You never know when you or one of your employees might get in an auto accident when driving a company vehicle. According to the Insurance Research Council, one in seven drivers doesn’t carry auto insurance. If your company vehicle is hit by one of those drivers, it could mean substantial costs to your business.
That’s where uninsured motorists (UM) and underinsured motorists (UIM) coverage come in. They often are built into your auto policy, although the coverage requirements vary by state.
Uninsured Motorists coverage (UM) protects you if your vehicle is hit by a driver without auto insurance, or if you’re involved in a hit and run. Your insurance will pay for medical bills and lost wages for you and/or other passengers in the vehicle at the time of the accident, up to your limits.
Underinsured Motorists coverage (UIM) applies when the driver who causes the accident has liability insurance, but the limits aren’t high enough to cover the damages. In this case, the other driver’s insurance would pay first, and your UIM coverage would make up the difference in costs, up to your limits.
So where do you set the limits for UM and UIM? Insurers typically recommend matching the amount of bodily injury liability coverage included on your business auto policy, but you should work with your insurance agent to determine the right amount for you.
It’s important to note that UM and UIM usually don’t cover property damage to your company vehicle. You would need to submit a collision claim to your own policy, and it would be subject to the deductible. However, if available, you can choose to add UM property damage to your business auto policy for an additional premium.
Check your policy and talk to your insurance agent to make sure you have the appropriate coverage for your business.
