Snow plow insurance
Snow plow insurance is not one policy; The Hartford calls it "a package of coverages". The pieces are a commercial auto policy on the plow truck (Progressive says its version covers "permanently attached plow equipment"), general liability for the work, with ISO's CG 22 92 endorsement lifting the auto exclusion for snow plow autos inside the completed-operations hazard, and workers' compensation, which Utah requires of employers. For a personal auto policy, Erie says a full- or part-time snow removal contractor needs a commercial auto policy instead. A snow account's contract can set its own limits: Ogden City's 2024 snow removal RFP asks for $1,000,000 of auto liability and $3,000,000 of general liability with $1,000,000 per occurrence.
Updated . Written by Andre Beukers, principal at Redoubt, a commercial insurance agency in Salt Lake City, not a government office.
What insurance do I need to plow snow?
Commercial auto, general liability, and workers' compensation with employers' liability: those are the three policies Ogden City's 2024 snow removal RFP asks for. ISO's business auto form pays damages "resulting from the ownership, maintenance or use of a covered 'auto'". ISO's general liability form defines an auto as a land motor vehicle designed for public roads "including any attached machinery or equipment", and both forms say a self-propelled vehicle with permanently attached equipment designed primarily for snow removal is an "auto", not "mobile equipment". Utah Code 34A-2-201 says an employer "shall secure the payment of workers' compensation benefits for its employees".
The general liability form then excludes injury or damage "arising out of the ownership, maintenance, use or entrustment to others of any aircraft, 'auto' or watercraft owned or operated by or rented or loaned to any insured." The Hartford's snow plow page files "my truck hit a stone fountain that was buried in the snow" under general liability, which differs from ISO's exclusion g; the same page says The Hartford has no product of its own for this coverage.
| Claim | Form wording that bears on it | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Truck hits a parked car between lots | Auto liability: "use of a covered 'auto'" | CA 00 01 Section II |
| Blade hits a buried fountain | Liability excludes an insured's auto; an auto includes attached equipment, and snow removal equipment makes a vehicle an auto | CG 00 01 exclusion g, definitions 2 and 14.f |
| A visitor falls on a lot you plowed | Auto excludes your work once "completed or abandoned"; the liability form says when work is deemed completed; CG 22 92 lifts exclusion g for snow plow autos inside the completed-operations hazard | CA 00 01 exclusion 10; CG 00 01 definition 18; CG 22 92 |
| Your blade is damaged in a collision | Physical damage: "a covered 'auto' or its equipment", equipment undefined | CA 00 01 Section III |
| A subcontractor's truck hits someone | Symbol 9 describes non-owned autos; only symbols on your declarations designate covered autos | CA 00 01 Section I |
| An employee is hurt shoveling | An employer shall secure workers' compensation | Utah Code 34A-2-201 |
Sources: 1, 23, 18, 19, 6, 2, 7, 12, 15, 11, 30, 29, 9, 3, 13, 8, 10, 4
Do I need insurance to plow snow?
For a plow truck in Utah, yes. Utah Code 41-12a-301 requires every resident owner of a motor vehicle to keep "owner's or operator's security in effect at any time that the motor vehicle is operated on a highway or on a quasi-public road or parking area within the state", and 31A-22-304 sets the policy floor at $30,000/$65,000/$25,000 for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025. If you are an employer, 34A-2-201 requires you to secure workers' compensation for your employees.
The larger limits come from the account. Ogden City's 2024 snow removal RFP asks for auto liability of "$1,000,000 combined single limit per accident for bodily injury and property damage for owned, non-owned and hired autos", $3,000,000 of general liability with $1,000,000 for each occurrence including products and completed operations, employers' liability of $1,000,000 per accident, and the city as additional insured, with certificates and endorsements "received by the City before work commences." Summit County Service Area #3's March 2025 RFP asks for general and automobile liability with a $1,000,000 combined single limit and $3,000,000 in the aggregate, covering owned, hired and non-owned vehicles.
Merchants and Atlantic Casualty ask about residential work too: Merchants' snowplowing questionnaire asks the percentage of your plowing that is residential, and Atlantic Casualty's application lists residential driveways in its work mix beside parking lots and highways.
What insurance does a snow plow truck need?
