California Commercial Auto Insurance for Contractors
Coverage for work pickups, dump trucks, trailers and contractor fleets, including drivers and accounts other agents couldn’t place. Licensed broker, multiple markets, Spanish spoken. Call (949) 868-7350.
Who insures contractor trucks in California?
Hard Hat Insurance, the marketing division of Bearstar Insurance Services, partners with specialty insurance carriers to place coverage for California contractors’ work vehicles, from one pickup with a trailer to mixed fleets with dump trucks and equipment haulers. California commercial auto has become one of the hardest lines to place: rates are still rising in 2026 and many carriers have narrowed what they will write, especially trailers, heavier trucks, mixed fleets, new businesses and drivers with tickets or accidents. Licensed broker Jesus Galvan works several commercial auto markets so you are not stuck with one answer. Price depends on your vehicles, how far they travel, where they are garaged, your drivers’ records and your loss history.
California line: (949) 868-7350 · Text or WhatsApp the same number · Se habla español.
What contractor commercial auto covers
A contractor auto policy can include liability for injuries and damage you cause to others, physical damage (collision and comprehensive) for your own trucks, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, medical payments, and hired and non-owned auto for vehicles you rent or that employees drive for work. Trailers, dump bodies and permanently attached equipment should be listed on the policy.
To get the best options, have these ready: a list of vehicles with VINs, each driver’s license number and date of birth, where the trucks are parked at night, how far they usually go, your current policy declarations page and three to five years of loss runs. A clean, complete submission gets more and better quotes.
Commercial Auto Liability
Liability That Matches Your Contracts
Liability pays when one of your vehicles injures someone or damages their property. GCs, cities and commercial customers often require $1M combined single limit and sometimes more, plus wording that protects them.
Higher limits and an umbrella when a contract requires them.
Additional insured and waiver of subrogation when a GC asks for it.
Surety Bonds
Contractor License & Permit Bonds
Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada and Arizona all require a contractor bond to get or keep your license, and many cities require permit bonds. We can often issue bonds the same day, with a quick quote and no long application.
Bad credit programs available.
License, permit and contract bonds.
Your drivers and crew also need workers’ comp, and starting January 1, 2028 every CSLB-licensed contractor must carry it, even with no employees. See California workers’ comp for contractors with no employees. We place auto, workers’ comp, general liability and bonds together so your certificates match.
Pay-as-you-go workers’ comp available.
One broker for your whole account.
Workers' Compensation
What We Cover
Trailers & Heavy Trucks
Dump Trucks, Trailers & Equipment Haulers
Heavier trucks, dump trucks and trailers hauling equipment are where most carriers say no, and where we focus. Trucks over 10,000 lbs used for business may also need a California Motor Carrier Permit from the DMV and a carrier number from the CHP; we’ll help you confirm what your trucks need.
Builders Risk
Builders Risk (Course of Construction)
Protect your project from fire, wind, water damage and theft of materials, all common on job sites. We cover the structure from the ground up until the job is signed off.
Covers materials on-site and in transit.
Required by most lenders for new construction and remodels.
Inland Marine (Tools & Equipment): Covers theft of your generator, compressor and hand tools from the job site or your truck.
Professional Liability: For design-build contractors and construction managers.
Excess Liability (Umbrella): When the standard $1M limit isn’t enough for a big commercial contract.
And More
Hard-to-Place Contractor Auto We Work With
Dump trucks and heavier work trucks: for contractors hauling their own dirt, gravel and debris.
Trailers and equipment hauling: skid steers, mini excavators, compressors and materials.
Drivers with tickets or accidents: we look for carriers that will write the driver instead of excluding them, when possible.
New businesses and new fleets: contractors without prior commercial auto history.
Mixed fleets and prior losses: pickups, vans and trucks on one policy, including accounts with claims.
Employees using their own vehicles: hired and non-owned auto covers your business when someone drives for work.
California line: (949) 868-7350
Jesus Galvan, licensed insurance broker, California License #4291921. Se habla español.
Need Proof of Auto Coverage Today?
Once your policy is in place, we can send certificates of insurance to your GC, city or customer the same day, with additional insured and waiver of subrogation when the contract calls for them. Send us the requirements and we’ll confirm your limits match before you sign.
5 Commercial Auto Gaps That Leave Contractors Exposed
1. A personal policy on a work truck
Personal auto policies often exclude business use. If the truck is used for your contracting work, an accident can be denied.
2. Trailers not listed
Liability usually follows the vehicle doing the towing, but damage to the trailer itself is only covered if the trailer is on the policy.
3. Drivers who aren’t listed or are excluded
If an unlisted or excluded driver has an accident in your truck, the claim can be denied. Keep your driver list current.
4. Tools and equipment in the truck
Commercial auto covers the vehicle, not the tools inside it or the equipment on the trailer. That needs inland marine (tools and equipment) coverage.
5. Employees driving their own cars for work
If an employee causes an accident running a work errand in their own car, your business can be sued. Hired and non-owned auto covers that.
California Contractor Commercial Auto FAQ
Do I need commercial auto if the truck is in my personal name?
Usually yes, if the truck is used for your business. Personal policies often exclude business use, and GCs usually want a commercial auto certificate.
Why is commercial auto so hard to get in California right now?
Claims and repair costs keep rising, so many carriers have cut back on trailers, heavy trucks, mixed fleets and drivers with violations. Working several markets and sending a complete submission is how we find options.
What do I need for a quote?
Vehicle list with VINs, driver license numbers and dates of birth, where the trucks are garaged, how far they travel, your current declarations page and three to five years of loss runs.
Can you insure a driver with tickets or an accident?
Often, yes. Some carriers will rate the driver instead of excluding them. It costs more, but it keeps your crew on the road.
Do trucks over 10,000 lbs need anything special in California?
Trucks over 10,000 lbs used in a business may need a California Motor Carrier Permit and a carrier number from the CHP, and some contracts require higher limits. We’ll help you confirm what applies to your trucks.
Contact
Call
info@hardhatinsurance.net
Hard Hat Insurance is a specialized marketing division of Bearstar Insurance Services.
Insurance services provided by Bearstar Insurance Services.
Jesus Galvan is a licensed insurance broker serving contractors in all 50 states. California License #4291921 · NPN #20617222.
Coverage is placed through Bearstar Insurance Services or partner brokerages and carriers. Availability varies by state.
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