The trucking industry is quite challenging. Every day, truck drivers put a lot of time behind the wheel as they transport some pretty large and significant items. The work also comes with a lot of pressure and responsibility.
Non-trucking liability insurance is one requirement that makes the job easier for truckers.
You might, however, still have some concerns regarding the cost of non-trucking liability coverage as a business owner or a driver. We will go over all the essential information you need to be aware of before buying non-trucking liability insurance in this article.
- How much does non-trucking liability (NTL) insurance cost?
- Factors affecting non-trucking liability insurance cost
- How to reduce the cost of non-trucking liability insurance?
- What does non-trucking liability insurance cover?
- Why is non-trucking liability insurance important?
- How is bobtail insurance different from non-trucking insurance?
- Non-trucking liability vs. bobtail: Which one should you choose?
- Best non-trucking liability insurance companies
How much does non-trucking liability (NTL) insurance cost?
Unlike regular trucking insurance, non-trucking liability insurance premiums are very affordable. Non-trucking liability insurance typically costs between $24 and $52 per month.
Non-trucking liability insurance is frequently combined with physical damage coverage for truckers. The cost to combine NTL and physical damage coverages is typically between $1,500 and $3,500 per year. Learn more at the best bobtail and physical damage insurance companies.
This is just the average. Be sure to shop around with a few companies or work with a broker like Simply Business to compare several quotes to choose the cheapest one for you.
However, the price of the premium can vary depending on the insurer and other factors that we are discussing below.
Factors affecting non-trucking liability insurance cost
The price of non-trucking liability insurance will vary depending on variables such as business location, truck model, and driver history. Depending on the level of coverage you want, you might have to spend significantly more or less than the national average.
Truck driver’s age
Due to higher levels of risk, insurance for drivers under 25 is typically more expensive. On the other hand, older drivers may also pay a higher premium for coverage.
Years in business
A trucking company that has been around for a while will have access to more affordable non-trucking liability insurance rates.
Driving history
Your driving history is a function of how long you have had a Commercial Driving License (CDL) and the number of infractions you have had.
Even if you’ve had a Commercial Driving License (CDL) for 20 years, if you just got one major infraction, you can be in a high-risk class.
Therefore, drivers with a history of speeding citations and other infractions will have higher insurance costs. Similarly, truck drivers that have had CDL for only s short while will have higher insurance costs.
Truck type and model
Your insurance prices may be affected by the size of your trailer, the kind of rig it is, and the age of your truck. Heavier trucks are more powerful and, therefore, more expensive to insure than lighter, more maneuverable vehicles.
Your truck may grow riskier as it ages, owing to mechanical breakdowns. Additionally, longer trucks are more difficult to steer.
Because insurance premiums depend on risk variables, your truck may cost more for non-trucking liability insurance based on these variables.
Driving frequency
Your insurance costs will be impacted by how frequently you use your truck for personal purposes. The likelihood that the insurance provider may have to make an accident payout increases the more often you drive for personal reasons.
Credit score
Your insurance prices will probably be lower the higher your credit score. However, insurance firms don’t just look at your credit score when determining how hazardous a customer you could be to insure. It is combined with other elements, including your age, claim history, and driving record.
Deductible
The sum you must pay out-of-pocket before your insurance coverage begins is your deductible. Generally, your insurance premium will be lower if you choose a high deductible.
Coverage limits
Your policy limitations, or the most the insurance provider will pay out on a claim, will play a significant role in determining how much your monthly expenses will be. For truckers who require a federal filing, the FMCSA sets a minimum liability limit of $1,000,000 CSL or $750,000 CSL. (The combined single limit, or CSL, is the most your insurance provider will shell out for any given incident.)
Claims history
Your claims history reveals a lot about you. Insurers typically see drivers with few claims as cautious drivers. Therefore, they tend to give them lesser insurance premiums. Others drivers with many claims are regarded as dangerous drivers. Your insurance prices may increase depending on how many claims you’ve made in the past.
How to reduce the cost of non-trucking liability insurance
If you find the price of non-trucking liability insurance a little too expensive, there are a few things you can do. Although these steps will not remove the entire cost, they can help you achieve significant discounts.
Have a working safety policy
Some insurance providers may provide discounts if your company works hard to reduce risks. Some safety measures include dashboard cameras, accident mitigation features, blind-spot warning systems, etc. You can also have safe driving training for your drivers to reduce accidents.
Employ the right drivers
Insurers prefer drivers with more years of experience with their commercial driver’s licenses. So, to reduce your quotes, ensure your drivers are older than 25 with at least 3 to 5 years of experience with CDLs. Also, drivers above 60 may attract higher premiums, so you may want to avoid them.
