Ask Your Peers  Stand Alone Hired & Non-Owned Auto (Closed)

I write a lot of UAS Aviation Liability. I have an account that is being required to have $1,000,000 Auto. They use Drones to inspect Cell Towers. The business doesn't own any autos and it is comprised of 2 partners and 4 contract pilots. They all drive their personal vehicles. Radius could be up to 750 miles. The solution I currently have is $4,000 and is requiring everyone to carry $500,000 CSL on their personal policies. Is there any market out there that might be slightly more relaxed? I can almost live with the premium, but everyone required to carry $500,000 CSL on their Personal Auto?

Thank you for the advice. I did think of that, but at $4k it might be close to buying junker, a commercial auto policy, and NOHA. The contracted pilots are going employed on a basis that is close to the work they are doing. However, the owners may have to drive from MD to GA, on occasion, to make sure operations are going smoothly. This industry is still developing and if the quality of the filming with the drones is good, it is common for them to establish a good reputation and be hired by major corporations all over the country.

I have a similar situation right now. Who is the carrier that gave you your current quote? I have 2 declines from carriers I work with. Have you considerd putting a commercial auto in place on one of the owners vehicles, then you get the HNOA. For the contract pilots, if they are true subcontractors that otherwise could not be classified as employees wouldn't be picked up on the Commerical Auto HNOA anyway unless you have an Any Auto Policy and then I am suspect as to whether a carrier would pay a claim caused by a Sub. I would recommend the subs carry a 1MM BAP. The cost would not be that much more than increasing the limits and endorsing the personal auto to pick up business use exposure. My insured is trying keep from spending money by trying to cut corners to meet the contractual obligation which is why carriers don't like writing HNOA as a primary coverage becuase that's what it is in our cases. If theverything subs don't have the business use endorsement on the personal auto, the HNOA carrier will likely be on the hook as primary. I have had two claims this year where the employeesame personal auto carrier declined the claim because it was being used for business. You may also want to check to see if your XS policy will sit over a HNOA and that you can provide the AI and WOS endorsement the contract likely requires if you haven't already. Ironically enough my insured will be working at cell tower sites so I have an idea what the contractual requirements are.

Doesn't this account have General Liability with a carrier that would offer H/NO?

No CGL. In this line of business, the Aviation Liability has a CGL Premises Endorsement. The General Contractor who is requiring the coverage has stated the CGL Premises Endorsement will satisfy their requirement. So there is no CGL or BOP to add the coverage on to. Yes, that might be an easy solution if it were possible.

Couldn't you write a BOP/CGL for $350-$500 and add NO/H for $200 +/-? Still might be cheaper than standalone H/NO market.

Go to any of the carriers that you work with and mention the word "drone", they might hang up on you. Nobody in the standard market is writing them. Even videographers who mention to their carriers they might buy a drone to broaden their offerings are getting cancelled. The aviation world has CGL aircraft operations. Min premium of $2500 and no NOHA option to speak of to add on.

I received this email recently for monoline Hired/Non Owned Auto. I hope it helps.

Click here

Michelle Marko, CPCU

InSite Insurance Services
433 South Main Street Ste.107 West Hartford, CT 06110

Phone: 860-461-1441 Cell: 860-712-6357 Fax: 860-461-1404

Visit our new website: www.insiteins.com

Certificate of Insurance requests or endorsement requests: [email protected]

This communication, including attachments, is for the exclusive use of addressee and may contain proprietary, confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, copying, disclosure, dissemination or distribution is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail, delete this communication and destroy all copies.

Hello Jeffrey,

Thank you for using CompleteMarkets!

I did a Find It search for Hired and Non-Owned in Maryland and was able to find some companies that should be able to help you. You can fill out a submission form to get a quote from these companies. 

Please click here to go to the submission form. 

If you would like some help learning how to use the Find It tool for any coverages in the future please call me at (909)878-0265.

If you need any more assistance please respond here and I would be glad to help you.

Have a great day!