For contractors, service companies and other businesses that spend their days on the road, the company truck or van has become something of a rolling office. New survey data highlights just how costly it can be when that office is involved in an accident.
According to Pie Insurance's 2025 State of Workplace Safety Report, 42% of surveyed businesses with commercial vehicles reported an auto-related incident during the previous year. The average reported out-of-pocket cost was $5,725 per commercial auto accident. The findings were based on a YouGov survey of 1,018 U.S. small-business owners and decision-makers at companies with between two and 500 employees.
Inter Insurance Agency says the findings provide a timely reminder for business owners to review how the vehicles they rely on every day are insured.
"For many small businesses, the work truck isn't just a way to get from one place to another. It's essentially a rolling office," said Tim Derham of Inter Insurance Agency. "When that vehicle is damaged or involved in an accident, you're potentially dealing with much more than a repair. You may be dealing with interrupted jobs, lost working time and liability exposure."
Commercial auto insurance is designed to protect vehicles used for business purposes, including company cars, vans and pickup trucks. Depending on the policy, coverage may include liability, collision, comprehensive and uninsured or underinsured motorist protection. Liability coverage can help protect a business following a covered accident involving bodily injury or property damage. Collision coverage can help cover damage to the insured vehicle following a covered accident, while comprehensive coverage can provide protection against certain non-collision losses such as theft, vandalism and weather-related damage. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can offer additional protection when another driver lacks adequate insurance.
For contractors, plumbers, electricians, landscapers, delivery companies and other mobile businesses, vehicles may be in use throughout the working day and can be essential to completing jobs and serving customers. The high rate of incidents and associated costs emphasize the financial risk these businesses face if they are underinsured.
Inter Insurance Agency recommends that businesses periodically review their commercial auto policies, particularly when adding vehicles, hiring employees who will drive for the company or changing how existing vehicles are used. "The important question is whether the coverage you purchased still reflects the business you're operating today," Derham said. "A business can change significantly in a year, and its insurance should keep pace."
The 2025 State of Workplace Safety Report was commissioned by Pie Insurance and conducted by YouGov PLC. The survey included 1,018 U.S. small-business owners and decision-makers responsible for commercial insurance and/or workers' compensation coverage and was fielded January 9-18, 2025.
These findings serve as a wake-up call for small businesses to assess their commercial auto insurance needs and ensure they have adequate protection against the financial consequences of accidents.
