Hired & Non-Owned Auto Insurance
Hired & Non-Owned Auto Insurance
What Is Hired & Non-Owned Auto Insurance?
Hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) insurance provides liability coverage for vehicles your business uses but does not own. "Hired auto" refers to cars, trucks, or vans that your company rents or leases on a short-term basis, while "non-owned auto" covers employee-owned personal vehicles driven for business purposes. If an employee causes an accident while running a work errand in their own car, or a rented vehicle is involved in a collision during a business trip, the business can be held legally liable for resulting injuries and property damage. HNOA coverage fills this gap.
Many businesses in the Seattle area do not own a fleet of vehicles but still rely on employees driving their personal cars to client meetings, making deliveries, visiting job sites, or traveling between offices. Without HNOA coverage, a lawsuit following a business-related accident could expose your company to significant financial risk. An employee's personal auto policy provides some protection, but it may not offer adequate limits, and it was never designed to cover the employer's vicarious liability. Anker Insurance helps you close this coverage gap affordably, often as an endorsement to your existing general liability or BOP policy.
Key Benefits at a Glance
Hired vs. Non-Owned Auto: Key Differences
| Coverage Type | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Hired Auto Liability | Vehicles rented, leased, or borrowed by the business for short-term use, such as rental cars for business travel |
| Hired Auto Physical Damage | Damage to the rented vehicle itself (optional; replaces the need to purchase rental company collision waivers) |
| Non-Owned Auto Liability | Employee personal vehicles used for business errands, client visits, deliveries, and other work-related driving |
| Excess Over Personal Auto | HNOA responds after the employee's personal auto policy limits are exhausted |
| Medical Payments | Small medical expense coverage for occupants of the hired or non-owned vehicle regardless of fault |
| Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist | Optional coverage if the at-fault driver in an accident lacks adequate insurance |
Why Choose Anker Insurance for Hired & Non-Owned Auto?
Anker Insurance recognizes that most small and mid-sized businesses in the Seattle metro and throughout Washington State rely on personal vehicles and occasional rentals rather than company-owned fleets. We help you identify your actual auto exposure, determine the right liability limits, and add HNOA coverage seamlessly to your existing commercial insurance program. Our agents also advise on risk management strategies, such as verifying employee driving records and establishing company vehicle-use policies, to reduce your exposure and keep premiums competitive.
Ready to Close Your Auto Liability Gap?
If your employees ever drive their own cars for business or your company rents vehicles for any reason, you need hired and non-owned auto coverage. Contact Anker Insurance today for a quick quote and eliminate this common but often overlooked business liability exposure.
