Commercial Auto Insurance Symbols: What do they mean?

Understanding the language and symbols on your commercial Automobile Insurance policy may seem like trying to learn a new language. Still, it is essential to understand your policy to know how you’re protected fully. Below you can find a few general guidelines that will be helpful when deciphering your policy:

• Each symbol represents the type of vehicle protected by the applicable liability or physical damage limit.

• The symbol may apply to the type of vehicle covered or the vehicle’s ownership status.

• The various terms within your policy have specific definitions that you should become familiar with.

• The symbols differ on coverage for liability compared to physical damage coverage.

Liability Coverage Auto Symbols

• 1 = Broadest symbol; covers any “auto.” (ANY AUTO)

• 2 = Covers any “auto” owned by the insured, including those attained after the policy begins. It also applies to trailers used with owned vehicles. (OWNED AUTOS ONLY)

• 3 = Covers only private passenger “autos” owned by the insured. (OWNED PRIVATE PASSENGER AUTOS ONLY)

• 4 = Covers all “autos” other than private passenger vehicles owned by the insured. This includes vehicles attained after the policy begins and applies to trailers used by an owned vehicle. (OWNED AUTOS OTHER THAN PRIVATE PASSENGER AUTOS ONLY)

• 5 = Applies to “autos” owned by the insured that are garaged or licensed in no-fault benefit law states. (OWNED AUTOS SUBJECT TO NO-FAULT)

• 6 = Applies to “autos” garaged or licensed in states requiring uninsured motorist coverage. (OWNED AUTOS SUBJECT TO A COMPULSORY UNINSURED MOTORIST LAW)

• 7 = Covers only the “autos” and trailers listed on the policy. (SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBED AUTOS)

• 8 = Covers “autos” that the insured leases, hires, rents, or borrows for their own use. It does not cover “autos” leased, hired, rented, or borrowed for employee or family member usage. (HIRED AUTOS ONLY)

• 9 = Covers “autos” that the insured does not own, lease, hire, rent, or borrow but are used for business purposes. Employees or family members may own These " autos," but they must be used for the insured’s business or personal matters. (NON-OWNED AUTOS ONLY)

Physical Damage Coverage Automobile Symbols

• 1 = Covers “autos” owned by the insured, including those attained after the policy begins. (OWNED AUTOS ONLY)

• 2 = Covers only private passenger “autos” owned by the insured. (OWNED PRIVATE PASSENGER AUTOS ONLY)

• 3 = Covers all “autos” (other than private passenger vehicles owned by the insured. (OWNED AUTOS OTHER THAN PRIVATE PASSENGER AUTOS ONLY)

• 4 = Applies to “autos” that are listed on the policy. This also covers trailers used with a listed vehicle. (SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBED AUTOS)

• 5 = Covers “autos” that the insured leases, hires, rents, or borrows for their own use. This does not cover “autos” leased, hired, rented, or borrowed for use by an employee or family member. (HIRED AUTOS ONLY)

At times, there may not be an applicable symbol for the type of coverage provided. In those instances, a special symbol is used and added to the policy through an endorsement. The endorsement will contain a complete description and explanation of the symbol’s meaning, and the symbol will also appear with the applicable coverages on the policy.