Erie says a full- or part-time snow removal contractor needs a commercial auto policy, and GEICO's commercial auto page says "A personal auto policy may not cover vehicles used for business." For a plow used only on your own driveway or as a favor, Erie says "liability and physical damage coverage is usually automatically extended to your plow" under an Erie personal auto policy, if the pickup carries those coverages.
For the blade itself, ISO's business auto form pays physical damage "to a covered 'auto' or its equipment" without defining equipment, and Progressive says its commercial auto policy covers "your work vehicles and permanently attached plow equipment." Ask your carrier whether its form treats your blade as the truck's equipment. Merchants' questionnaire asks for each piece of snow removal equipment by model year, description and garaging address.
Atlantic Casualty's application asks of your commercial auto liability policy, "Is snow and ice removal/plowing excluded?" Read your own auto policy's endorsement schedule for that answer before the season.
What is a snow plow endorsement?
ISO's CG 22 92, Snow Plow Operations Coverage, is a one-sentence general liability endorsement: "Within the 'products-completed operations hazard', Exclusion g. under Section I – Coverage A – Bodily Injury And Property Damage Liability does not apply to any 'auto' used for snow plow operations." Exclusion g is the general liability form's auto exclusion. ISO's businessowners version, BP 14 16, adds the same exception for injury or damage in the products-completed operations hazard that "Arises out of the use of any 'auto' for snow or ice removal operations." The business auto form, for its part, excludes injury or damage "arising out of your work after that work has been completed or abandoned."
Both endorsements work only inside the products-completed operations hazard, so when your plowing counts as completed matters. CG 00 01 says "your work" is deemed completed at the earliest of three times: when all the work in your contract is done, when all the work at one job site is done if the contract covers several, or when part of the work at a site "has been put to its intended use" by someone other than another contractor on the project. On a season-long contract the first test is not met after one push. Ask your carrier, in writing, how its policy treats a fall on a lot between pushes, and ask for CG 22 92 or BP 14 16 by number.
Does my lawn care policy cover snow removal?
Your own policy's classifications and endorsements decide it; no published landscaping form found for this page settles snow either way. Merchants and Atlantic Casualty ask about snow as its own line of work. Merchants asks whether you had "prior General Liability insurance for snowplowing". Atlantic Casualty asks what share of your work is snow and ice removal, says "ACIC does not write monoline Snow/Ice Removal Operations", and asks of each subcontractor's policy whether "Coverage includes Snow and Ice Removal for CGL coverage?" If your landscaping quote or classification schedule is silent about snow, get the carrier's answer in writing.
For the months the truck sits, Progressive says "Seasonal comprehensive coverage protects your vehicle during the off-season and is available in many states."
What does a snow plow insurance application ask?
Accounts, contracts, equipment, drivers and losses, in the two carrier forms pulled for this page. Merchants' questionnaire asks for every commercial account, a complete sample contract and every customer named as additional insured, indemnified or held harmless; Atlantic Casualty adds your work mix, three largest clients, subcontractors and five years of snow and ice losses. The checklist below gathers both forms' questions.
Which insurance companies write snow plow insurance?
Here is what each company's own page or form said on October 3, 2026. Compare the policy forms and endorsements each one issues for plowing, not only the premium.
| Company | What its own page or form says |
|---|---|
| Progressive Commercial | Commercial auto with liability and physical damage for work vehicles and permanently attached plow equipment; seasonal comprehensive "available in many states" |
| ERGO NEXT | Snow plowing packages "typically include" general liability, contractors' E&O, commercial auto, workers' compensation, tools and equipment, and commercial property |
| GEICO | "We often cover" vehicles used by landscapers and snow removal services |
| Erie | Personal auto coverage is "usually" extended to a plow used for personal use, if the pickup carries those coverages; a snow removal contractor needs commercial auto |
| The Hartford | Has no product for this coverage and refers buyers to Tivly |
| Atlantic Casualty | Does not write monoline snow and ice removal operations |
What Merchants and Atlantic Casualty ask you to supply
Gathered from the two questionnaires quoted above; another carrier's form may ask for more or less.
