Box Truck Insurance Cost

Knowing how much you should expect to pay for box truck insurance can help you budget for this necessary expense.

In this article, we'll look at some factors that affect box truck insurance rates and give you an idea of how much you can expect to pay for coverage. We'll also look at specific types of truck businesses you can go for and give you some ideas on how to save money on your insurance costs.

Let's get started.

Here are some average prices that you can expect to pay for box truck insurance:

Box Truck Insurance Type	Cost per month
Commercial insurance for box truck	$416.66
General liability policy	$25
Cargo insurance	$145.83
Physical damage coverage	$191.66
Workers' compensation**	$250

*Disclaimer: These are average insurance premiums taken from customer data over a two year period and will vary depending on the cutomser’s business. They should not be taken as a definitive cost proposal. **Workers' compensation insurance is usually part of the box truck business insurance.

Here are some key factors that affect how much you'll pay for box truck insurance.

1. Box Truck Type

There are various types of box trucks, and each one will have a different insurance rate. The kind of truck you drive (or own) will be one of the most significant factors in how much you pay for coverage.

Here are some examples of box vans and their various insurance rates.

16 Foot Box Truck Insurance Cost

According to multiple sources, the insurance cost ranges from $216 per month to $820 per month for this type of truck. This extensive range is due to the type of coverage and provider one goes for. The monthly insurance rates will also differ based on 1st liability cover or comprehensive cover.

26 Foot Box Truck Insurance Cost

The insurance cost for a 26ft box truck starts from $231 per month and can go up to $946 per month. Again, the coverage chosen will play a significant role in deciding the monthly insurance premium.

2. Weight Of Your Box Truck (G.V.W.R.)

Your box truck's size and weight will affect your insurance cost. This is because the heavier your vehicle, the more damage it can do in an accident.

The average box truck's (Class 3-7) weight limit is 12,500-33,000 pounds. These are the class ratings to keep in mind:

Box Truck Weight	Class	Feet of Box Truck
Light duty box trucks	1, 2, and 3	12′ to 14′
Medium duty box trucks	4, 5, and 6	16′ to 18′
Heavy duty box trucks	7 and 8	24′ to 26′

3. Value Of Your Box Truck

There are three factors that affect the value of your truck: age, cost, and model.

1. Age: The truck's age generally refers to the mileage it has been used for. Older trucks will cost more to insure, as they are more prone to need repairs and be involved in accidents compared to new models.

2. Cost: The average cost for a used but newer model box truck, ranges from $12,100 to $24,560. Box trucks that are two years old (or less) will cost between $30,150 and $41,230. A delivery truck six to ten years old (and twelve feet wide) can cost as little as $1,676.

GOOD TO KNOW:

• Most buyers (83%) prefer used box trucks, while only a tiny minority (1%) will purchase new ones; the rest are unsure (16%).
• The average buyer aims to spend between $15,720 – $27,339 on their purchase.
• Around one in every seven buyers searches to buy a truck in the price range of $25,400 to $53,349.

Year	Model	Cost
2020	FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER	$23,900
2019	GMC SAVANA	$26,750
2019	FORD ECONOLINE	$25,995
2017	GMC SAVANA	$19,900
2016	FORD ECONOLINE	$25,995
2015	GMC SAVANA	$19,900
2014	FORD ECONOLINE	$21,900

*Source: Commercial Trucker Trader

4. Vehicle Identification Number (V.I.N)

When you contact a CoverWallet Agent enquiring about insurance, they will ask you for the V.I.N (Vehicle Identification Number).

Once the agent has this information, they can provide an accurate quote for insuring your box truck.

As the owner, finding the V.I.N. is easy as long as you know where to look.

The V.I.N. for heavy-duty trucks can be found in one of several places, such as the side door frame on the driver’s side (next to the company logo), the front frame rail, on top of the sun visor, or even inside the glove box.

