The definition of artisan use for car insurance purposes varies according to state laws and by the insurance company, each of which has its own definitions.
Artisan use refers to an insured vehicle used by a tradesperson or craftsperson who travels to and from job sites. Some insurance companies factor in the miles the insured drives to and from a job site when calculating artisan use rates. Commercial car insurance might be required instead depending on how the vehicle is used commercial car insurance might be required instead.
Artisan use policies usually apply to people who do work such as landscaping, construction, or any job in which they must carry tools or travel to and from locations to perform skilled work. It’s important to understand the difference between artisan use, business use, and commercial insurance.
In some scenarios, you can use a personal car insurance policy with a business endorsement or an artisan use policy. In other cases, you need commercial car insurance, otherwise known as a business auto policy.
Some carriers will allow you to add a business endorsement to a personal policy. Typically, you can get a personal auto policy with a business endorsement when the following applies:
- You are self-employed
- No employees will be driving the vehicle
- You can purchase high enough limits to protect you and your company
- There is only one vehicle that is identified for artisan use
- You don’t use the vehicle for work on a daily basis
Every insurance company has its own definition of artisan use. This is not an exhaustive list, but artisan use usually applies to:
- Aluminum contractors
- Interior decorators
- Air conditioning/Heating
- Painters
- Bricklayers/Masonry
- Plaster/Stucco contractors
- Cabinet installers
- Appliance repair
- Carpenters
- Handyperson
- Concrete contractors
- Screened enclosure erectors
- Electrical contractors
- Surveyors
- Fence installers
- Swimming pool installers
- Glass installers
- Arborists
You should purchase a business auto policy instead of a personal auto policy when the following applies:
- The vehicle is owned by the company and not by you personally
- Employees will drive the vehicle
- You need higher coverage limits than what is offered through a personal auto policy
- It is your full-time job and you use the vehicle every day for work
- There are multiple business-use vehicles
- Equipment is permanently attached to the vehicle
- You transport goods or people in your vehicle
It’s vital to have the right car insurance policy to protect yourself, your business and any employees you might have. Speak to an insurance representative to determine whether an artisan use policy is the right choice for your specific situation.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
Ask the Insurance Expert
John McCormick
Editorial Director
John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Leslie Kasperowicz
Executive Editor
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Nupur Gambhir
Managing Editor
Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.