- 1.Years in snow removal, and prior experience if under three years
- 2.Receipts and payroll from snowplowing, and gross sales, payroll and employees for snow and for other work
- 3.Number of plows you own and number your subcontractors own
- 4.Each piece of snow removal equipment: model year, description, garaging address
- 5.Drivers: name, years of experience, years employed by you
- 6.Commercial accounts: customer, plowing address, type of business, parking spaces
- 7.Your work mix by property type, adding to 100%
- 8.A complete sample copy of your contract
- 9.Customers named as additional insured, indemnified or held harmless
- 10.Subcontractors' liability limits, carrier and dates, and a certificate showing you as additional insured
- 11.Snow and ice losses in the past five years
- 12.Your commercial auto liability limits, and whether plowing is excluded
What insurance should be in place before I start a snow plow business?
Erie says plowing for income needs a commercial auto policy. The Ogden and Summit County RFPs ask for general liability and auto liability for owned, hired and non-owned autos, Utah's 34A-2-201 requires employers to secure workers' compensation, and Ogden wants certificates and endorsements before work commences. Ask your carrier whether its liability policy includes snow removal and carries CG 22 92 or an equivalent.
What happens if I plow snow without insurance?
In Utah, 41-12a-301 requires owner's or operator's security whenever the truck is operated on a highway or a quasi-public road or parking area, and Ogden's RFP says a failure to maintain or renew coverage will be treated as a material breach of contract.
Is snow plow insurance different in New Jersey, New York or Massachusetts?
This page's figures come from Utah statutes and two Utah public RFPs; it does not state New Jersey, New York or Massachusetts law. Read that state's own minimums and your account's insurance section, and ask the carrier which snow plow endorsements it issues there.
Where these answers come from
Each entry carries the exact words of the source so you can check it yourself. Forms, rules and carrier pages change; read the current version before acting.
- 1. The Hartford, Snow Plow Insurance page (last updated October 1, 2025), why you need it
“Snow plow insurance is another name for small business insurance. It’s a package of coverages designed to help protect your business from the risks that come with cleaning snow.”
thehartford.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 2. ISO CG 00 01 12 25, Section V, definition 2 of "auto"
“"Auto" means: a. A land motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer designed for travel on public roads, including any attached machinery or equipment;”
assets.touchpointmarkets.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Paragraph b adds land vehicles subject to a motor vehicle insurance law; "auto" does not include "mobile equipment". - 3. ISO CG 00 01 12 25, Section V, definition 18.a(2), when "your work" is deemed completed
“(a) When all of the work called for in your contract has been completed. (b) When all of the work to be done at the job site has been completed if your contract calls for work at more than one job site. (c) When that part of the work done at a job site has been put to its intended use by any person or organization other than another contractor or subcontractor working on the same project.”
assets.touchpointmarkets.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Introduced by: "However, 'your work' will be deemed completed at the earliest of the following times". - 4. ISO CA 00 01 11 20, Section I, covered autos
“The symbols entered next to a coverage on the Declarations designate the only "autos" that are covered "autos".”
assets.touchpointmarkets.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 5. Merchants snowplowing questionnaire (MU 7996 02 24), question 2
“Any prior General Liability insurance for snowplowing?”
files.merchantsgroup.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 6. ISO CA 00 01 11 20, Business Auto Coverage Form, Section II A, covered autos liability
“We will pay all sums an "insured" legally must pay as damages because of "bodily injury" or "property damage" to which this insurance applies, caused by an "accident" and resulting from the ownership, maintenance or use of a covered "auto".”
assets.touchpointmarkets.com, accessed October 3, 2026. ISO form hosted by Touchpoint Markets (FC&S); copy re-pulled by curl on the access date, sha256 807d59f9. - 7. ISO CA 00 01 11 20, Section V, definition K.6 of "mobile equipment"
“However, self-propelled vehicles with the following types of permanently attached equipment are not "mobile equipment" but will be considered "autos": a. Equipment designed primarily for: (1) Snow removal;”
assets.touchpointmarkets.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 8. ISO CA 00 01 11 20, Section III A.1, physical damage coverage
“We will pay for "loss" to a covered "auto" or its equipment under:”
assets.touchpointmarkets.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Followed by comprehensive, specified causes of loss and collision coverage. - 9. ISO CA 00 01 11 20, Section II B.10, completed operations exclusion
“Completed Operations "Bodily injury" or "property damage" arising out of your work after that work has been completed or abandoned.”
