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.
What is Bobtail Insurance?
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.
Related: Motor Carrier Insurance: Cost, Liability & Quotes From $11
Bobtail Insurance Cost
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.
Non-Trucking Liability Insurance
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
Non-Trucking Liability Insurance Cost
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!
