Commercial vehicles are generally any types of vehicles used for business purposes. They make up a wide variety and range of vehicles, each used for a different purpose and having completely different specifications. Certain vehicles such as company cars can be regular sedans used for work, while other vehicles can be specially designed, such as trucks for carrying containers. Whatever the needs of your business are, you most likely need to purchase a company automotive. Here are some things that you need to know about how owning a commercial vehicle is different from owning your regular old personal car.
1. Getting insurance is different.
Getting insurance for your commercial vehicle is different from getting regular insurance. In North Carolina, getting commercial car insurance usually costs more than private car insurance. Generally, you are good to drive a personal vehicle as long as you have liability insurance. But with commercial vehicles, you should have other types of insurance as well. Key among these is personal damage or medical insurance, as well as cargo insurance. Your company will have to provide medical coverage for any employees driving the company vehicle. This will raise the price of your insurance.
If you are using the vehicle for moving goods, then you will have to get cargo insurance to cover the goods in case there is an accident or something goes wrong. It is possible to get all of these types of insurance together under a comprehensive coverage plan. You should always ensure that you are getting your insurance from a well-known company that specializes in commercial vehicle insurance.
2. You need to get serious about evidence.
Commercial vehicles can incur thousands of dollars in damages if they ever get into an accident. To make sure that you get full payouts from insurance, you need to always have solid evidence when there has been an accident. Most of the time, unscrupulous companies can purposefully get into accidents to claim insurance money.
To avoid any complications, always install cameras in your vehicle to record every interaction. Keep thorough records of all the cargo that you are loading into vehicles. Commercial vehicles are often targeted by other cars on the road to get insurance settlements. You need to be more careful about recordkeeping and road safety when owning a commercial car.
3. You will face regular safety inspections.
Commercial vehicles are subject to a lot more stringent compliance steps than personal vehicles. Always be well-versed in local legislation to avoid incurring penalties. Your vehicle may be subject to emissions guidelines and special safety inspections, for which regular maintenance and upkeep are necessary.
When we use personal cars, we sometimes skip on fringe services and shoulder a lot of the risk ourselves. The important thing to remember about owning a commercial vehicle is that saving money is not everything. Although getting a good rate is important, you should never forego important coverage options just to save money. Remember that a commercial vehicle accident can cost your company a lot, so it is always best to be extra cautious.
