Ohio Tow Truck and Commercial Auto Insurance

Ohio tow truck insurance requirements

Ohio treats towing businesses as for-hire motor carriers regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). You can find that requirement in Ohio’s towing law.

Ohio’s standard public-liability minimum for intrastate property transportation is $750,000. If a carrier exclusively operates vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating below 10,001 pounds, the minimum is $300,000. Certain hazardous-material operations require higher limits. See the Ohio minimum insurance limits.

Your insurer must file proof of financial responsibility with PUCO. For operations requiring intrastate approval, that approval needs to be in place before work begins. We can coordinate the insurance filing while you complete your application. See the Ohio insurance filing requirements.

City permits, police rotations, and customer contracts can add requirements. Include those instructions when you request a quote, along with where you plan to work and the services you offer.

Coverage for your trucks and customer vehicles

• Commercial auto liability helps cover injuries and property damage you cause to others in an accident involving an insured vehicle.
• Physical damage helps pay for covered damage to your own truck. Choose deductibles and coverage that reflect its value and equipment.
• On-hook towing helps cover customer vehicles during towing or transport.
• Garagekeepers legal liability helps cover damage to customer vehicles at an insured storage or service location when your business is legally responsible.
• General liability or garage liability helps cover certain claims arising from your business premises and operations.

Think about what happens before and after the tow. Loading, recovery, transport, and storage can involve different coverages. Tell us about each yard and the highest combined value of customer vehicles you could have in your care.

Ohio workers’ compensation and employers’ liability

Ohio employers generally obtain workers’ compensation through the state fund. Qualifying employers may be approved to self-insure instead. The Ohio workers’ compensation law explains the two arrangements.

Check employee coverage before hiring a driver, helper, or office employee. If a customer asks for employers’ liability, ask us about separate stop-gap coverage. It can help cover certain employee-injury claims beyond the benefits provided by Ohio’s workers’ compensation system.

Keep your BWC coverage evidence and commercial insurance certificates available for customers and roadside networks.

Interstate towing and roadside-network requirements

Taking calls across state lines can bring federal insurance and operating requirements. The truck’s weight, the type of tow, and the vehicle being moved affect which rules apply. FMCSA’s guidance for interstate towing and insurance filing requirements explain the distinctions.

Agero, HONK, Allstate Roadside, GEICO, AAA and Nation Safe Drivers set their own provider requirements. Auction customers such as Copart may also ask for transport coverage. Send us the current agreement and certificate instructions.

Insurance for new Ohio towing businesses

Starting with your first truck? Your previous towing and driving experience matters, even if you’ve never had a business policy. We help new Ohio companies compare coverage for rollbacks, flatbeds, wheel-lift wreckers, and roadside-service vehicles.

Include plans for heavy recovery, repossession, repairs, storage, or multi-car hauling in your application. These services affect which insurers can consider your business and what coverage you’ll need.

Commercial auto insurance for other Ohio businesses

We also help Ohio businesses insure vehicles used for service calls, contracting, deliveries and transportation. Coverage is available for eligible operations involving:

• Contractors’ vehicles, cargo vans and box trucks.
• Hotshot, dry-van, refrigerated and flatbed freight.
• Amazon delivery service partners and last-mile delivery.
• Food couriers and other delivery businesses.

Tell us what you carry, who drives, and where the vehicles travel. We’ll review commercial auto coverage and check whether you also need separate protection for cargo, tools, or equipment.

What affects your Ohio insurance cost?

Your vehicles, drivers, claims, insurance history, travel area, and coverage limits all affect the premium. Start by comparing quotes with the same coverages and deductibles. Then review the total cost and payment schedule.

We’ll check for savings available through prior insurance, additional policies, or telematics programs. Let us know when you add vehicles or change your services so we can review the policy with you.