Your Work Vehicle Needs More Than a Personal Auto Policy
If a vehicle moves goods, equipment, or employees for your business, a personal auto policy won't protect you when it matters most. Carlstan Insurance Agency has helped Long Island and New York City businesses get the right commercial auto coverage since 1948 — and we still do it the same way: directly, with agents who know your business.
What Commercial Auto Insurance Covers
A commercial auto policy covers the vehicles your business depends on — for how they're actually used, not how a personal insurer assumes they're used. Core coverage typically includes:
- Liability — bodily injury and property damage you or your employees cause while driving for work
- Collision — damage to your vehicle from an accident, regardless of fault
- Comprehensive — theft, vandalism, weather damage, and other non-collision losses
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist — protection when the other driver isn't adequately covered
- Medical payments — injury costs for you or passengers in your vehicle
- Hired and non-owned auto — coverage when employees use personal or rented vehicles for business purposes
We work with businesses that run one vehicle or several — delivery vans, service trucks, loaner cars, cargo vans, and everything in between. Coverage is built around your actual operation, not a generic template.
New York personal auto policies contain explicit exclusions for vehicles used primarily for business purposes. That means if you're driving a work van, making deliveries, or transporting employees or equipment under a personal policy, a claim can be — and typically is — denied. You won't find out until the worst possible moment.
Commercial vehicle insurance in New York closes that gap entirely. It covers the vehicle for how it's actually being used, not how a personal policy assumes it's being used. If the vehicle is titled to your business, or if it's used regularly for work purposes, a commercial policy isn't optional — it's the only coverage that will actually respond.
Why Personal Auto Coverage Fails Business Owners
We Shop Carriers So You're Not Overpaying
Commercial auto insurance doesn't have to strain a small business budget. As an independent agency, we work with multiple carriers and compare rates based on your vehicle type, business use, and coverage needs — not a single company's pricing structure. Our goal is the right coverage at a rate that makes sense for your operation.
We've been doing this for over 75 years, and our clients deal directly with us — the same agents, every time. No call centers, no handoffs, no starting over when you have a question.
The Carlstan Insurance Agency offers
commercial insurance and
personal insurance to clients across Long Island and New York City. We provide coverage for clients seeking
Suffolk County insurance,
Nassau County insurance,
Queens insurance,
Brooklyn insurance,
Manhattan insurance,
Bronx insurance, and
Staten Island insurance. As an independent agency based in Melville, NY, we have been helping businesses and families find the right coverage since 1948. Ready to get started?
Contact us
for a free quote or call us directly at (516) 437-6565.
What Commercial Auto Insurance Covers
Does my personal auto policy cover my work vehicle?
Not if the vehicle is used primarily for business purposes. New York personal auto policies explicitly exclude business use, which means a claim involving a work vehicle — even a single van — is almost always denied under a personal policy. A commercial auto policy is required to cover the vehicle for how it's actually being used.Not if the vehicle is used primarily for business purposes. New York personal auto policies explicitly exclude business use, which means a claim involving a work vehicle — even a single van — is almost always denied under a personal policy. A commercial auto policy is required to cover the vehicle for how it's actually being used.How much does commercial auto insurance cost for a small business?
For a single work vehicle used by a service business, commercial auto coverage typically runs between $100 and $200 per month. The rate depends on the vehicle type, how it's used, driving history, and the coverage limits you choose. We shop multiple carriers to find competitive pricing for your specific situation.For a single work vehicle used by a service business, commercial auto coverage typically runs between $100 and $200 per month. The rate depends on the vehicle type, how it's used, driving history, and the coverage limits you choose. We shop multiple carriers to find competitive pricing for your specific situation.What's the difference between commercial auto and a Business Owner's Policy?
A Business Owner's Policy covers your business property and general liability, but it does not include vehicle coverage. Commercial auto insurance is a separate policy that covers vehicles owned or used by the business. Many small businesses need both, and we can help you structure them together so there are no gaps.A Business Owner's Policy covers your business property and general liability, but it does not include vehicle coverage. Commercial auto insurance is a separate policy that covers vehicles owned or used by the business. Many small businesses need both, and we can help you structure them together so there are no gaps.Do I need commercial auto insurance if my employees drive their own cars for work?
Yes — hired and non-owned auto coverage addresses exactly this situation. If an employee gets into an accident while driving their personal vehicle on company business, your business can face liability. A commercial auto policy with hired and non-owned coverage closes that exposure.Yes — hired and non-owned auto coverage addresses exactly this situation. If an employee gets into an accident while driving their personal vehicle on company business, your business can face liability. A commercial auto policy with hired and non-owned coverage closes that exposure.Can you cover vehicles that operate in New Jersey and Connecticut as well as New York?
Yes. Carlstan is licensed in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, so we can write commercial auto coverage for businesses that operate across the tri-state area. This is a common need for Long Island and NYC businesses whose vehicles regularly cross state lines.Yes. Carlstan is licensed in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, so we can write commercial auto coverage for businesses that operate across the tri-state area. This is a common need for Long Island and NYC businesses whose vehicles regularly cross state lines.
Get a Quote for Commercial Auto Insurance on Long Island or in New York City
If you're running a business in Nassau County, Suffolk County, Brooklyn, Queens, or anywhere in the New York metro area and you have vehicles used for work, we can help you get covered quickly. Reach us by phone at (516) 437-6565, submit a quote request online, or send us an email — we monitor it around the clock.
Getting the right commercial vehicle insurance in New York starts with one conversation. We'll ask the right questions and put together coverage that fits.