- What is it?
NTL covers you for bodily injury and property damage to a third party, which most commonly occurs because of an accident.
- Who’s it for?
If you’re under lease to a motor carrier that provides your primary liability coverage, you may need Non-Trucking Liability (NTL) coverage while using your truck for non-business purposes.
- What is offered?
- Third-Party Bodily Injury Coverage
- Property Damage Liability Coverage
- Personal Injury Protection
- Medical Payments Coverage
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Non-Trucking Liability Insurance in California
What is non-trucking liability insurance?
Drivers don’t just need liability coverage for when they’re under dispatch, but also for any non-duty operation of a truck. Non-trucking liability insurance may provide California drivers with that protection.
Non-trucking liability insurance is specialized commercial truck coverage for when drivers operate trucks outside of work. The coverage may provide protection anytime a truck is used for personal use.
Who in California needs non-trucking liability coverage?
California drivers generally are required to have non-trucking liability coverage anytime a commercial truck is driven for personal use. An owner-operator or an employer usually pays for the coverage.
This may apply to any commercially registered truck. Coverage is often purchased for non-dispatched use of tractor-trailers, but it also might be used for straight trucks, cargo vans, tow trucks and other commercial vehicles.
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What protections does non-trucking liability coverage provide?
The specific protections that non-trucking liability provides are usually spelled out as several sub-coverages that are contained within the broader coverage. Some sub-coverages that are frequently offered include:
- Third-Party Bodily Injury Coverage: May cover injuries to other people
- Property Damage Liability Coverage: May cover damage to other vehicles and property
- Personal Injury Protection: May cover injuries to the driver and their passengers
- Medical Payments Coverage: May cover driver’s and passengers’ medical expenses
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: May cover collisions with uninsured drivers
When contained within non-trucking liability, all of these sub-coverages normally only apply when the insured vehicle is driven for personal use. The sub-coverages are often also offered separately for when a truck is driven for work, but coverages’ terms can differ when the protection is applied to work and personal use.
An insurance agent who specializes in non-trucking liability can help drivers/employers make sure all of the sub-coverages they want are in place both when a vehicle is driven for work and when it’s driven for personal use.
Does non-trucking liability cover damage to a truck?
Non-trucking liability is primarily liability coverage for injuries/damage that affects others. The coverage doesn’t necessarily protect a truck itself against damage, although drivers should check specific policies’ terms with a knowledgeable agent.
What’s the difference between non-trucking liability and bobtail coverage?
Non-trucking liability coverage and bobtail coverage may both provide coverage for liability risks when a truck is driven. The driving circumstances that they cover generally are different, though.
Non-trucking liability usually provides coverage when a truck is driven for personal use. Coverage might apply both when a trailer is in tow, and when none is connected.
Bobtail coverage normally covers when a truck is driven for work, but without a trailer connected.
Can non-trucking liability be transferred between vehicles when changing leases?
When trucks are changed because a lease expires, non-trucking coverage can often be transferred directly from the previous truck to the new one. This is something that an experienced insurance agent can attend to.
How much are premiums for non-trucking liability coverage?
How much non-trucking liability coverage costs can be impacted by the truck insured, the estimated non-work mileage, the driver’s record, the truck’s primary location, and many other factors. Premiums tend to be affordable but can vary.
Regardless of how much is charged for non-trucking liability, the premium typically gets folded into a commercial truck insurance policy’s premiums. Non-trucking liability rarely is billed separately from a broader policy.
How can drivers in California get non-trucking liability insurance?
For help insuring a California-registered commercial truck that’s sometimes driven for personal use, contact the independent insurance agents at Truck Writer Insurance Services. We can help find robust coverage for trucks, including non-trucking liability insurance when it’s needed.
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