The Truck That Runs Your Business Deserves Real Coverage
Your personal auto policy was written for personal use — and when a work vehicle is involved in a claim, that distinction can cost you everything. We help contractors, small fleets, and business owners across the Tri-Cities get commercial auto insurance that actually covers how those vehicles are used.
Why Personal Auto Policies Fall Short for Business Vehicles
Most personal auto policies include a business-use exclusion. That means if you're driving a vehicle for work — hauling tools, making deliveries, traveling between job sites — and you're involved in an accident, your insurer may deny the claim entirely. It's one of the most common and costly gaps we see among sole proprietors and small business owners, and it's rarely discovered until after a loss.
Commercial auto insurance is underwritten specifically for vehicles used in the course of business. The coverage accounts for how the vehicle is actually used, who drives it, and what it's carrying — not just whether it's a car or a truck.
Sized for Your Business, Not a Big Fleet
You don't need a hundred vehicles to need commercial auto coverage. We write policies for single work trucks, two-vehicle operations, and small fleets alike. Coverage is scaled to fit your actual situation — not a one-size-fits-all commercial plan built for a logistics company.
For the contractors we work with across the Tri-Cities, that typically means coverage for the work truck, the tools inside it, and the liability that comes with operating a vehicle on the job. As your business grows, the policy can grow with it.
Owned, Hired, and Non-Owned Vehicles — All Covered
Many small businesses don't operate with a single, company-owned vehicle. You might own one truck, rent a van for a large job, and occasionally have an employee use their personal vehicle for a work errand. Each of those scenarios carries different liability exposure — and a well-structured commercial auto policy addresses all three.
- Owned vehicles: Vehicles titled to you or your business, used regularly for work
- Hired vehicles: Rented or leased vehicles used temporarily for business purposes
- Non-owned vehicles: Personal vehicles driven by employees on behalf of the business
If any of those situations sound familiar, it's worth a conversation to make sure there are no gaps in how your vehicles are covered.
Who We Write Commercial Auto Coverage For
Our commercial auto clients in the Tri-Cities are mostly contractors and trade businesses — the kind of operations where the truck is as essential as any tool in the bed. We also work with restaurant operators adding delivery vehicles and office-based businesses whose employees drive for work. If vehicles are part of how your business operates, commercial auto coverage belongs in the conversation.
- General contractors and specialty trade contractors
- Plumbers, electricians, and HVAC operators
- Landscaping and property maintenance businesses
- Restaurant and food service operations with delivery vehicles
- Small businesses with employees who drive for work
Let's Make Sure Your Work Vehicles Are Actually Covered
We've been in the same Richland office since 2006, and we've been working with local contractors and business owners since we opened our doors as an independent agency in 2013. Independent means we're not tied to a single carrier — we work with Travelers, Progressive, Liberty Mutual, and others to find coverage that fits your business, not just the closest available product.
When you call us, you're talking to JJ, his father, Michelle, or Donna. Someone who knows the Tri-Cities, knows the kind of work our clients do, and can walk through your coverage without putting you on hold for a national call center.
A quick conversation is usually all it takes to identify whether your current coverage matches how your vehicles are actually being used. If there's a gap, we'll find it before a claim does. Reach out by phone or request a quote online — we're here in Richland and ready to help.
Why Richland-Area Businesses Work With Crigler
Does my personal auto policy cover my work truck?
In most cases, no — not for business use. Personal auto policies typically include exclusions for vehicles used in the course of business. If you're hauling equipment, driving between job sites, or using your truck for any work-related purpose, a personal policy may not respond to a claim. Commercial auto insurance is designed specifically for that use.Do I need commercial auto insurance if I only have one work vehicle?
Yes. The number of vehicles doesn't determine whether commercial coverage is needed — the use does. A single work truck used for business purposes carries the same exposure as a small fleet. We write policies for one vehicle just as readily as for five.What's the difference between hired and non-owned auto coverage?
Hired auto covers vehicles your business rents or leases for temporary use. Non-owned auto covers personal vehicles driven by your employees on company business — for example, an employee running a work errand in their own car. Both scenarios create liability exposure for your business, and both can be addressed within a commercial auto policy.Does commercial auto insurance cover tools and equipment in the vehicle?
Commercial auto insurance covers the vehicle itself and the liability associated with operating it — it doesn't automatically cover tools and equipment stored inside. That coverage typically comes through a separate inland marine or contractor's equipment policy. We can review both together to make sure nothing falls through the gap.Can I get commercial auto coverage if my employees also use their personal vehicles for work?
Yes. Non-owned auto liability coverage is available specifically for this situation. It extends liability protection to your business when an employee uses a personal vehicle on company time. It's a common addition for small businesses where company-owned vehicles aren't the only ones on the job.