Winning Commercial Auto Submissions

Step 1: 

General INFORMATION – Client information

Applicant Legal Name:  Enter the name as it should read on the policy.  If it is a corporation or an LLC, please enter the business name.  If it is an individual, please enter the owner’s first and last name.  Please note that if the applicant has a DOT#, the name on the policy should match the name as they are registered with DOT, and the name should also match how their entity is registered with the secretary of state.

Doing Business As (DBA) If Any:  If the business is an individual with a DBA, please enter the DBA name here.

Form of Business:  Please choose the current type:  Individual, Partnership, Corporation, LLC, etc.

Company Name:  Re-enter the name of the company as it should read on the policy.

Desired Effective Date:  Please indicate desired effective date.  Please keep in mind that none of our commercial auto policies are underwritten in house, and they have to be submitted to the carrier for final review/approval.  Please give us adequate time to work on the quote. 

Tax ID/FEIN:  If you have this, please provide, but it is not a required field.

Description of Business:  Please be as detailed as possible.  Please use comments section if you run out of room.  If they are a trucker or provide delivery, we need to know what they are hauling/delivering and where they are hauling/delivering to/from. 

Month and Year Business Started:  Please enter the month and year the business started.  If it is a new venture, you can put the current month and current year. 

Business Number:  Please provide the business’ phone number.

Business Website:  If the applicant has a website or Facebook page, please provide it here.  This is very helpful information.

Garaging Address/Location of Premises:  This is the business location/garaging address of the vehicle.  Please note:  This cannot be a PO Box.

Address 1:  Typically this is the same as above, the business location/garaging address. 

Is the Mailing Address Different:  This is a yes or no question.  If no, go to the next step.  If you, please provide mailing address.  If the applicant has a PO Box, this is where you would enter the PO Box.  This is where bills and policy documents will be mailed from the carrier to the applicant.

Step 1:  General INFORMATION – Current/prior coverage information

·       Does Client Have Insurance Currently:  Please answer yes or no.  This helps determine eligibility.  It is important to provide accurate information. 

·       Prior Coverage Information:  Please choose the correct option from the drop down.  Please note that providing correct information in this field is very important, as this question determines what carrier/carriers the risk is eligible with. 

·       Prior Insurance Company:  Please type name of current or prior carrier.  This is a very important field.  Providing accurate information helps determine eligibility.

·       Prior Expiration Date:  If the applicant has current or prior coverage, we need the expiration date.  Many of our carriers require this.  If it is a new venture, it is not required.

·       Prior BI Limit:  This information is helpful but not required.

·       Does the Insured Have a Current GL or BOP:  This is helpful information.

Step 2:  Drivers and vehicles

·      Do You Have a Schedule of Drivers:  If you have a driver schedule, you can attach it.  We need you to complete owner information and at least one driver to continue.  The driver schedule must contain all of the information requested in the driver fields for each driver.

·      Owner’s First and Last Name:  We must have the owner’s full name.  Please use first and last name.  If there is more than one owner, please choose one owner as the primary owner/primary contact and put their information here.  Then indicate in comments that there are additional owners.  Most of our carriers require all owners/primary officers of the business to be listed as drivers.  We will need full name, DOB and DL info for all owners/primary officers. 

·      Owner’s Date of Birth:  Please see note above.  Our carrier requires that all owners/primary officers be listed as drivers, even if they don’t drive.  We will need their date of birth.  If there is more than one owner, please choose one primary owner/contact and list their information here.  Any remaining owners can be entered in the driver section and indicate in comments that they are also owners.    

·      Year Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Issued:  If the applicant has a commercial DL (CDL), we need to know the year the applicant first obtained their CDL.  Please make sure this information is accurate. 

·      Owner’s License #:  Please provide the owner’s DL #.  We are unable to run a quote without this information. 

·      State:  Please list the state the owner is licensed in.  Keep in mind that on most risks, our carrier requires that all drivers be licensed in the state the business is registered in, including the owner.  There are very few exceptions to this rule.  If the owner is not licensed in the state the business is registered in, we will need an explanation as to why they are not licensed in that state.  You can input the explanation in the comments section. 

·      Year State License Issued:  This is the year the owner/driver first obtained their driver’s license.  If you are not sure of the exact date, please provide your best guestimate.  You can ask the applicant how old they were when they first got their driver’s license.    

·      Owner’s Residential Address:  This is required by the carrier to run MVR and/or credit information.  If there is more than one owner, please use the primary owner’s residential address. 

·      Owner Above is the Only Driver:  If the owner is also the only driver, if you click yes, then you can proceed to the vehicle section.  If no, then you will then complete driver information for any additional drivers.  Please keep in mind that every field in the driver section is required and must be filled out for us to proceed with a quote.

