Berkshire Hathaway commercial auto insurance

Our take

Berkshire Hathaway has a lengthy list of commercial auto coverage options and add-ons through its subsidiaries, and several offer online tools and quotes. The company has a stellar financial stability rating, which is important when choosing an insurer since it reflects the company's ability to pay out claims. However, coverage options, functionality and pricing vary by the subsidiary issuing the policy.

Understanding commercial auto insurance

Commercial auto insurance covers claims involving company-owned vehicles, including cars, trucks and vans. Depending on the policy, it pays for injuries and damages to people and property, including your employees, passengers and business-owned vehicles. A personal insurance policy, on the other hand, won’t cover claims that happen while the vehicle is operating for business purposes. 

A basic policy includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability, which pay for damage you or your drivers cause to others during an accident. Each state has different required liability limits, and your policy should have at least the limits required by state law. 

“The recommended commercial car insurance coverage limits also vary depending on your type of business, types of vehicles, frequency of use and other factors. To make sure you have enough coverage for your needs, consider speaking to an agent with expertise in your industry,” says Belen Tokarski, president and COO of Mylo, an independent insurance broker.

In addition to the basic coverages, businesses can also sign on for additional coverage, such as comprehensive and collision insurance. Comprehensive covers damage to your vehicles from non-collision events, such as theft and natural disasters. Collision covers damage from impacts with other vehicles or objects. More details about your policy options follow.

Berkshire Hathaway commercial auto insurance coverage

Berkshire Hathaway offers commercial auto insurance through its subsidiaries, including Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies, Guard Insurance Companies, Three and biBerk. There are five areas that most Berkshire Hathaway commercial auto insurance policies cover:

• Liability: This pays for injuries to others as well as damage to other cars or property when your driver is at fault for the accident.
• Collision: This pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it strikes another object, overturns, rolls or is in a collision with another vehicle where your driver is at fault for the accident.
• Comprehensive: This pays to repair or replace the vehicle if it is damaged by something other than collision, such as vandalism, fire or storm damage. 
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM): This helps pay for damage and injuries associated with an accident that wasn’t your fault when the other party doesn’t have any or enough insurance to cover the loss. 
• Medical payments: This protects your driver and passengers and helps pay for injuries they incur in an at-fault accident.

Depending on the subsidiary, you might also be able to add endorsements to your commercial car insurance policy, such as towing and roadside assistance, and rental car coverage if another vehicle is needed for business operations while yours is being repaired. 

Types of commercial vehicles Berkshire Hathaway insures

Berkshire Hathaway covers a wide range of vehicles, including:

• Business autos: This category includes all cars, light trucks, SUVs and vans. 
• Trucks: Berkshire Hathaway covers a variety of trucks, including dump trucks, construction vehicles, dry van trailers and tractor-trailers.
• Trailers: This category includes pickup truck utility trailers, dump body trailers and tractor-trailers. 

Berkshire Hathaway commercial auto insurance benefits

Berkshire Hathaway says it offers many services that business customers may find beneficial, including:

• Comprehensive commercial car insurance coverage
• Online quotes (depending on the subsidiary)
• 24/7 claim handling (depending on the subsidiary)

How Berkshire Hathaway stacks up against other commercial auto insurance companies

Berkshire Hathaway is the fifth-largest commercial auto insurance company by market share, controlling about 3.7% of the market, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the standard-setting and regulatory support organization overseen by the country’s top insurance regulators. Its closest competitors are Liberty Mutual, which has a 3.9% market share, and Zurich, with a 3.2% share.

A major criterion for judging insurance companies is the NAIC’s complaint index.

The NAIC’s complaint index is based on the number of complaints filed against the company with state insurance regulators compared to that company’s market share. A score of 1.0 means it received a number of complaints proportionate to its market share, while a score higher than 1.0 means it received a higher-than-expected number of complaints for its market share. 

The company has a 2024 NAIC complaint index of 3.5 (based on the rating of its AmGUARD Insurance Company unit), indicating it receives more complaints than would be expected for a company its size.

Another consideration when selecting an insurer is its financial stability. After all, you want your insurance company to be on a strong financial footing should you even need to file a claim. 

AM Best, a ratings agency that measures financial strength, gives Berkshire Hathaway an A++ effective April 2025, indicating that the company is in a superior position to meet its financial obligations. 

How does Berkshire Hathaway commercial auto insurance pricing compare with the competition?

The cost of Berkshire Hathaway commercial car insurance depends on a variety of factors, such as location, coverage options, driving history and the business you're in.

Berkshire Hathaway's subsidiary biBerk publishes rate quotes online for certain vehicle types. Here are the general price ranges we found in recent searches the last few months:

• Smaller vehicles used for commuting: $600 to $1,500 per vehicle per year
• For-hire trucking: $5,000 to $15,000 per vehicle per year
• Livery vehicles: $2,000 to $6,000 per vehicle per year

To see how Berkshire Hathaway's commercial auto insurance prices compare to its competitors, you’ll need to get a personalized rate quote. Comparing commercial car insurance quotes from multiple insurance companies can also help you find the most affordable commercial auto insurance policy for your situation and coverage needs.

Tips to save on Berkshire Hathaway commercial auto insurance 

Berkshire Hathaway doesn’t advertise any commercial auto insurance discounts on its website. However, some of its subsidiaries might offer ways to reduce your premium. Here are some ways to potentially save money on your commercial auto insurance policy:

• Bundling discount: Many insurers provide a discount for bundling commercial auto insurance with another policy, like general liability insurance or commercial property insurance.
• Paid-in-full discount: You can sometimes earn a small discount if you pay your annual premium upfront and in full at the start of the policy period. 
• Good driver discount: If your employees have clean driving records with no recent accidents or violations, Berkshire Hathaway might give you a discount on your commercial auto insurance premium.

How to buy Berkshire Hathaway commercial vehicle insurance

To purchase a commercial car insurance policy from Berkshire Hathaway, you’ll need to choose which subsidiary is right for your industry and coverage needs.

Once you select the right subsidiary, you can call the company directly. Here’s a list of the companies that underwrite commercial auto insurance for Berkshire Hathaway, and how you can get a quote:

• Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies: Call (800) 488-2930
• Guard Insurance Companies: Call (800) 673-2465
• Three: Online quote or call (800) 507-4495
• biBerk: Online quote or call (844) 472-0967

Before you talk to an agent, you’ll want to have all pertinent information available to ensure the quote is accurate. You’ll need the year, make, model and VIN for all vehicles. You’ll also need employees' driver's license numbers so Berkshire Hathaway can properly rate the drivers. 

Also, consider what coverage you want. You can choose a liability-only policy to meet state minimum requirements; however, this will not protect the vehicle if you are at fault for an accident. Talk to the representative about deductible options to help you save money while getting the protection you want. 

Once the representative has all the information, they’ll provide you with a quote for approval. From there, you just need to pay the initial premium to start the policy. 

Bottom line: Why go with Berkshire Hathaway for commercial auto insurance?

Berkshire Hathaway stands out for its superior financial stability rating, which is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a commercial car insurance company. Additionally, Berkshire Hathaway’s subsidiaries offer a good variety of coverage options – ideal if you want to bundle multiple policies.

However, keep in mind that Berkshire Hathaway’s coverage options, online tools and digital experience vary depending on the subsidiary that underwrites your policy. You might need to research several subsidiaries to find the best one for your needs.