Driving Clients in Your Concierge Business Requires the Right Insurance

In Part 1, we talked about the difference between offering driving as part of a larger concierge service and operating a business where clients are primarily hiring you for transportation. If you missed it – read it here. 

Now, let’s talk about insurance.

Because this is where people make a LOT of assumptions.

They assume their personal auto insurance covers them.

They assume occasional driving does not count as business use.

They assume using the client’s vehicle solves the problem.

They assume transporting pets or other items is completely different.

They assume that because another concierge is doing it, they can do it too.

And none of those assumptions should take the place of doing your own due diligence.

There Is No Single Answer for Every Business

Insurance requirements and transportation rules can vary based on:

• Your state or country
• Your insurance carrier
• Your specific policy
• The vehicle being used
• Who owns the vehicle
• What or who you are transporting
• How often you drive
• Whether employees are involved
• What clients are actually paying you for

This is why someone else’s answer may not be your answer.

A concierge in another state may have completely different requirements.

Someone in a Facebook group may tell you their insurance agent said they were covered, but you do not know whether their business, policy, vehicle use, or services look anything like yours.

Even the word “occasional” does not automatically mean you are covered.

Whether you drive a client once a month or several times a week, you still need to make sure your coverage applies to what you are doing.

Personal Auto Insurance May Not Be Enough

Having personal auto insurance does not automatically mean you are covered while transporting a paying client as part of your business.

The same applies when driving pets or transporting items for clients.

You are using your vehicle during a paid business service.

That business use needs to be disclosed and properly covered.

Using the client’s vehicle does not automatically remove the risk either.

The details may change depending on who owns the vehicle and which policy applies, but you still need to know that you are properly insured before getting behind the wheel.

And once employees begin driving clients, pets, or goods on behalf of your business, there is another layer of coverage and responsibility to consider.

What If Transportation Is Your Primary Business?

Now, if clients are primarily hiring you for transportation, you need to approach your insurance and expenses as a transportation business.

The appropriate coverage will cost more.

And that’s okay.

You may need commercial auto insurance or other coverage based on your location, services, and business model.

You may also have licensing, registration, inspection, or other requirements that apply in your state or country.

And yes, those costs can feel significant.

Maybe the proper insurance costs $2,200 a year instead of $800.

If transportation is the primary service your business provides, that additional expense is simply part of the cost of doing business.

It does not mean you should abandon the idea.

It means you need to be honest about the kind of business you want to build and then do what is necessary to build it properly.

Do Not Let This Hold You Back 

I do not want you to read this and immediately decide:

“Well, I guess I can’t start my business.”

That is not the point.

The point is to be honest about the business you want to build and then do what is necessary to build it properly.

If you want driving to be one part of your concierge service, find out what coverage and requirements apply.

If you want to build a business where transportation is the primary service, own that decision and account for the additional expenses.

Do not avoid a business model you genuinely want because the insurance costs more. I use this analogy all the time – you can’t want to have a pizza business and decide buying the oven is “too expensive”.

Want more information about insurance, what you need to consider, the questions you’ll want to ask, and companies that have insured many of our members?

Grab the Concierge Starter Kit here.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for general educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, insurance, or financial advice. Laws, regulations, licensing requirements, and insurance coverage vary by state, country, carrier, policy, vehicle, and business model. Always speak with qualified legal and insurance professionals about your specific business before offering transportation or driving-related services.