Step 2:  Drivers and vehicles – Vehicles

Is This a Fleet of 10+ Units: If yes, please keep in mind that fleet quotes can take up to two weeks to be reviewed. Our carrier will typically not review any fleet risk mid-term unless they are being non-renewed. If they are shopping for premium, our carrier will not review it until approximately two weeks prior to the renewal date. If this is a fleet quote, you will have to enter one vehicle to continue, but you can upload a vehicle schedule. Keep in mind that the schedule must have the information requested in the vehicle section for each vehicle.

Vehicle Information: Please complete “ALL” fields in this section. We are unable to submit to our carrier without this information. Please give accurate information on vehicle type. If vehicle is a tow truck, please indicate in notes or in comments whether the vehicle is a wrecker/rollback or flatbed. For specialty trucks, please indicate type such as stake truck, bucket truck, etc. Trailers need to also be listed here, and you will indicate in vehicle type that this is a trailer. We need accurate VIN, make & model on trailers as well, and it is very important that we know trailer type such as flatbed, gooseneck, auto hauler, dry freight, reefer, etc.

Step 3:  Underwriting – Commodities Hauled

·      Do You Haul Any Commodities:  This question is for trucking or delivery risks only.  This is where you will indicate what applicant is hauling/delivering.  If the applicant needs cargo coverage, it is very important that this section be completed.  This section is not required.  If commodities are entered, percentage of all commodities hauled must total 100%.  If “other” is chose, please describe in detail in the next field.

Step 3:  Underwriting – Loss History

·      Have There Been Any Losses:  If you indicate yes, then please enter the loss details.  Loss runs are preferred, and most of the time the carrier is going to request them anyway.  For any losses, we will need to know the name of the driver involved, and we will need to know if the driver is still employed by the company or not.

Step 4:  Coverages and Filings – Coverages

·      Requesting Primary Auto Liability:  Unless this is a bobtail only quote, please answer yes to this question and then complete the coverage options.  Bobtail is a specific trucking coverage.  You can choose split limit or CSL liability limits.  Please keep in mind that depending on state and type of risk, our carriers have minimum limits.  If this is a trucking risk that requires filings, the minimum liability limit that can be requested is $750,000.  The minimum limit with most of our carriers is $300,000 CSL.  There are times where the carrier will give us an exception, but it is not common. 

·      Requesting Auto Non-Truck Liability (Bobtail):  This is a coverage specific to truckers or trucking risks.  If this is a trucking risk but they are using a pick-up truck, we are unable to quote bobtail coverage on a private passenger auto or pick-up truck.  Our carrier will only quote bobtail coverage on a semi/tractor.  Keep in mind that if you Google non-truck liability, different carriers define non-truck liability differently.  With our carrier, bobtail coverage is specific to trucking, and the company they are working for must be providing the primary liability coverage.  We will need the name of the company that is providing primary liability coverage, as well as their DOT#.

·      Requesting Uninsured Motorist:  In some states this coverage can be rejected.  If coverage is unable to be rejected in the state the risk is in, we will request a quote from the carrier with the lowest available limit (typically $30,000).

·      Requesting Underinsured Motorist:  In some states this coverage can be rejected.  If coverage is unable to be rejected in the state the risk is in, we will request a quote from the carrier with the lowest available limit (typically $30,000).

·      Requesting Uninsured Motorists Property Damage:  Please note that applicant is unable to have physical damage and UMPD.  Applicant can have liability only with UMPD or they can have physical damage.

·      Medical Payments:  In some states this coverage can be rejected.  The highest available limit with our carrier is $5,000. 

·      Personal Injury Protection:  PIP is not available in all states.  If PIP is requested, please indicate the limit requested in the comments section. 

·      Comprehensive and Collision Deductible:  If physical damage is requested, please indicate stated value in the vehicle section, and indicate requested deductibles here.  Keep in mind that carriers have different deductible options, and the requested amount may not be available.  Please double check deductibles when you receive the quote.  Also keep in mind that if you request a deductible and a quote is released, every quote revision has to be requested and sent back to the carrier.  This will cause it to take longer to get your quote.  Collision deductible is a required field.  We are aware of this situation.  Collision only is not available, so if there is no deductible in the comprehensive deductible field, we will interpret that to mean that the applicant is requesting liability only on the vehicle.  Also, if stated value is left out of the vehicle section, we will interpret that to mean applicant wants liability only on the vehicle.

·      Requested Rental Reimbursement:  Rental reimbursement is not available with most of our carriers.  However, it is available with some of them.  It is unavailable for trucking, towing, dump truck and large truck risks. 

·      Requested Roadside Assistance:  We are unable to get roadside assistance on trucking, tow truck, dump truck or large truck risks.  We are also unable to get roadside assistance on passenger/livery risks.  We have one carrier that will provide this coverage on private passenger type pick-ups or private passenger vehicles only. 

