Updated 2026-11-01
Every new hire who will drive a company vehicle is, from the insurer's point of view, a new risk. Most commercial auto policies ask you to report new drivers so the insurer can review their record before they get behind the wheel.
What the insurer asks for
- Full name, date of birth and driver's license number and state
- Years of driving experience, and any commercial driver's license if the vehicle requires one
- The vehicles the person will drive and how often
The insurer then pulls a motor vehicle record. Recent major violations, such as driving under the influence or reckless driving, or several at-fault accidents, can lead to a driver being declined or excluded.
Excluded drivers
If an insurer will not accept a driver, it may offer to exclude that person by name. An excluded driver must not drive covered vehicles at all, because a crash would not be covered for liability under many policies. Make sure managers know who is excluded.
Simple driver rules
- Check the MVR before an offer becomes final for any driving role.
- Re-check records at least once a year.
- Put rules on personal use, passengers and phone use in writing.
- Remove departing employees from the policy promptly.
Driver quality is one of the biggest factors insurers weigh for a small fleet, and it shapes how they view your liability exposure.