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Are you a trucker or a truck owner? If yes, then have you considered getting bobtail insurance?
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 248 fatal truck crashes and 2,534 accidents happened involving bobtail trucks in 2020. This data provides evidence that bobtailing can be as dangerous when the truck is loaded. Since it’s dangerous and also a legal requirement in many states, bobtail insurance coverage is important to have.
On this page we will cover bobtail insurance, help you understand it better, what it covers and in which situations, learn about bobtail insurance cost, answer some burning questions about it, review some of the best companies that are offering it, examine the differences between commercial truck bobtail insurance and non trucking liability insurance.
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Bobtail insurance coverage is a type of liability business insurance that accounts for risks when driving trailer trucks not equipped with a trailer. Policies of this insurance apply when the driver gets involved in circumstances resulting in property damage or personal injury.
You can opt to get bobtail insurance for yourself. But before doing so, we suggest asking the benefits broker or HR because your company is obliged to get bobtail insurance for their drivers.
In addition, bobtail insurance and semi-truck insurance policy offers more comprehensive coverage. As the name implies, this policy doesn’t only apply to trucks but semi-trucks as well running in bobtail.
Commonly, bobtail insurance only applies to freighter trucks. However, we’ve also seen some customers enjoying this policy’s coverage on their farm tractors, commercial tractors, food trucks, dump trucks, and even skid steers .
Trucker’s insurance is also another insurance that’s awarded to drivers. If you have this, you might be assuming that having a bobtail insurance policy is redundant or useless. Know that this isn’t the case. Trucker’s liability insurance only covers unfavorable circumstances resulting from activities not directly related to driving a truck.
If you can’t understand what we mean, then think of things this way: bobtail insurance is only for driving-related accidents while the truck is running in bobtail, while truckers liability insurance is only for accidents caused by the driver doing something not business related to the parent company with his truck.
So how much does bobtail insurance cost? Bobtail insurance cost is about $30 per month or $360 a year on average for up to $1 million dollar coverage limit. Of course, as always, bobtail truck insurance cost may vary from one business to another, so this has to be kept in mind.
However, this is just a generalized view of the actual pricing in the market. Different risk factors affect the cost of bobtail liability insurance, these can be factors like driving history, coverage limits, the extent of trailer-less use during the contracting process, business size, years in business, annual revenues, location, number of trucks owned and operated by the business, claims history, drivers history, number of employees, and so much more. These risk factors are taken into consideration by commercial insurers when determining your bobtail liability insurance quotes.
So how do you save premiums for bobtail insurance? What we recommend you to do is to bundle policies, ensure that the truck is in perfect condition, and maintain a clean driving record. Through these methods, you can enjoy discounts that will make premiums cheaper.
Comparing quotes might help you save money for premiums too and find the cheapest bobtail insurance and best bobtail insurance coverage. With this method, you can find the policy that fits the characteristics of your business, so that you don’t spend money on something that provides too much or too little coverage. Start comparing using our website’s quote comparison tool, all you have to do is click the “Get Quotes” button.
Aside from bobtail insurance, a non-trucking liability insurance is another policy you need to avail for commercial truck . What this insurance does for you is that it covers for accidents when the truck is used by the driver for personal purposes. Refer to the checklist below to see how non-trucking liability insurance works.
Non-trucking liability insurance covers financial loss that may be caused by damages to third parties, be it an individual or a business. But non trucking insurance coverage is only applicable when driving for personal matters rather than commercial purposes.
What does non-trucking insurance pay for? First of all,it will pay for damages caused by a truck. Second, it will pay for your medical fees if you turn out injured. Finally, it will account for auto repair costs involved.
Since non-trucking liability insurance doesn’t cover damages when the truck is used for business purposes, companies don’t offer this to their drivers. And so, if you’re a driver, you will have to avail of this insurance on your own accord.