If, for some reason, you cannot locate the V.I.N., the insurance agent might ask you for the following:

• year of manufacturing
• year of purchase
• make and model of the truck
• G.V.W.R. (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)

5. The Number Of Box Trucks You Have

Another factor that will affect the cost of your insurance is the number of box trucks you have.

If you only have one truck, you will likely pay less for insurance than if you have multiple trucks.

This is because insurers see multiple trucks as more of a risk since there is a greater chance that one of the trucks could be involved in an accident.

This often doesn't apply to new trucking business owners as most only have one truck.

6. Your Business Location And Distance Travelled

Let’s take a look at each of these two factors and how they impact your box truck insurance cost.

1. LOCATION

The business location is also a significant factor in your box truck insurance cost. In general, urban areas are more expensive to insure than rural areas due to the risk involved.

On average, there is a greater risk of accidents and theft in urban areas, as highlighted in several studies. As such, if your business is located in an urban area, you can expect to pay more for insurance than one that’s found in a rural area.

State	Rural or Urban	Urbanization Index*
Texas	Rural	11.17
Georgia	Rural	10.55
Florida	Urban	11.46
New Jersey	Urban	12.24
Maryland	Rural	11.16

*Source: FiveThirtyEight’s urbanization index is calculated as the natural logarithm of the average number of people living within a five-mile radius of a given resident.

2. DISTANCE

Similarly, the distance you drive your box truck also affects the cost of your insurance. If you only use your vehicle for local deliveries, you will likely pay less for insurance than if you use your truck for long-distance deliveries.

If you cross state boundaries, you must include in your business playbook to get a commercial trucking insurance policy that covers you in all the states you operate in. This would be more expensive than if you only used it in one state.

6. The Type Of Goods You Haul

The type of goods you haul in your box truck also affects the cost of your insurance since some types of goods are more likely to be damaged or stolen than others.

If you haul fragile or valuable items, you can expect to pay more for insurance than if you move less delicate items.

The same applies to perishable and more expensive goods as well. Generally, the more valuable the goods you haul, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

The insurance provider also considers the business contracts you have in place. For example, if you have a recurring contract with a client that requires you to haul high-value items, the insurance company will be more likely to charge you a higher premium.

Note that some insurance might not insure you for certain types of hauls. If you're hauling hazardous materials, you might find that various insurers exclude this from their coverage.

As such, you must check with the insurer to see if they cover the type of haul you're doing before purchasing a policy.

Condition of goods hauled	Examples	Box truck insurance cost
Perishable	Perishable	High
Fragile &/or expensive	Furniture, glass items, laboratory materials, technological accessories, marble/tiles/porcelain	Medium
Non-fragile	Printed books & magazines, carpets, clothes, bedding & laundry, packaging	Low

7. Length Of Your Operations And Loss Runs

The more data an insurance company has to look at, the more accurately they can assess the risk of insuring your box truck.

As such, if you've been in business for longer, you can expect to pay less for insurance than if you're a new business.

This is because the insurer has a better idea of your driving history and your loss run.

The term loss run refers to the claims history of a business. The more claims you've made, the higher your loss run will be. If you have a high-loss run, you can expect to pay more for insurance than a low-loss run.

Reducing claims, accidents, speeding penalties, and traffic citations can lower this metric. There are several tips truck drivers can take to stay safe, avoid accidents and prevent insurance claims.

That said, as a new driver, you won't be able to lean on a long history to get a lower insurance rate.

7. Types Of Risks You Want Covered

While basic box truck insurance policies will cover you for the most common risks (typically property damage and injury liability), there are other risks that you might want to be covered for as well.

Consulting with personal injury lawyers can help you determine what type of additional coverage you might need for your business.

