The Hartford vs Travelers: Commercial Auto Insurance

The Hartford reports average costs near $574 a month and sends small businesses to a local agency or Tivly; Travelers sells commercial auto standalone through independent agents, with limits up to $1 million.

Embarcadero Risk brings together source-based comparisons for businesses moving people and goods.Research updated 2026-09-25

Travelers offers standalone auto up to $1 million, CoveragePlus and Risk Control services; The Hartford lists executive drive-other-car and rental cover and reports about $574 average monthly cost.

Source material

  1. 01
    Commercial Insurance Guide

    California Department of Insurance · Commercial Automobile: Coverage, Classification and Limits · accessed 2026-09-16

  2. 02
    Business Vehicle Insurance

    Insurance Information Institute · Will My Personal Auto Policy Cover Business Use?; What Vehicles Are Covered?; What Coverage Do I Need if Employees Drive Their Personal Vehicles for Business?; Does a Business Umbrella Cover Autos?; Do I Need a Business Auto Policy?; Be Sure the Right Insured Is on the Policy · accessed 2026-09-16

  3. 03
    Business Auto Coverage Form

    Insurance Services Office, Inc.; hosted by National General · I.A, printed/PDF page 1; II.A.1, printed/PDF page 2; III.C–D, printed/PDF page 6; II.B.6, printed/PDF page 3; III.B.3, printed/PDF page 6 · accessed 2026-09-16

  4. 04
    Auto Insurance

    NAIC · Coverages · accessed 2026-09-16

  5. 05
    Commercial Auto Insurance Coverage

    The Hartford · Banner: The Hartford does not currently offer this coverage online for small businesses; What Does Commercial Auto Insurance Cover?; What Is Not Covered?; What Types of Vehicles Are Covered?; Do I Need Commercial Auto Insurance?; How Much Does Commercial Auto Insurance Cost? · accessed 2026-09-23

  6. 06
    Commercial Auto Insurance | Get A Quote | Travelers Insurance

    Travelers · What is commercial auto insurance?; What does commercial auto insurance cover?; Protect your business on the road (liability, physical damage, collision, comprehensive); Additional coverage options (Select Auto CoveragePlus); commercial auto FAQ · accessed 2026-09-23

What Are the Key Differences Between The Hartford and Travelers Commercial Auto Insurance?

Published Limits and Service Options

The Hartford directs small businesses to a local agency or Tivly and lists drive-other-car for executives and rental coverage. Travelers also sells through independent agents, lists CoveragePlus and roadside assistance, and publishes liability up to $1 million. [5] [6]

Published Limits Versus Average Premium

Travelers advertises liability coverage of up to $1 million for bodily injury and property damage to others. The Hartford does not publish standard liability limits and instead reports average commercial auto costs of about $574 a month ($6,884 a year) for its customers, with limits depending on business type, vehicles, driving records, cargo and location. [5] [6]

Optional Coverages Each Carrier Names

Both list liability, collision, comprehensive and uninsured or underinsured motorist cover. Travelers adds Select Auto CoveragePlus (auto lease gap, employee hired auto, blanket additional insured) and separate hired and non-owned auto. The Hartford lists drive-other-car coverage for executives and rental car coverage, and it excludes unrelated medical expenses, contents in the vehicle and personal use of an employee’s personal vehicle. [5] [6]

Industries, Vehicles and Risk Control

The Hartford names beauty shops, consulting, photography, retail, technology and restaurants, and vehicles from cars to box trucks. Travelers names passenger vehicles, vans, light and heavy trucks, trailers, fleets and specialty vehicles, plus public-sector, oil and gas, and Northland trucking versions. Travelers also says commercial auto customers can use more than 600 Risk Control consultants, a dedicated Claim team and Roadside Assistance Coverage; The Hartford’s reviewed auto page does not describe those services. [5] [6]

What Should You Confirm in The Hartford and Travelers Commercial Auto Insurance Quotes?

  • Ask Travelers whether the quote uses the advertised $1 million liability limit and which CoveragePlus and hired/non-owned auto options apply. [6]
  • Ask The Hartford for the actual liability limits and whether drive-other-car and rental coverage are included. [5]
  • Confirm the buying path: independent Travelers agent versus Hartford agency or Tivly. [5] [6]
  • Compare deductibles, fleet eligibility (including Northland trucking) and roadside assistance. [6] [5]

Coverage topics

The Hartford

  • role: The Hartford's commercial auto insurance helps cover property damage and medical expenses when a business or its employees cause an accident using company vehicles. Commercial auto product page as read 2026-09-23.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: The Hartford lists common commercial auto coverage options: bodily injury liability, property damage liability, drive-other-car coverage for executives, collision, comprehensive, medical payments, uninsured/underinsured motorist, and rental car coverage. It excludes unrelated medical expenses, contents inside the vehicle, accidents in an employee's personal vehicle for personal reasons, and rental-vehicle repair costs while a company vehicle is being fixed. Commercial auto product page as read 2026-09-23. General coverage description; the issued policy controls.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: The Hartford says coverage requirements vary by state, and names industries it targets: beauty shops, consulting, photography, retail, technology and restaurants; covered vehicle types include cars, commercial cargo vans, commercial trucks, pickup trucks, box trucks and service utility trucks. Commercial auto product page as read 2026-09-23.company-reportedSource ↗
  • application: The Hartford does not currently sell commercial auto coverage online for small businesses; it directs buyers to a local agency or to its partner Tivly for a quote instead of a self-serve online flow. Commercial auto product page as read 2026-09-23.company-reportedSource ↗
  • limits: The Hartford reports average commercial auto costs of about $574 a month ($6,884 a year) for its customers; the page does not publish standard liability limits, which it says depend on business type, vehicle type, driving records, cargo and location. Company-reported average as of 2026-09-23 (page last updated by The Hartford August 27, 2026); not a coverage limit.company-reportedSource ↗

Travelers

  • role: Travelers underwrites commercial auto insurance as a standalone policy; it is not included in a Travelers Business Owner's Policy and must be purchased separately. Commercial auto product page.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: Travelers says the policy covers liability for bodily injury and property damage, physical damage to owned, leased, hired or borrowed vehicles, collision, comprehensive, and damages caused by uninsured or underinsured drivers. Product page "What does commercial auto insurance cover?" and "Protect your business on the road" sections; exclusions and state variation apply.company-reportedSource ↗
  • limits: Travelers advertises liability coverage limits of up to $1 million for bodily injury and property damage to others; other limits and deductibles are not published and depend on the quote. Product page "Protect your business on the road" section.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: Travelers covers passenger vehicles, vans, light and heavy trucks, truck trailers, vehicle fleets and specialty vehicles, and offers industry-specific versions for the public sector, oil and gas, and trucking (through its Northland division). Product page FAQ and industry-specific coverage sections.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: Travelers offers optional Select Auto CoveragePlus enhancements, including auto lease gap coverage, employee hired auto coverage and blanket additional insured coverage, plus separate hired and non-owned auto coverage for rented or employee-owned vehicles used for work. Product page "Additional coverage options" and "Hired and non-owned auto coverage" sections.company-reportedSource ↗
  • application: You buy commercial auto insurance through a Travelers independent agent, who reviews business operations and vehicles to select coverage. Product page "How do I purchase commercial auto insurance?" FAQ.company-reportedSource ↗
  • services: Travelers says commercial auto customers can draw on more than 600 Risk Control consultants and a dedicated Claim team, plus Travelers Roadside Assistance Coverage. Product page Risk Control, Claim and Roadside Assistance sections.company-reportedSource ↗

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