Avoid using business trucks for personal use
Your non-trucking liability is issued on the assumption that you will need it when you use the truck for personal reasons. So, if you use the truck for more business purposes rather than personal reasons, your chances of getting a claim will reduce, ultimately reducing your premium costs.
Choose the correct coverage limit:
Your coverage limit determines to a large extent, determines the amount you will pay for insurance. Therefore, you should choose coverage limits that you can afford. Also, ensure that you pick a coverage limit that will give you enough money to cover issues if a covered peril occurs.
Speak with agents
Some insurance agents can help you find the right policy that suits your budget. They will request your information and suggest the right companies to you.
Compare quotes from different insurers
Not all insurers will offer you the same price for NTL insurance. Some insurers may offer prices that are too high, while some will offer ridiculously low prices.
Don’t immediately choose the lowest price whenever you have options. Ideally, you want a company that offers the best price and utility.
Ask for discounts
Some insurers may offer you discounts for buying from them. So, when purchasing NLT, ask about discounts and whether you might be eligible for them.
Buy policy bundles
Some insurers offer NLT insurance and other policies like bobtail and basic liability insurance. To encourage customers, they usually offer such policy bundles at discounted rates. So, if you need multiple policies, consider buying all from the same insurer for better prices.
What does non-trucking liability insurance cover?
Truckers who use their truck for non-business purposes can purchase non-trucking liability insurance. When you’re not on dispatch, non-trucking liability Insurance protects your tractor and trailer. The policy allows you to use your truck while you are off duty for personal reasons without worrying about a thing.
Why is non-trucking liability insurance important?
You, your trucking company, and your drivers are all protected by non-trucking liability insurance in the following ways:
- Non-trucking liability insurance will cover the cost of your legal representation and any damages you owe if you are sued, whether it is legitimate or unjustified.
- Liability insurance will pay for damage you cause to other people but not to your own vehicle.
How is bobtail insurance different from non-trucking insurance?
It is erroneous to refer to non-trucking liability insurance as bobtail insurance. The distinction between bobtail and non-trucking liability must be kept in mind.
In the event of an accident, while the driver is not operating the truck for commercial purposes, non-trucking liability coverage will pay for property damage and bodily injuries. The coverage is often in the form of an endorsement on a commercial insurance policy and can be used with or without a trailer.
Bobtail insurance, on the other hand, is comparable to non-trucking liability and protects the truck driver when driving without a trailer, ie. bobtailing.
Learn more at the best bobtail insurance companies
Non-trucking liability vs. bobtail: Which one should you choose?
Even though bobtail and non-trucking liability insurance policies are similar, they are not options you can choose from.
When a truck, tractor, or similar power unit delivers another load without a trailer hitched, bobtail liability applies if any third parties suffer physical harm or property damage. So, if the truck was operating intrastate or interstate without a trailer, bobtail insurance can cover damages.
Non-trucking liability, however, applies when a truck damages or injures third parties while being utilized by the driver to do personal errands. Non-trucking liability is different from bobtail insurance in that it doesn’t care if a trailer is attached or not.
If you only have bobtail insurance, your insurance provider won’t cover you if you get into an accident when using a vehicle to pick up your kids from school, go grocery shopping, visit your favorite electronics store nearby, etc.
On the other hand, if you simply have non-trucking liability insurance, the insurance provider cannot assist you if you damage property while picking up products in your truck without a trailer.
The best course of action is to get both policies to cover the safety gaps that they might have. With both policies, the exclusions in non-trucking liability insurance will be handled by bobtail liability insurance and vice versa.
Since it’s usual for independent, big rig drivers to operate 18-wheelers without trailers while still being under dispatch, trucking companies typically require them to get Bobtail insurance.
Even though non-trucking liability insurance is less frequent, most commercial motor carriers still need coverage since independent semi-operators sometimes use their big trucks for non-business purposes.
In general, bobtail insurance offers more comprehensive coverage than a non-trucking liability and is typically more expensive. The $1 million maximum is the most popular level of coverage; however, you can get higher coverage if you want it. Depending on your coverage, your cost will vary, but you should budget more for bobtail coverage than non-trucking liability insurance.
Learn more at bobtail vs. non-trucking liability insurance: Which one do you need?
Best non-trucking liability insurance companies
Many insurance companies offer NTL coverage. We have researched and here are the top non-trucking liability companies that we recommend:
- Progressive: Best Overall and for several good discount programs
- biBERK: Best for low-cost coverage
- Simply Business: Best for comparing several quotes
- THREE: Best for comprehensive non-trucking liability insurance coverage
