Livestock and property businesses rely on vehicles to travel between offices, saleyards, client properties, inspections, sales and appointments. Motor cover should reflect how those vehicles are owned, driven and used in the business, rather than being treated as ordinary road use.
Vehicles do a lot of the work in a livestock and property business. In any given week they may travel between offices, saleyards and client properties, carry staff, equipment or work-related items to inspections, appointments, livestock sales and regional events, and cover long stretches of regional and highway road. Many are driven by several employees or other authorised drivers.
Policy structure, cover and eligibility depend on the insurer, the vehicle, the drivers, how the vehicle is used and the policy wording. Nothing is automatically covered, so it helps to check that what is on the schedule matches what happens on the road.
Depending on the policy arranged, common exposures to review may include:
Damage to insured business vehicles following collision, weather, theft or other insured events, depending on the cover selected.
Liability arising from damage caused by an insured vehicle to another person's vehicle or property, subject to the policy.
Vehicles may be driven by principals, employees or other authorised drivers, so driver arrangements should be reflected accurately.
Regular travel between towns, saleyards, properties and client locations can increase time on the road and change the motor exposure carried by the business.
Bullbars, canopies, signage, communication equipment, tools or other accessories may need to be declared or specifically insured.
If the business transports livestock, equipment or other property, do not assume the Commercial Motor policy covers the load itself. Transit and carriers liability cover should be checked separately, including any limited extensions provided by the motor policy.
A staff member is driving a business ute between a saleyard and a client property when the vehicle is involved in a collision. The ute is damaged and another vehicle is also involved. Depending on the Commercial Motor policy and the cover selected, the insurer may respond to insured damage to the business vehicle and to covered third-party property damage.
Outcomes depend on the specific policy wording, limits, excesses and exclusions arranged.
Commercial Motor policies differ, and none of the following should be assumed. Areas worth checking include:
Motor covers should be looked at whenever the vehicles, the drivers or the way the business travels change. Review triggers include:
Rural transport work moves stock, grain, fuel and machinery over long distances and unsealed roads. A broker's guide to how motor, goods in transit and liability cover fit together for regional operators.
A vehicle used to inspect stock, attend auctions or run between properties is not a private vehicle in the eyes of an insurer. A look at how commercial motor and private motor policies differ – and why the distinction matters at claim time.
Eligibility depends on the insurer and the policy. Business-owned or business-operated cars, utes and other commercial vehicles may be considered, depending on how each vehicle is used and its risk profile.
RMA Insurance Brokers can review the vehicles in use and how they are described on the current policy schedule.
Not always. Driver conditions vary between policies. Named or permitted drivers, age restrictions, licence status, driving history and permitted-use conditions may affect cover, terms or excesses.
Where driver arrangements have changed, it is worth having the policy wording reviewed so the people driving business vehicles are reflected correctly.
Whenever vehicles, drivers, vehicle values, accessories, business use or fleet size change. Buying or replacing a vehicle, adding regular drivers, fitting accessories or changing where vehicles travel are all common triggers for a review.
Ask RMA Insurance Brokers to review the motor insurance arrangements for your Livestock & Property Agent business so they reflect the vehicles, drivers and business use in place today.
The information on this page is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether the information is appropriate for you. Cover is subject to the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions of the relevant policy. Insurance products and available cover vary between insurers. Review the relevant policy documentation before making a decision.
