Are you an owner operator looking for cheap non-trucking liability insurance? We can help! Get up to 3 fast NTL quotes and compare your options today.
What is Non Trucking Liability Insurance?
Non Trucking Liability Insurance provides coverage for truckers when they are using their truck for non-business purposes. Most owner operators that operate under a permanent lease will need this coverage as it helps close a potential gap in coverage.
Non-Trucking Liability Insurance protects owner-operators when they are commuting, driving to the repair shop, or using their truck for personal use.
Note: Non trucking liability insurance is often confused with Bobtail insurance. Learn the difference here: NTL vs Bobtail
How much does Non Trucking Liability Insurance Cost?
Non Trucking Liability Insurance usually costs $29-$50 per month. It’s one of the more affordable coverages that a trucker may need. Your rate will depend mostly on the insurance company you go with and their underwriting guidelines, but other factors that drive cost are:
- Your Years of CDL experience
- Your driving record (MVR)
- Driver’s location
- Age of Truck
Add Physical Damage Insurance?
Owner-operators that lease on to a Motor Carrier often bundle Non-trucking Liability with physical damage coverage. These two policies are usually enough insurance coverage since the Motor Carrier provides the cargo and primary auto liability policies.
Getting both NTL and Physical Damage for your trucking company as a package will usually range from $1,500-$3,500. The main variable in the price range here depends on the value of your truck and trailer that need to be protected from property damage.
Who needs Non-Trucking Liability Insurance
What types of truckers and situations need non-trucking liability coverage? When you are driving your truck, but not under dispatch, you need this coverage.
- Leased Owner Operators. Let’s say you just bought a new Peterbilt and signed a lease agreement with motor carrier. They handle the primary liability insurance while you are working for them, but you’ll need to purchase additional coverage for when you use your truck outside of work. So, you are showing your girlfriend your new truck and she wants to go for a ride. You take her around town and hit a fire hydrant. Will your motor carrier’s insurance pay for the damage? Nope. This is where non trucking liability kicks in.
- Hot Shots– Since hotshots often use pickup trucks, there is a good possibility that they will be using the truck for non-business purposes, like getting groceries or recreational uses on the weekend.
- Temporary Non Trucking Liability Insurance – Let’s say you just bought a new Kenworth, and are starting your lease agreement in a couple of weeks. You need to be able to drive the truck home from the dealer, so a temp policy would be a good way to get inexpensive business insurance to drive your truck home.
Non-Trucking Liability Insurance Policy Limits and Coverages
Pay close attention to your limits and make sure you are comfortable with them. It’s a good idea to verify with your motor carrier which coverages they require.
A typical non trucking policy will have the following limits:
- NTL Insurance Liability Limits – $1,000,000 (combined single limit)
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist- $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident. This insurance covers bodily injury to a third party
- Third Party Bodily Injury
- Medical Payments / Personal Injury Protection
Common exclusions:
- Any loss resulting from the truck being used for business purposes.
- Any loss incurred while hauling cargo.
What questions to ask Insurance Companies
Because of the confusion with Bobtail Insurance, it is important to ask these questions before you purchase an NTL policy:
- Does this insurance policy meet the requirements of my lease agreement?
- What is your definition of Non-Trucking Liability? What exactly is covered in your policy?
- Do I need bobtail truck insurance or will an NTL policy keep me covered?
- Are their any non-trucking exclusions that I need to be aware of?
- What limits do you offer? Are this limits per claim or policy period?
- Can you also add physical damage on your policy?
- How much can I save by raising the deductible?
- Will this cover me in any situation when I am driving without a trailer?
- What is your claims process like? What is to be expected during a claims investigation and settlement process?
- Is my policy portable between leases?
You Motor Carrier’s Liability Insurance Policy
When does your motor carrier’s liability policy end and your own coverage begin? It’s important to make sure there are no situation where your non trucking insurance policy doesn’t cover you.
Whose trucking liability policy will cover situations where you are driving with a trailer attached, but not carrying a load? What are the definitions of business purposes in both policies? Will you truck ever be used for an activity that is excluded under both polices? It’s important to know what is covered by the motor carrier too.
Leasing agreements are a very popular trucking arrangement and the FMCSA has created a task force to help make sure these deals are equitable for truckers. It makes sense, though, to read the policies thoroughly for yourself.
Some motor carriers have in-house programs to sell non-trucking coverage. You are not required to carry that insurance and are free to shop around, as long as meet the specifics of the lease agreement. We suggest getting that quote, and then getting some additional quotes.
Why 3 NTL Insurance Quotes?
Every agent says that they can shop the market and get you the best truckers insurance. Why then, if you talk to multiple agents, do you get different quotes? It’s because no single agent can shop the whole market.
To get the best deal you should get quotes from 3 different agents so that you can access a wide range of insurance carriers. Comparing options from companies like Progressive, Sentry, Hallmark, Transguard and Great American Insurance Group and more can make sure you are getting the correct coverage and the best price.
Get 3 Quotes Online
We have three of the top commercial trucking insurance agents, licensed in your state, that are ready to give you quotes and compete for your trucking insurance policy. Get started online or give us a call and get a quote today. Compare prices and polices and select the winner. Don’t waste time hunting down three trucking insurance providers that understand the difference between bobtail insurance and non-trucking liability insurance. Let us bring them to you!