What does non-trucking insurance pay for? First of all, it will pay for damages caused by a truck. Second, it will pay for your medical fees if you turn out injured. Finally, it will account for the auto-repair costs for the truck if it was damaged also.
Related: Hot Shot Insurance for Trucking: Cost & Quotes From $11
Here’s a table that shows the different costs of non-trucking liability insurance according to numerous websites:
| Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|
| $29 | $348 |
| $40 | $480 |
| $50 | $600 |
| $87 | $1,044 |
| $99 | $1,188 |
Click ‘Get Quotes’ on this page to compare non-trucking liability insurance quotes and cheap bobtail insurance quotes that will best fit your commercial needs from top business insurers and have your back (or bobtail.) covered from financial uncertainties!
Having bobtail physical damage insurance will provide you a complete coverage not only for property damage, but also for any physical damage. Combining both a bobtail policy and physical damage insurance can also help pay the damage caused to another person by your truck. You could be spending thousands of dollars in the event of a faultless accident without auto repair expenses. This helps you so that you do not have to deal with insane damage costs if an accident occurs.
Physical damage is a term used for specific commercial auto insurance coverages that will protect your vehicle with collision, comprehensive insurance, and events like fire or robbery with combined additional coverage.
Bobtail and physical damage insurance are essential because you never know when your truck might cause bodily injuries. If you’re a driver, a reckless driver might collide with you no matter how carefully you drive. If you’re an owner, you never know when a vehicle malfunctions and rams a vehicle.
Trucking Liability Insurance does not cover your own vehicle’s damages. It does not protect you in case of fire, burglary, vandalism and other events that involve your truck. Even your trailer or freight damages will not be covered.
Trucking Liability Insurance generally applies a “scheduled vehicle” approach. It means that each truck that is operated under your authority should be scheduled or listed on the insurance policy for a specific time frame. If your vehicle is not on schedule, then the insurance company will not provide any coverage for your vehicle.
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However, with deadhead, the trailer is still on, only empty from any cargo. In contrast, with a bobtail, the trailer isn’t attached to the truck. Therefore, deadhead= with trailer but empty as goods are delivered, bobtail = no trailer attached as goods are delivered.
Deadhead insurance and bobtail insurance go hand in hand. Therefore, businesses shouldn’t opt to take one without the other.
Owner-operator bobtail insurance is essential, and it is advisable to consult with your carrier the leasing agreement to determine the type of coverage you should maintain. Remember to understand bobtail liability and make sure to get the right commercial bobtail liability insurance to avoid unexpected costs.
Also read: Freight Broker Insurance: Cost & Quotes from $5
Deadhead insurance is much like bobtailing in a way, since with both bobtail insurance and deadhead insurance the cargo has been delivered to its destination.
However, with deadhead, the trailer is still on, only empty from any cargo . In contrast, with a bobtail, the trailer isn’t attached to the truck. Therefore, deadhead= with trailer but empty as goods are delivered; bobtail = no trailer attached as goods are delivered.
Deadhead insurance and bobtail insurance go hand in hand. Therefore, businesses shouldn’t opt to take one without the other.
Also read: Unladen Insurance: Liability Cost & Quotes From $11
There are many bobtail insurance companies that can provide you with top-quality coverage proven by their excellent reviews from policyholders. To get excellent commercial bobtail insurance near you, compare bobtail insurance quotes online, by clicking one of the ‘Get Quotes’ buttons at this page, and get quotes from our best bobtail insurance companies, as well as other leading bobtail insurance providers, so we can find you the bobtail insurance policy that best fits your commercial needs, expectations and budget!
Here are the best bobtail insurance companies as per our research:
GEICO is considered to be the second-largest auto insurance company in the state. They are widely known for the low rates to the customers either online or over the phone. Suppose you are searching for an affordable auto insurance policy and are willing to manage your accounts online. This Company is for you.
