Having the right type of auto insurance policy can help ensure that you are protected in the unfortunate event that one of your vehicles is involved in an accident.

If you're a business owner and you and/or your employees use a vehicle for work-related deliveries or to carry materials to and from a job site, you might need a commercial auto insurance policy that's tailored to the needs—and risks—of a business vehicle operator. It's also wise to encourage employees to determine whether business use is covered through their personal auto insurance policies.

Here are some questions, courtesy of Drive Insurance from Progressive, to help you determine if you need a commercial auto insurance policy instead of a personal auto policy:

• Do you need more liability coverage than your personal auto policy can provide? Generally, a commercial auto policy provides higher limits of liability, but less or no coverage in areas that are typically not associated with commercial auto risks.

• Do you need special coverage for situations associated with your business? Commercial auto policies usually offer specific coverages—such as towing a trailer for business use—that are not available with personal auto policies.

• Do you need to list any of your employees as drivers? You can do this with a commercial auto insurance policy but not with a personal auto policy.

• Do you use your vehicle for business purposes? Examples include pizza or newspaper delivery, catering, door-to-door consulting, real estate service, landscaping or snowplowing, day care/church retreat van service, and/or farm-to-market delivery. Each of these work scenarios might call for a commercial auto policy.

There are several types of commercial-only auto insurance coverages available for business owners. These include:

Non-Owned Auto Coverage, which protects businesses in cases where an employee is involved in an accident in their vehicle while running a work-related errand. It's possible the business owner could be responsible for damages in excess of the employee's own auto insurance limits.

Hired Auto Coverage, which pertains to vehicles a business might lease on a short-term basis. These would include moving and storage vehicles and delivery vehicles leased for busy holiday periods.

Drive Other Car Coverage, which extends a commercial auto insurance contract to cover the policyholder while driving a vehicle not listed on the policy.

Did You Know?
A conversation with an independent auto insurance agent—a trained, licensed insurance professional who can offer personal service and advice—can be an excellent way for a small-business owner to select the right type of auto insurance policy.

To find an independent auto insurance agent in your area, visit the Drive Insurance Web site at driveinsurance.com.