Category Archives: Automobile insurance

Chicago Ice Cream Vendors And Their Business Auto Insurance Requirements

When early Spring comes, vendors of ice cream begin their plans of searching for the right coverage for their ice cream trucks. Most ice cream vendors place the maximum importance on getting the cheap ice cream truck insurance premiums. While rates are very much critical, other concerns should not be forgotten during the purchasing process and after getting your preferred ice cream truck insurance policy.

Looking For The Proper Ice Cream Truck Insurance

Searching for insurance to cover your ice cream vending van should be an easy task. For one thing, there are not many insurance companies that offer this coverage and unlike private passenger automobile insurance, there are fewer insurance companies that are willing to give you insurance coverage for ice cream vending trucks. Start by looking for quotes from referrals of folks in your business circle including ice cream wholesale merchants and other ice cream vendors, like yourself. Also, the online worlds can be used in searching for cheap insurance for ice cream truck.

Insurance rate is, naturally, a key issue for every ice cream vendor. But as you are opting out for the smallest possible rates, be aware of the following:

1. Make certain that you what you need is a quote and policy proposal for a business auto policy, and not a personal auto policy. If you do not make a point of the fact that your ‘van’ is a commercially used vending vehicle then you might not getting the proper commercial policy.

2. Don’t forget to get the appropriate liability coverage that fits your needs or the needs of your organization. Some insurance providers giving this coverage give it only at minimum limits of the state. The minimum limits of liability on ice cream trucks is $20,000 bodily injury per person, $40,000 bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 in property damage per accident. These limits may not be suitable for certain businesses or business owners with considerable assets that require higher protection. Many governmental bodies, municipalities, and counties in Illinois demand that ice cream vendors have a minimum of $1,000,000 in public auto liability.

3. Full coverage with comp and collision may be unnecessary if the truck is older. If you decide to buy it make sure to ask your insurance adviser if your company is also covering the freezer and cooling equipment.

4. In some instances you might have to purchase commercial general liability policy which will provide coverage in the event your business conduct as a seller (not as a truck owner or as driver) cause bodily damages to others (For example, if the ice cream bars ice cream you sell cause bodily harm to clients.) Again working in a spot belonging to a municipality or a county may warrant that you get this coverage before the local authorities authorize you to vend ice cream in their area.

5. Make sure to get workers compensation if you employ others. Your business will be in violation of the law if your establishment is operating with no workers compensation coverage. Also, some municipalities and villages will not authorize you to get a vending permit unless you prove that you got workers compensation coverage.

6. Remember to disclose all of the people who will be using the truck. Also, keep in mind that forgetting to disclose other drivers may cause the cancellation of coverage. If you decide to include a driver under age of 25 years, your premium will raise. Also remember that many insurance carriers do not allow any drivers age 20 or under to be driving a business auto. You are assuming too much risks if you allow youthful operators below age 25 years to operate an ice cream truck, while they are not scheduled on the policy.