·      Requested Trailer Interchange:  This is a coverage specific to trucking risks.  This is for trailers that the applicant doesn’t own but are hauling for others.  If the applicant owns the trailers they want to cover, they need to be entered in the vehicle section. 

·      Requested Hired And/Or Non-Owned:  This coverage is not available with all of our carriers.  There is a supplemental app that is required.  Coverage must be approved by the carrier.   

·      Any Commodities Hauled:  This is for trucking/hauling risks.  If you answer yes, please make sure that the commodities section in Step 3 is also completed. 

·      Requesting Motor Truck Cargo:  This is a trucking coverage.  If the applicant is hauling cargo for others, we will need to know what limit and deductible are requested.  Limit is the highest value of “load” the applicant will be carrying in any of the trucks/trailers at one time.  If the answer is yes, please make sure the commodities section in Step 3 is completed.  If applicant is hauling or carrying their own equipment, tools, products, etc., this is not considered cargo coverage.   

·      Does Client Haul Their Own Cargo Exclusively:  If answer is yes, please see note above.  This is not considered cargo coverage.   

·      Requesting Refrigerated Cargo (Reefer) Breakdown:  If cargo coverage is requested, reefer coverage is covered under the broad form.      

·      Requesting Any State Cargo Filings:  If applicant requires cargo filings, please answer yes.  Please verify with applicant if filings are needed.      

·      Requested On-Hook Towing:  This is for tow truck risks only, as long as they are not hauling autos for hire.  If the applicant hauls autos for hire, the vehicles are covered under cargo coverage.  If the tow truck is hauling disabled vehicles to repair shops, they can request on-hook towing coverage.  We will need amount and deductible.  Amount is the value of the most expensive vehicle they would be towing.    

Step 4:  Coverages and Filings – filing section

·      Does the Applicant Act as a Freight Broker, Freight Forwarder or Have Broker Authority:  Most of this section applies to truckers.  However, passenger risks may also require filings.  Please verify with the insured if they need filings.  If they cross state lines, typically they need federal filings.  If they are intrastate (in a single state only) they will typically need state filings.  The applicant can call DMV to find out if filings are required.  There are several instances or reasons why filings are needed, and it varies by state.  We do not have a market for freight brokers/freight forwarders or applicants who have broker authority.

·      Does the Insured Haul Hazardous Refuse, Garbage or Waste:  If the applicant hauls to landfills, recycling centers or transfer stations, we do not have a market. 

·      Does the Insured Haul Intermodal Containers:  If yes, please indicate if applicant requires a filing for intermodal containers. 

·      If Towing, Does the Insured Do Any Repossession Work:  This is specific to tow truck risks only.  A small percentage of repo work is okay with our carrier.  If the applicant’s primary job is repo work, we do not have a market. 

·      Property/Passenger and Intrastate Carrier:  These are just a yes or no question.  Intrastate means they travel in state only.  Passenger is if they are carrying passengers and property is if they are carrying cargo or property. 

·      USDOT#:  This is for truckers and some passenger/livery risks.  If the applicant has a USDOT#, we need the number in order to quote.  If this is a new venture, applicant will need to apply and obtain their temporary USDOT#.  Applicant needs to check the rules in their state as to whether they need a USDOT# or not. 

·      Additional Filing Questions:  Most of this section applies to truckers.  However, passenger risks may also require filings.  Please verify with the insured if they need filings.  If they cross state lines, typically they need federal filings.  If they are intrastate (in a single state only) they will typically need state filings.  CA and TX both have state specific numbers, those numbers need to be entered in the “state authority #” section. 

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Step 4:  Coverages and Filings – MVR and Credit Report authorization

·      We prefer to have the MVR and credit authorization form signed by the applicant.  The form will generate once you have submitted the quote.  This form is not required unless coverage is bound.  However, we are unable to suppress MVR reports and credit authorization reports from being run with the carrier.  If the applicant does not want their MVR or credit report run, then you, as the agent, need to withdraw the quote.  Please confirm in the comments section that the applicant is aware of this and is okay with proceeding with the quote.

Please note that this application is for businesses who have autos titled to the business.  If you are looking for stand alone hired and non-owned coverage, there are separate apps that must be completed.

To Request Bind:  Please email all signed documents to the underwriter with the request to bind.  We are unable to back date binds.  All signed paperwork, as well as down payment must be received during regular business hours in order to bind.  We will need to know requested effective date and requested bill plan option.  Payment is processed on the carrier’s website at the time of bind.  Policies are direct bill.  We will need one of the signed CIG down payment forms for the down payment to bind. 

Questions? Contact Commercial Auto Underwriter Jennifer Solis.