Pilot Car Insurance for New & Start-Up Businesses

Starting a pilot car or escort vehicle business can create a lot of questions — especially when it comes to insurance.

What coverage do you need? Is commercial auto insurance enough? What liability limits should you carry? What will an insurance company need from you? And where do you go when many insurance agents aren't familiar with Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operator (PEVO) businesses in the first place?

Foundation Insurance & Risk Management specializes in helping new and start-up pilot car businesses navigate those questions.

Whether you're preparing to take your first job, purchasing a vehicle for your new operation, or transitioning from driving for someone else to operating your own business, we can help you understand your insurance options and find coverage appropriate for your operation.

Starting a Pilot Car Business? Insurance Doesn't Have to Be Confusing

Pilot car businesses have insurance needs that are different from those of the typical small business.

Your vehicle isn't simply transportation to and from work. It's an essential part of the work you perform. Depending on your operation, you may be escorting oversize or overweight loads, traveling across multiple states, working with trucking companies and heavy-haul operators, and spending significant time on the road.

That's why working with an insurance agency that understands the PEVO industry can make a difference.

At Foundation Insurance & Risk Management, we welcome start-ups. You don't need to know exactly what insurance to ask for before contacting us. We'll learn about the business you're building and help you understand the coverage options that may apply.

What Insurance Does a New Pilot Car Business Need?

There isn't one insurance package that's right for every new pilot car company. Your coverage needs can depend on your vehicle, the services you provide, where you operate, contractual requirements, driving history and other factors.

Some of the coverage a new PEVO business may need to consider includes:

Commercial Auto Insurance

If you're using a vehicle as part of your pilot or escort vehicle business, personal auto insurance may not be designed to cover that commercial exposure.

Commercial auto insurance can provide coverage for liability arising from the operation of a business vehicle and may also provide physical damage coverage for the insured vehicle when selected.

The appropriate coverage and limits should be determined based on your specific operation.

General Liability Insurance

Commercial general liability insurance can help protect your business against certain third-party claims involving bodily injury or property damage that aren't covered by your commercial auto policy.

For a new business, it's important to understand where commercial auto liability ends and where other business liability coverage may come into play.

Additional Coverage for Your Operation

Depending on how your PEVO business is structured, additional insurance options may be appropriate.

Rather than automatically adding coverage you don't need, our goal is to understand your operation first and then discuss the risks and insurance options that make sense for your particular business.

What Will I Need to Get Pilot Car Insurance?

One of the biggest concerns we hear from start-ups is simply, "I don't know what information I'm supposed to have."

That's okay.

While requirements vary by insurance company and individual risk, it can be helpful to have information available about:

• The vehicle or vehicles you'll use

• The drivers who will operate them

• Driving histories

• Where you expect to operate

• The type of pilot or escort work you expect to perform

• Your anticipated business use and mileage

• Your business structure

• Any training or certifications you've completed

• Contracts or insurance requirements you've received from companies you expect to work with

If you don't have every answer yet, that doesn't necessarily mean you should wait to contact us. Talking with an insurance professional early in the process may help you identify insurance-related issues before you're ready to begin accepting jobs.

Can a Brand-New Pilot Car Business Get Insurance?

Being a new business doesn't automatically mean you can't obtain insurance.

Insurance companies will consider a number of factors when determining eligibility, coverage and pricing. Those factors may include driver experience, driving records, vehicle information, operating territory, the nature of your work and the requirements of the particular insurance program.

That's another reason Foundation Insurance & Risk Management focuses on helping PEVO start-ups. Instead of assuming that a new business fits the same profile as an established company, we can help present your operation accurately and look for insurance options suited to your circumstances.

Pilot Car Insurance for Multi-State Operations

Pilot and escort vehicle operators frequently travel beyond their home state.

If you expect to cross state lines, tell us where you anticipate operating. Insurance requirements, PEVO regulations, certification requirements and other rules can vary by jurisdiction.

Insurance is only one part of establishing a compliant pilot car operation. Foundation Insurance & Risk Management can help you address the insurance side of the equation, but operators should also verify applicable licensing, certification, equipment and operating requirements in each jurisdiction where they plan to work.

