idea to discuss insurance coverage needs with a licensed insurance professional, but here are the things we’ve learned about box truck insurance for personal use.
These factors are a consideration when choosing a personal automotive policy or a commercial policy.
- Who will be driving the vehicle? If it’s just you, or perhaps you and your spouse, you might be able to purchase a personal auto insurance policy. However, there are other factors to consider.
- If you use the box truck for any kind of business venture—anything that makes money—you need a commercial policy. Your insurance agent can help you determine if your particular use is considered business use.
- The size of the vehicle may mean you need higher liability limits than a personal policy provides. This will require your box truck insurance for personal use to be a commercial policy.
- Many insurance companies will not insure anything larger than a large SUV with a personal insurance policy. So, it’s possible that if you’ve purchased a box truck for personal use, you’ll need to buy commercial insurance to cover it.
These are some factors that help determine if you need to purchase commercial or private insurance. As a side note, you might need a special endorsement on your driver’s license to drive a box truck, depending on its size. Your local DMV should be able to tell you if you need a specialized license; if the truck is large enough that you need a specialized license, you can expect to need commercial truck insurance.
Will box truck insurance for personal use be more expensive?
Honestly, trucks can sometimes be more expensive to insure. The cost depends on multiple factors, including the company you choose to use for your insurance coverage. How you plan to use the truck is also a factor. If you plan to use it strictly for personal errands, you might be able to purchase a private automobile insurance policy; however, if you use the truck for any kind of business endeavor, you will need to buy a commercial truck insurance policy.
Something else to consider is that some trucks must have higher liability limits by law. That is often based on the size of the truck. If your box truck is large enough to require higher liability limits, then you will need a commercial box truck insurance policy.
Commercial insurance policies typically have higher coverage limits than personal insurance policies. These higher limits tend to translate to higher premiums. However, the age of the vehicle you have purchased is a factor in price as well. If the vehicle is older, it can be less expensive to insure than a newer vehicle.
How much does box truck insurance for personal use cost?
It is hard to say because it depends on several factors. However, it should be cheaper than box truck insurance cost for commercial use, which is around $1,000-$2,000 per month. Learn more at how much box truck insurance costs.
If you use the box truck completely for personal uses, it should be more expensive yet closer to your personal auto insurance cost. If you use the box truck for both personal use and some commercial use, its cost should be less than the commercial box truck insurance cost, closer to it than to your personal auto insurance.
Regardless, you should always shop around with a few companies or work with a broker like Simply Business, CoverWallet, commercialinsurance.net, or Smart Financial to compare several quotes to find the cheapest one for you.
Shopping for the best box truck insurance for personal use
The steps for finding the best box truck insurance for personal use are no different than finding insurance for any private vehicle. There are ways to ensure the best rates possible. Here are the basics:
Know what is required in your state
Typically, you will be required to have at minimum a liability policy unless you had to get the vehicle financed. Different states require different minimum coverages. If you drive your box truck for commercial purpose across states, you will need to have minimum coverages required by the federal agency. Learn more at the commercial truck insurance requirements.
Start with speaking to your current insurance company
It’s important to note that some personal auto insurance companies will not insure vehicles that were initially slated for commercial use. If you personal auto insurance also insures commercial uses like Progressive, you can get their advice on how to get coverage for your box truck. If they don’t insure commercial vehicles, you need to find a commercial truck insurance company. Learn more at the best commercial truck insurance companies.
Shop for the best possible rates
Comparing several quotes is the best way to find the cheapest one for you. One way to do that is by using an online broker like Simply Business, CoverWallet, commercialinsurance.net, or Smart Financial to compare rates between multiple companies at once. Just make sure that you compare the same kinds of coverage between companies.
Ask about discounts
Many insurance companies will offer discounts for different things. For example, Progressive advertises discounts for bundling policies. Ask for any discount programs that insurance companies offer and see if you can be eligible for any of them.
Setting your deductibles higher could help your premiums remain lower
The deductible is the portion you pay out of pocket should you have an accident, and if you are willing to pay more in that instance, you may save money on the front end.
Speaking to a licensed insurance agent will help you determine how to find the best, most affordable box truck insurance for personal use.
Best box truck insurance companies
If you drive a box truck for some personal purposes and some commercial purposes, you must have a commercial truck insurance policy for your box truck. Many insurance companies offer box truck insurance. Here are the best 6 companies that we recommend.
- Progressive: Best for discounted coverage
- Commercialinsurance.net: Best if you want to work with knowledgeable experts for your own situation
- CoverWallet: Best for comparing quotes from multiple providers
- Acuity: Best overall cheap box truck insurance company
- The Hartford: Best for box truck operators looking for a sound and ethical insurer
- State Farm: Best for customer satisfaction and quick claims resolution
The bottom line
Several factors determine whether you need to purchase commercial or personal insurance policies and insurance policy costs. When you buy a box truck for personal use, you will need to purchase insurance coverage for that truck. Depending on the size, you might need a specialized license to operate the truck. Talking to the DMV and your local insurance agent are advised to know for sure how you need to proceed.
When talking about the best box truck insurance for personal use, you’ll want to consider how you plan to use the truck, the size of the truck, the types of insurance coverage you need, and the cost of the policy. Speaking with a licensed insurance agent can help you determine which policy you should purchase.