Geico offers a discount for tracking your driving over the phone through the DriveEasy app, which can measure speeding, hard braking, and use of the phone while driving. It is the best feature for the owners when their trucks are on dispatch by the operators.
There are common complaints with the insurance claims and above-average customer satisfaction with a rating of 5/5 stars. Their website and mobile app are reviewed to be very useful. However, some coverages are limitedly available through partners and reviewed not to offer gap insurance with a limited local agents network.
Our Rating: 5/5
Progressive bobtail insurance is offered among various protections, including motor truck cargo, total liability for motor trucks, non-trucking insurance, downtime rental reimbursements, trailer interchange, etc. There are also over 30 different commercial truck insurance policies to ensure that you are most satisfied.
There are several benefits to progressive bobtail insurance. These include multiple sorts of discounts, the types of insured vehicles vary, and the company provides other kinds of coverages outside of the basics. You can also change your deductibles so that your policy is even more flexible and tailored to your current needs.
Progressive does not protect double-decker buses, emergency vehicles, military vehicles, non-licensed road vehicles, and monster trucks. There are also several different types of commercial vehicles that are not covered.
Progressive has one of the highest reputations among customers when it comes to bobtail insurance as well. It is a main reason why we have ranked it as the #1 best bobtail insurance company along with GEICO.
Our Rating: 5/5
TrueNorth is an Iowa based insurance agency and financial services firm that was founded in 2001 and has over 10 locations in America – and expanding. The best thing about TrueNorth is that they have a huge department that is solely dedicated to bobtail insurance. They also offer excellent rates.
Our Rating: 4.75/5
1st Guard insurance is a Florida based commercial insurer that is solely focused on commercial truck insurance products for owner-operators. It offers non-trucking liability, physical damage insurance, occupational accident and fleet insurance plans. First Guard Insurance has great reputation among truckers in regards to its bobtail insurance and non trucking liability, as well as other commercial truck insurance policies and coverage options. Their non trucking liability coverage has your back financially when your truck is used for private or some other non-commercial reason. It covers owner-operators that are permanently leased with existing trucking liability coverage, yet ask for coverage beyond the limits of the lease arrangement. 1st Guard’s claim experience is very good among its policyholders as well and they seem to be very reliable.
Average cost per month: $60/month
Our Rating: 5/5
State Farm Bobtail Insurance earned an overall 4.5 stars out of 5. The Company is commended for its bobtail policy pricing and discounts, smoothness of every transaction, ease of filing claims, website transparency, and financial strength. State farm bobtail insurance offers accident-free deals, driver’s safety course discounts, vehicle safety discounts, etc.
There are pros for availing state farm bobtail insurance, such as the numerous discounts for different programs such as safe driving. They give great rental and travel expenses coverage and are among the highest-rated insurance companies by J.D. Power. However, there are average ratings for car insurance and insurance claims from the customers.
Our Rating: 4.5/5
There are different forms of truck insurance coverage, and OOIDA has them. The forms of insurance offered by the Company include primary liability, general commercial liability, cargo for motor vehicles, accident coverage, coverage of physical damages, and there are various optional insurance forms for commercial insurers, which have physical damages insurance.
There are several truck insurance choices, and the OOIDA officers and staff are very familiar with their jobs. Their knowledge about trucking companies makes many drivers more comfortable, trusting OOIDA. You can avail of competitive rates on policies that suit your needs, and there are flexibilities with a vast number of commercial truck insurance options.
Some brokers do not work with OOIDA, as the truck insurance is not listed as AAA. It means you have less access to loads, and for certain people, they do not find this very beneficial for them. Regardless, OOIDA has a very satisfactory rating of 4.1/5 and has gained its trust for commercial insurance plans.
Our Rating: 4.1/5
Thimble insurance is the best option for short term bobtail insurance, with on-demand policies available online tailored to your specific needs starting from just $8 for 3 hours!
No wonder they made it to our list with a 4/5 ranking.
Our Rating: 4/5
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