Insurance Requirements From Motor Carriers and Other Companies

As you begin looking for work, you may encounter companies that require specific insurance coverage or liability limits before they'll contract with you.

You may also be asked to provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) as evidence of coverage.

If you've received insurance requirements from a company you hope to work with, bring them to us. We can review the insurance-related requirements with you and help determine whether the coverage you're considering satisfies them.

This can be particularly valuable for a start-up. It's better to address an insurance requirement before accepting a job than discover afterward that your existing coverage doesn't meet a customer's requirements.

Common Insurance Mistakes New Pilot Car Businesses Should Avoid

Starting any business involves learning as you go. With a PEVO operation, however, insurance mistakes can become expensive.

Some issues new operators should be particularly careful about include using a personal auto policy without discussing the vehicle's commercial use, selecting liability limits without considering contractual requirements, assuming every insurance company understands pilot car operations, failing to disclose interstate operations, and shopping entirely on price without understanding what is actually covered.

Another common mistake is waiting until a job is available before beginning the insurance process.

If you're serious about starting your own pilot car business, it's worth discussing insurance while you're putting the other pieces of the business together.

New to the PEVO Business? That's Our Specialty.

You shouldn't need to become an insurance expert before you can start your pilot car business.

Foundation Insurance & Risk Management works with new and start-up Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operators who aren't sure where to begin with insurance.

We'll ask questions about what you're planning to do, explain the insurance options available to you and help you work through the process.

If you've already established your operation and are primarily looking to compare coverage, visit our Pilot Car Insurance / PEVO Insurance page for more information about our insurance solutions for pilot and escort vehicle operators.

If you're just getting started, contact Foundation Insurance & Risk Management to discuss your new pilot car business and the coverage you may need.

Frequently Asked Questions About Insurance for New Pilot Car Businesses

What insurance do I need to start a pilot car business?

Coverage depends on your individual operation, but commercial auto insurance is typically an important consideration when a vehicle is being used commercially. General liability and other coverage may also be appropriate depending on your services, contracts and exposures. Foundation Insurance & Risk Management can review your planned operation with you.

Can I use my personal auto insurance for a pilot car business?

A personal auto policy may exclude or restrict certain types of business use. Before using a personally insured vehicle for pilot or escort work, discuss the intended use with an insurance professional and make sure you have appropriate coverage for the commercial exposure.

Can I get pilot car insurance if my business is brand new?

Potentially, yes. Insurance companies evaluate factors beyond how long the business has existed, including driving history, experience, vehicle information, operating territory and the type of work being performed. Foundation Insurance & Risk Management specifically welcomes inquiries from new PEVO businesses.

Do I need pilot car insurance before I get my first job?

It is wise to investigate your insurance requirements before accepting work. Companies you work with may require evidence of insurance and specific liability limits before allowing you to perform services.

What is a Certificate of Insurance?

A Certificate of Insurance, commonly called a COI, provides evidence of certain insurance coverage in effect at the time the certificate is issued. Motor carriers, contractors or other companies may request a COI before allowing a pilot car operator to begin work.

What if I don't know what coverage or limits I need?

That's exactly where Foundation Insurance & Risk Management can help. Tell us about the business you're starting, the vehicle you'll use, where you expect to operate and the work you plan to perform. We can help you understand the insurance options and identify questions that need to be addressed.

Can you help if I plan to operate in multiple states?

Yes. Be sure to tell us about the states where you expect to operate so your anticipated operating territory can be considered when evaluating your insurance needs. PEVO certification and operating requirements can vary by state and should be verified separately.

Get Help Insuring Your New Pilot Car Business

If you're starting a pilot car or escort vehicle business and aren't sure where to go for insurance, Foundation Insurance & Risk Management is ready to help.

We understand that a start-up may have different questions and challenges than an established PEVO company. You don't have to figure everything out before calling us.

Tell us where you are in the process, and we'll help you determine the next steps for insuring your new pilot car business.