Bus Driver Car Insurance

As a professional bus driver, you spend a considerable number of your waking hours behind the wheel, so you might be wondering about bus driver car insurance.

Whether you’re transporting yourself or others for personal or professional reasons, more road time means more opportunities for something to go wrong. In fact, research shows there are roughly 14,000 bus accidents per year.

Driving without car insurance is a risk that no motorist can afford to take, least of all one who drives for a living.

When driving for your job, you are most likely covered by your company’s commercial auto insurance policy. The same is true if you are driving on behalf of your own commercial bus business.

Just like personal car insurance policies, bus driver policies come in a variety of types. The kind of coverage and amount you company needs depends on a number of factors including the size of the buses, the driving experience of their employees and the company budget. So, insurance rates for motor coach buses, military truck insurance rates, and party bus insurance rates can all differ greatly.

Compare car insurance for bus drivers options today to find the best fit for your insurance needs. We will help you compare the cheapest car insurance for bus drivers. Enter your zip code above to begin.

What are your coverage options?

When looking for cheap car insurance for bus drivers, it’s important to consider all the types of coverage you may need.

• Liability insurance – Liability coverage is the most important provision to have on a commercial bus insurance policy.
• Bodily injury – This portion of the liability policy covers the cost of medical expenses for a driver or passengers in another vehicle involved in the accident. There is also a property damage provision that pays for vehicle and other property damage that results from an accident
• Collision coverage – This type of coverage pays for repairs to your bus and is effective even if you were at fault for the accident.

Average liability rates by state can be seen in the chart below.

Average Annual Liability Car Insurance Rates by State

States	Average Annual LIability Rates
North Dakota	$298.18
Iowa	$299.18
South Dakota	$300.22
Wyoming	$321.04
Maine	$338.87
Vermont	$343.12
Idaho	$344.29
Kansas	$358.24
North Carolina	$359.42
Nebraska	$364.64
Wisconsin	$374.37
Indiana	$382.68
Montana	$386.29
Arkansas	$394.13
Alabama	$394.21
Ohio	$397.11
New Hampshire	$400.56
Tennessee	$413.91
Missouri	$415.88
Virginia	$425.61
Illinois	$446.72
Minnesota	$456.82
Hawaii	$458.54
Mississippi	$460.50
Oklahoma	$461.01
New Mexico	$488.03
California	$489.66
West Virginia	$491.83
Utah	$497.53
Pennsylvania	$499.06
Arizona	$508.76
Colorado	$520.04
South Carolina	$527.09
Texas	$528.75
Kentucky	$529.21
Alaska	$539.68
Georgia	$557.38
Oregon	$584.13
Washington	$596.67
Massachusetts	$606.04
Maryland	$609.74
District of Columbia	$628.82
Connecticut	$650.94
Nevada	$681.56
Rhode Island	$759.80
Louisiana	$775.83
Michigan	$795.32
Delaware	$799.30
New York	$804.51
Florida	$857.64
New Jersey	$869.57
U.S. Average	$538.73

Some types of bus services can put you at higher risk for lawsuits. For example, if your passengers are mainly the elderly or children, you could potentially face allegations of neglect or abuse.

If for any reason you feel your business is at high risk for litigation, it is a good idea to bulk up your liability coverage. A provision called umbrella coverage can add a greater level of protection, especially in the event of a lawsuit.

• Medical payments coverage – Also known as MedPay, this coverage pays for your injuries and the injuries of anyone on the bus with you at the time of the accident. According to research, about 50 bus passengers a year die in bus accidents. If someone gets injured on your bus, they’re covered too under MedPay.
• Comprehensive coverage – There are ways your bus can be damaged without every colliding with another vehicle. These include fire, burglary, damage from hail or fallen trees, lightning and more. Comprehensive coverage takes care of these damages and all other non-vehicular collision events.
• Business interruption – This type of insurance covers bus driving businesses when an accident or disaster interrupts the regular course of business. According to the American Insurance Association, it is normally part of a business owner’s or commercial property policy and is effective until the business is able to get up and running again.
• Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage – In cases where a driver hits you and flees the scene, or hits you and doesn’t have enough insurance coverage to pay for damage, uninsured motorist coverage can help.

Collision and comprehensive insurance are often called physical damage coverage.

When looking for car insurance for a bus, easily compare rates using our comparison tool below and find the insurance premiums that work best for your budget.

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How much coverage do you need?

Generally speaking, bus driving companies need a high amount of coverage for the simple fact that buses are large vehicles that can easily rack up thousands of dollars’ worth of damages if there’s an accident.

Recommended coverage amounts vary depending on the bus company’s unique needs.

Rates correspond directly with risk. Therefore, if your risk is high, you’ll need a high amount of coverage.

Risk can go up or down depending on the age and condition of your bus, the passengers you carry, route hazards, the kinds of weather in your area, and your level of experience and skill.

If you own the company you drive for, consult with your insurance agent to discuss additional riders and forms of coverage you may need and how much they will cost.

How can you save money on your personal car insurance as a bus driver?

When you aren’t working, you will, of course, need coverage to legally drive your personal vehicle. While there are no special types of car insurance for bus drivers, some professions may make drivers eligible for special discounts, depending on the insurance carrier.

Certain professionals such as librarians, scientists, and pilots enjoy the lowest car insurance rates. This is probably because people in these professions have proven to be statistically less likely to be involved in a car accident.

It is possible, however, the get discounts even if you aren’t in one of these professions. Demonstrating strong driving experience can lower your perceived risk to the insurer and thereby lower your premiums.

As a professional driver, demonstrating experience should not be a problem. According to NAIC, you can get discounts for a number of other things too, such as:

• Being over age 50
• Taking a driver’s education course
• Getting anti-theft devices installed on your vehicle
• Remaining claim-free over several years

This is one reason it’s such a good idea to shop around.

When should you evaluate your current insurance?

Circumstances can change over time, and coverage needs will change with them. For a bus company, premiums can be influenced by changes to the bus fleet, route alterations, policy changes and workforce turnover.

Stay abreast of changes to your employer’s insurance policy. Learn how they affect you and what the changes mean for your job and your passengers.

Personal insurance needs can change as well, especially if you get a new vehicle, make changes to your driving habits, add or remove family members from your policy, etc.

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How can you find insurance redundancies?

Review your own policy with your agent to determine what changes, if any, should be made to fit your insurance needs.

The NAIC recommends checking your health insurance and homeowner’s insurance policies to see if there are any overlaps with your car insurance coverage. If so, you can streamline your car insurance policy and save money.

Using our quote box at the bottom of the page can help you find great rates. For example, if you are searching for school bus insurance in NY, simply enter in your New York ZIP code. Compare car insurance options and bus insurance quotes today to find the right insurance company at the right price.

Frequently Asked Questions: Car Insurance for Bus Drivers

#1 – What about using a school bus, or another type of bus for personal use?

If you notice a school bus for sale and are considering purchasing it for personal use, you will need to consider school bus insurance policy limits and rates. Many large companies, including Progressive Insurance, offer policies that can cover driving a school bus for personal use. It may be easier to find school bus conversion insurance in some states than others.

#2 – Are there different types of insurance available for buses?

Yes, bus drivers can get a variety of coverages. The most common is comprehensive and collision coverage. Comprehensive covers the vehicle in all situations including fire, theft, or vandalism. Collision insurance also includes damage from accidents that you caused. There are many options when it comes to choosing which type of insurance will work best for you.

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