Due to COVID-19, the number of delivery drivers has greatly expanded. While this service is vital to the economy, it is imperative that those drivers and the public understand the limits of automobile liability insurance. Most personal lines of automobile liability insurance do not provide coverage for vehicles used for commercial purposes. Additionally, most employers do not provide automobile liability insurance to hired drivers (this type of coverage is known as “hired and non-owned” liability insurance).

Recognizing the problem of having more delivery drivers on the road who are potentially and unknowingly not insured, the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) issued the following order on March 23, 2020, “OCI orders all insurers who provide commercial general liability coverage to a restaurant to notify their restaurant insureds that hired and non-owned auto coverage is available if requested. If the insured restaurant requests hired and non-owned auto coverage, the insurer shall, either through a rider or stand-alone policy, provide this coverage to any insured restaurant…. The coverage afforded shall be effective on upon the date it is requested.”

Here is the link to the OCI’s statement and order: https://oci.wi.gov/Pages/PressReleases/20200323RestaurantsCOVID-19.aspx.

If you or someone you know is driving for a company or hires someone to drive for a company, please inform them of this important order. It is important that everyone gets the insurance coverage they need.