Your commercial auto renewal landed in your inbox and the number was higher than last year. Again. If you asked your broker why, you probably got a version of the same answer: the market is hard, claims are expensive, there’s nothing we can do.

That answer is partly true. But it leaves out the part where you actually have leverage. Fleet managers who understand what’s driving their premiums — and who show up to renewal with the right data — consistently get better outcomes than those who accept the first quote.

Here’s what you need to know going into your next renewal.

Why your premiums keep going up

Commercial auto insurance has not had a profitable underwriting year since 2010, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The industry posted a combined ratio of 107.2% in 2024, meaning insurers paid out $1.07 for every dollar they collected in premiums. That math does not produce rate relief.

Several forces are pushing claims costs higher. Repair bills have jumped sharply because modern work trucks are loaded with sensors, cameras, and driver assistance systems. According to CBIZ’s 2025 commercial auto market outlook, repairing vehicles equipped with ADAS technology can cost up to twice as much as repairing older trucks without those features. Parts delays have extended repair timelines and pushed more vehicles into total-loss territory.

Litigation is the other major driver. Nuclear verdicts — jury awards exceeding $10 million — increased 52% from 2023 to 2024, with 135 corporate lawsuits reaching that threshold. Total awards hit $31.3 billion, according to data cited by SambaSafety. Commercial vehicles are frequently at the center of these cases. Insurers have raised rates in response, but claim severity has climbed faster than premiums. As a result, S&P Global projects commercial auto combined ratios will remain above 100% through at least 2029.

For small and mid-size fleets, this means rate increases are coming regardless of your own claims history. Commercial auto premiums rose 6.7% in the first quarter of 2025 alone, according to Risk & Insurance magazine — the steepest increase of any commercial insurance line. The market-wide pressure is real. But your risk profile still determines where within that range your renewal lands.

What underwriters are actually looking at

Insurers price risk based on what they can measure. The factors that move your premium the most are driver quality, claims history, safety program documentation, and increasingly, telematics data.

Driver quality starts with motor vehicle records. Underwriters review MVR scores for every driver on your policy. A driver with recent speeding convictions, at-fault accidents, or license violations raises your risk profile and your premium. Most fleet managers know this at hiring — but many stop reviewing MVRs after that. Running annual MVR checks on every driver is one of the fastest ways to demonstrate active risk management to an insurer.

Claims history is obvious but often misunderstood. A single large claim can follow a fleet for three to five years. How you handle claims matters almost as much as the claim itself. Fleets with documented accident protocols — standardized scene reporting, prompt notification to the insurer, dashcam footage — often resolve claims faster and at lower cost. Insurers notice that pattern at renewal.

A written fleet safety policy is increasingly treated as a baseline requirement rather than a differentiator. It should address who is authorized to drive, how mobile devices are handled, and what drivers must do after an incident. If you don’t have one in writing, you’re leaving a visible gap in your risk profile.

The data you can bring to the table

This is where most small fleet managers leave money on the table. Underwriters respond to documentation. If you can show that your fleet’s risk profile has improved — or has always been better than average — you have grounds to push back on market-rate increases.

Telematics data is the most powerful tool available. According to a 2024 report cited by CarInsurance.com, 44% of businesses using in-cab monitoring reported reduced insurance costs. Fleets that share telematics reports showing low rates of hard braking, speeding, and after-hours driving give underwriters a concrete reason to price them differently from the market average. Some insurers now offer usage-based insurance programs that tie premiums directly to driving behavior scores. Ask your broker if any of your current carriers offer one.

FMCSA safety scores matter for fleets operating vehicles subject to DOT oversight. Clean BASICs scores — the Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories tracked by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — signal to underwriters that your operation is well-managed. If your scores have improved, bring documentation of that improvement to your renewal meeting.

Driver training records round out the picture. If your drivers have completed defensive driving courses or safety certifications, document it and present it. Many carriers offer credits for formal training programs. The National Safety Council offers fleet-focused training resources that are recognized by commercial insurers.

Practical steps before your next renewal

Start the process 90 days before your renewal date, not 30. That gives you time to gather data, run MVRs, and approach multiple carriers without being pressured by a deadline.

Get competing quotes every single year. Even if you plan to stay with your current carrier, a competing quote gives you leverage. The commercial auto market has enough active carriers that shopping annually is worth the effort.

Consider raising your deductible strategically. A higher deductible lowers your premium, but only works if your business has the reserves to cover it. If your fleet has a strong safety record and infrequent small claims, a higher deductible may save more annually than you’d spend on claims.

Ask specifically about credits. Many carriers offer discounts for telematics enrollment, dashcam programs, formal driver training, and clean MVR histories. These credits are often not applied automatically — you have to ask for them and provide the documentation to support them.

Finally, work with a broker who specializes in commercial auto, not a generalist. The nuances of commercial fleet underwriting are different enough from personal auto that a specialist broker often has access to markets and programs that a generalist doesn’t. They can also help you understand how your risk profile compares to similar fleets — which is the context you need to negotiate effectively.

Premiums are rising across the board. But the gap between what a well-documented, well-managed fleet pays and what an undocumented one pays is significant. That gap is yours to close.

 

Also read: Cutting Costs: 2026 Commercial Insurance Guide