If you’re in the business of transport, in any form, then the fleet of vehicles you have on the road likely represents one of the most valuable investments in your company and its ambition. Consequently, it deserves protection, and this is where the importance of vehicle fleet insurance becomes clear. 

Designed to protect this crucial company asset, motor fleet insurance is built with business goals in mind. It aims to keep your fleet on the road, protect you from liability and provide repair or replacement for damaged or stolen vehicles with the greatest possible efficiency.  

Motor fleet insurance is designed for commercial vehicles of businesses with generally three or more vehicles. Its goal is to bring all your vehicles under a simplified, streamlined policy that recognises that, in the event of an accident or theft, your business cannot stop while it waits for support. 

A commercial fleet can include cars, vans, jeeps, HGVs, trucks and buses, or any combination of these vehicle types, as long as they are all connected with your business.

The main reasons to consider motor fleet insurance include: 

Not all fleets, or their respective business types, are the same, and so the insurance profiles that protect them also differ. In common with all motor insurance polices in Ireland, a business owner has three levels of protection to choose from:

Ireland is a business-friendly country, and consequently, there is a wide range of insurance providers operating here. Each offers variations in premiums, policies and pricing tailored to your business needs. 

Comparing offers is crucial in this sector, as your business’s needs can vary significantly from a competitor’s, and you want to secure the best protection at the best price. 

Fleet insurance providers in Ireland include:

Tailoring fleet insurance is important because it reflects the diversity of drivers, driving conditions and business needs of each fleet. 

For example, your business may experience high driver turnover, so you need to be prepared for a range of driver ages, experience levels, and driving histories. 

Conversely, you may have a business that operates solely in high-traffic areas, such as cities or towns. Another business might need its drivers to be experienced on both city streets and long-distance rural roads. Each presents its own level of risk for insurance providers.

Consequently, there is a long menu of options available to businesses and insurance providers. Naturally, you will want coverage for legal liability, medical costs, and repairs, but there are other factors to consider as well. 

Some common policy areas worth thinking about include:

Motor fleet insurance is highly tailored to each business, so prices vary widely. You can expect it to account for up to 20% of your fleet ownership costs. The best way to get a sense of actual costs is to compare quotes from different providers.

To do this, you will need provide the:

Number of vehicles: this normally starts at three-plus vehicles.
Make and model: a transparent listing of all the specifications of your vehicles.
Value: have a value for each vehicle to be included in a group policy ready.
Usage type: You need to specific which type of usage each vehicle will be engaged in. 

There are three usage types:

All businesses that have more than two commercial vehicles or commercial fleets, especially if they are driven by multiple employees, would be advised to consider a fleet insurance policy. Business insurance for tradespeople usually includes product liability cover.