Need insurance for your charter bus service? Fill out one form and we’ll connect you with three bus insurance agents right now. They’ll offer you their best price and you choose the policy that’s right for you.
What Does a Charter Bus Insurance Policy Cover?
When you operate a charter bus service, about a million different things can go wrong. A driver shows up to the job drunk. A route you must traverse is covered in ice from a recent storm. A school band you’re transporting won’t stop misbehaving and your driver gets distracted. You need an insurance plan that covers each of these contingencies and countless others. We’ve outlined the four most common things that your charter insurance policy should cover in order to keep you airtight.
When You Get into an Automobile Accident
Not all automobile accidents are catastrophic. Your driver might back into a parked car. He might bump into a truck at a red light. No matter what it is, when a driver is at fault in an accident, your business will be held responsible. That’s why every carter bus service must have automotive liability protection for all of its vehicles. This coverage pays for damage done to other vehicles and other motorists when one of your drivers is at fault in an accident.
When One of Your Passengers Is Hurt
Say you’re transporting a group of senior citizens and one of them slips and falls on her way to the bathroom. Whether it’s your driver’s fault or not, you will be held responsible. That’s why you need medical payments insurance. This coverage protects your passengers if they’re hurt for any reason while riding one of your buses.
When Your Driver Is Hurt
Everything from whiplash to dismemberment is covered by worker’s compensation insurance. This not only relieves you of liability when one of your drivers is hurt, it also pays for lost wages and medical expenses incurred from an injury.
When Someone Sues Your Business
While these other coverages protect your drivers, passengers, and coaches on the road, they don’t protect your business itself from lawsuits. That’s where general liability insurance comes in. If someone is hurt at your place of business or accuses you of slander or libel or a host of other grievances, this coverage pays for any court fees.
How Much Charter Bus Insurance Coverage Do You Need?
Charter bus services that carry more than 15 passengers and cross state lines are required to have an insurance liability limit of $5,000,000 minimum. This amount might be less if you only travel intrastate. It all depends on your particular state. You might also be permitted a lower limit if you own minibuses that carry fewer than 15 passengers.
What to look for in an agent
The best way to choose an insurance agent for your charter bus service is to compare several at once. But when you’re speaking to these agents, what should you be looking for? We’ve narrowed it down to three main qualities you should look for in a prospective charter bus insurance agent.
1. Availability – A majority of charter services run buses at night and on weekends. If one of your drivers gets into an accident, will your agent be there to assist you? It’s important to get an agent who has representatives available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
2. Reliability – The insurance company you choose should be well respected. You want to know that, if you need to file a claim, your insurance company will be able to pony up. That’s why it’s crucial to check out rating agencies like A.M. Best to check the history of any potential insurance companies.
3. Affordability – We don’t need to tell you that price is important. Be sure to ask your agent whether he can offer you any discounts. Sometimes they can lower your price if you agree to certain payment terms or if you choose to bundle additional coverages.