That said, here are some of the most common additional coverages that box truck businesses add to their policies:

Box truck insurance type	Box truck risks	Box truck insurance cost
Basic box truck insurance policy	Property damage (damage to box truck); Injury liability (injuries or damage to sb else or sbe else’s property, caused by your box truck	$33
Comprehensive damage policy	Fire, Theft, Vandalism, Other incidents	$436
Collision policy	Damages to your box truck and to other’s property due to a collision	$184
Cargo insurance policy	Loss or damage to your cargo	$123
Non-trucking liability	Injury or damage caused by using your box truck not for business purposes	$123

*Disclaimer: These are average monthly insurance premiums taken from customer data over a two year period and will vary depending on the cutomser’s business. They should not be taken as a definitive cost proposal.

When you call a CoverWallet trucking agent, consider asking for advice on how you can save money on your box truck insurance.

That said, the following tips can help you get started:

TIP 1. Hire Drivers With a Good Driving History

Your driver's age and experience are significant factors in how much you'll pay for insurance.

Looking at your potential hires' Motor Vehicle Record (M.V.R.) is an excellent way to gauge their driving history.

Good driving history is one that’s free of accidents, speeding tickets, and other traffic violations.

On the other hand, having anything less than a clean driving record usually means a bad driving history and might include any or all of the above.

TIP 2. Buy Bundle Packages

You might be eligible for a discount if you can buy additional policies to your basic box truck insurance.

Discounts might apply when going for multiple policies, which can add significant savings to your insurance costs.

TIP 3. Commit To A Yearly Payment

While many insurance companies offer monthly payment options, you'll usually get a discount if you pay your policy upfront.

With the possibility of a 10 or 20% discount on your premium, it's important to weigh this against the convenience of monthly payments.

Before pulling the trigger, consider that you'll have to stay with the same provider for a year, which means that doing your research ahead of time is critical.

TIP 4. Require, Maintain, And Monitor Driving Logs

A driving log for truck drivers is a record of their hours behind the wheel.

Its purpose is to ensure that drivers follow the hours-of-service regulations the government sets.

A driving log look as simple as this:

Date: ______________
Driver: _____________
Truck: _____________
Day Minutes: _____________
Night Minutes: _____________
Total Hours Driven: _____________
Skills Practiced: _____________

Or it could look more detailed like this:

Filling out such a daily log can be tedious, but it's essential if you want to stay compliant with the law. Filling out a driving log can differ from state to state, so it's necessary to check with your local D.M.V.

Here are various templates and examples of printable driver's daily log books.

Truckers that form part of the Amazon Relay program usually drive 26-foot trucks. The amount of space this type of truck allows drivers to haul more products at once.

The monthly insurance average for an Amazon box truck is $952. However, this number varies when comparing any number of drivers.

This can happen because of some of the following reasons:

• The location of the driver
• How often is the driver on the road
• The type of cargo being hauled
• The make and model of the truck

See our ultimate insurance guide on trucking for the Amazon Relay Program (coming soon!)

Opting for rental insurance when renting a box truck is a good idea. This is because it will cover you if something goes wrong.

Most box truck rental companies do not include insurance in the price of renting the truck. This means that it's up to you to decide if you want to get it or not.

Listed under the hired auto liability insurance (or even non-owned auto liability insurance), renters insurance will cover you for any damage you cause to other people or property while driving the rental truck.

For example, if you get into an accident, the insurance will help cover injured third parties and ensure the owners of damaged property are compensated.

You can also opt for additional options in this situation.

These include:

• Limited damage waiver: If you get this coverage, it will cater for any damage to the truck that happens while you're driving it.

• Cargo coverage: This will cover any damage or loss to the cargo you're hauling in the rental truck.

• Supplemental liability: This provides additional coverage for primary liability for third-party injuries and property damage.

1. While providing an exact box truck insurance cost figure is tough to do without knowing the specifics, the tips mentioned above can help you get an idea of what to expect.

2. Do your research and consider the various ways to find the right coverage while saving on your premiums.

3. Don't let insurance costs put you off from renting or buying a box truck.

4. By being active, engaging, and providing value on LinkedIn, you will be well on your way to achieving success in sales prospecting.