Old Republic commercial auto insurance

Our take

Old Republic Group is a leading commercial insurer that offers auto coverage through its subsidiaries. It also offers specialty coverage options for fleet owners or those who operate freight vehicles, including bulk commodity insurance, cargo insurance and excess limits for catastrophic losses.

Coverage options, limits and customer service will vary by the subsidiary issuing your policy, and the company doesn't offer online quotes or pricing.

Understanding commercial auto insurance

Commercial auto insurance is a legal requirement in nearly every state. It covers claims involving company-owned vehicles, including cars, trucks and vans. 

“Commercial auto insurance covers any vehicles that are owned or leased by your business. Like personal auto insurance, it helps pay for legal expenses, physical damage repairs and other costs if your company-owned vehicle is involved in an accident,” says Belen Tokarski, president and COO of Mylo, an independent insurance broker.

A basic commercial car insurance 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. Consider higher limits for better protection.

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.

Old Republic commercial auto insurance coverage

Old Republic sells commercial auto insurance through a network of subsidiaries. Each underwriter specializes in a specific industry, such as construction, manufacturing, healthcare, retail or aerospace.

Each subsidiary also offers different types of coverage. However, these five coverages are standard with most Old Republic commercial auto insurance policies:

• 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 a 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 insurance or lacks sufficient coverage for the loss. 
• Medical payments: This protects your driver and passengers and helps pay for injuries they incur in an at-fault accident.

Old Republic’s subsidiaries also offer optional endorsement and specialty coverages, including bulk commodity insurance, cargo insurance, gap insurance, vehicle service contracts and excess liability limits for catastrophic losses.

Types of commercial vehicles Old Republic insures

Old Republic covers a wide range of vehicles, including:

• Business autos: This category includes all cars, light trucks, SUVs and vans. 
• Trucks: Old Republic covers a variety of trucks, including dump trucks, tractor-trailers, and freight trucks.
• Trailers: This category includes pickup truck utility trailers, dump body trailers and tractor-trailers. 

Old Republic commercial auto insurance benefits

Old Republic says it offers many services that business customers may find beneficial, including:

• Industry-specific insurance coverages and solutions
• Comprehensive risk-control programs
• Dedicated claim handlers with industry expertise

How Old Republic stacks up against other commercial auto insurance companies

Old Republic is the third-largest commercial auto insurance company by market share, controlling about 4.1% 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 Travelers, which has a 5.4% market share, and Liberty Mutual, which has a 3.9% 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. 

Old Republic, according to the latest NAIC data, had a complaint index of 2.34 for commercial auto insurance, which is significantly higher than expected for 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 Old Republic an A+, one of its highest ratings, which indicates the company is in a superior position to meet its financial obligations. 

How does Old Republic commercial auto insurance pricing compare with the competition?

Old Republic doesn’t advertise its commercial auto insurance rates online. To get a rate quote, you’ll have to contact the company directly. Quotes aren’t available online. 

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

According to Insureon, a small-business insurance agency, the average cost of commercial auto insurance is about $147 per month, or $1,764 per year.

To see how Old Republic’s commercial auto insurance prices compare to its competitors, you’ll need to get personalized rate quotes from several companies. Comparing rates can help you find the most affordable commercial auto insurance policy for your situation and coverage needs.

Tips to save on Old Republic commercial auto insurance 

Old Republic doesn’t mention any commercial auto insurance discounts on its website. However, there might be ways to reduce your premium. Here are some ways to potentially save money on your commercial auto insurance policy:

• Bundling discount: Many insurers offer a discount for bundling commercial auto insurance with another policy, such as 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, Old Republic might give you a discount on your commercial auto insurance premium.

How to buy Old Republic commercial vehicle insurance

To purchase a commercial car insurance policy from Old Republic, you’ll need to choose which subsidiary is right for your industry and coverage needs. You can learn more about the subsidiaries on Old Republic’s website.

Once you select the right subsidiary, you can call the company directly. Here’s a list of the companies that underwrite commercial auto insurance and other policies for vehicles and their main phone number: 

• BITCO Insurance Companies: (800) 475-4477
• Great West Casualty Company: (800) 228-8602
• Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada: (800) 530-5446
• Old Republic Insured Automotive Services: (800) 331-3780
• Old Republic Risk Management: (262) 797-3400
• Old Republic Specialty Insurance Underwriters: (224) 283-6434
• PMA Companies: (800) 222-2749

When contacting an Old Republic subsidiary for a quote, 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 employee driver's license numbers so the agent 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 Old Republic for commercial auto insurance?

Old Republic stands out for its specialty coverages and insurance solutions that are tailored for the needs of different industries. You’ll work with dedicated agents and claim handlers with experience in your specific industry.

However, Old Republic has many more complaints than expected for its size and doesn’t offer quotes online. If you want to get a quote or purchase a policy, you must contact the subsidiary that specializes in your industry and coverage needs.

What our expert says

Q: What is commercial auto insurance?

Belen Tokarski President and COO of independent insurance broker Mylo.

"Commercial auto insurance covers any vehicles that are owned or leased by your business. Like personal auto insurance, it helps pay for legal expenses, physical damage repairs and other costs if your company-owned vehicle is involved in an accident."