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.

For intrastate property transportation, the standard public-liability minimum is $750,000. A carrier operating exclusively with vehicles rated below 10,001 pounds has a $300,000 minimum. The rule uses gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating; certain hazardous-material operations have higher requirements. Ohio minimum insurance limits.

Your insurer must file the required proof of financial responsibility with PUCO. Applicable intrastate operations need approval before starting work. We can help coordinate the insurance filing with your application. Ohio insurance filing requirements.

City permits, police rotations and customer contracts may add requirements. Tell us where you plan to work and the types of towing you’ll provide.

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 through the whole job, from loading and recovery to transport and storage. Include every yard, the vehicles you handle 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, while eligible employers may qualify for approved self-insurance. The Ohio workers’ compensation law explains these options.

Review employee coverage before adding a driver, helper or office employee. If a customer asks for employers’ liability, ask us about separate stop-gap coverage. It addresses 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

Crossing state lines may bring federal insurance and operating requirements. Your truck’s weight, the type of tow and the vehicle being moved all matter. FMCSA’s guidance for interstate towing and insurance filing requirements explain what to review.

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? Include your towing and driving experience, 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.

Let us know about heavy recovery, repossession, repairs, storage or multi-car hauling. Those services affect which insurers and coverages may be available.

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 your vehicles travel. We’ll review the commercial auto policy along with any separate coverage needed for cargo, tools or equipment.

What affects your Ohio insurance cost?

Your vehicles, drivers, claims, insurance history, travel area and limits all affect the premium. Compare matching coverages and deductibles before reviewing the total cost and payment schedule.

We’ll check for telematics, prior-insurance and multi-policy savings you may qualify for. Keep us informed when your business changes so we can review whether your policy needs an update.