assets.touchpointmarkets.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 10. ISO CA 00 01 11 20, Section I A, symbol 9, non-owned autos only
“Only those "autos" you do not own, lease, hire, rent or borrow that are used in connection with your business.”
assets.touchpointmarkets.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Symbol 8 covers autos you lease, hire, rent or borrow. - 11. ISO CG 00 01 12 25, Commercial General Liability Coverage Form, Section I Coverage A, exclusion g
“"Bodily injury" or "property damage" arising out of the ownership, maintenance, use or entrustment to others of any aircraft, "auto" or watercraft owned or operated by or rented or loaned to any insured.”
assets.touchpointmarkets.com, accessed October 3, 2026. ISO form hosted by Touchpoint Markets (FC&S), re-pulled by curl on the access date, sha256 a5b7b9f0. The exclusion's exception (5)(b) gives back the operation of cherry pickers and compressors (definition 14.f.(2) and (3)), not snow removal equipment. - 12. ISO CG 00 01 12 25, Section V, definition 14.f of "mobile equipment"
“However, self-propelled vehicles with the following types of permanently attached equipment are not "mobile equipment" but will be considered "autos": (1) Equipment designed primarily for: (a) Snow removal;”
assets.touchpointmarkets.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 13. ISO CG 22 92 12 07, Snow Plow Operations Coverage (Nationwide E&S forms library copy)
“Within the "products-completed operations hazard", Exclusion g. under Section I – Coverage A – Bodily Injury And Property Damage Liability does not apply to any "auto" used for snow plow operations.”
forms.nationwideexcessandsurplus.com, accessed October 3, 2026. The whole operative text of the one-page endorsement, © ISO Properties, Inc., 2006. - 14. ISO BP 14 16 01 10, Snow Plow Products – Completed Operations Hazard Coverage (Missouri Farm Bureau forms copy)
“This exclusion does not apply to "bodily injury" or "property damage" that: (a) Is included in the "products-completed operations hazard"; and (b) Arises out of the use of any "auto" for snow or ice removal operations.”
mofbinsurance.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Adds the exception to exclusion B.1.g of the Businessowners Coverage Form. - 15. Utah Code 34A-2-201, employers to secure workers' compensation benefits
“An employer shall secure the payment of workers' compensation benefits for its employees by:”
le.utah.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Effective 12/31/2017. The section goes on to insurance with an authorized insurer or approved self-insurance. - 16. Utah Code 41-12a-301(2)(a), owner's or operator's security required
“every resident owner of a motor vehicle shall maintain owner's or operator's security in effect at any time that the motor vehicle is operated on a highway or on a quasi-public road or parking area within the state”
le.utah.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Version effective 5/6/2026. - 17. Utah Code 31A-22-304(2), motor vehicle liability policy minimum limits
“a policy issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, containing motor vehicle liability coverage may not limit the insurer's liability under that coverage below the following: (a) (i) $30,000”
le.utah.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. The same subsection sets $65,000 per accident for two or more persons and $25,000 for property damage, or $90,000 single limit. - 18. Ogden City Corporation, RFP, Snow Removal and Ice Control for City-owned Properties (09-12-2024), IV. Insurance Requirements
“Business Automobile Liability: $1,000,000 combined single limit per accident for bodily injury and property damage for owned, non-owned and hired autos.”
ogdencity.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 19. Ogden City snow removal RFP (09-12-2024), commercial general liability requirement
“Commercial General Liability: Minimum of $3,000,000 commercial general liability coverage with $1,000,000 for each occurrence. Policy to include coverage for operations, contractual liability, personal injury liability, products/completed operations liability”
ogdencity.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. The same section asks for workers' compensation "as required by the labor code of the State of Utah" and employers' liability "with limits of 1,000,000 per accident." - 20. Ogden City snow removal RFP (09-12-2024), additional insured clause
“Ogden City, its elected and appointed officials, employees, volunteers and agents are to be named as additional insureds in respect to operations and activities of, or on behalf of, the named insured as performed under Agreement with the City.”
ogdencity.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Required in each policy except workers' compensation. - 21. Ogden City snow removal RFP (09-12-2024), certificates and endorsements
“All certificates and endorsements are to be received by the City before work commences.”
ogdencity.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. The same section says: "Failure to maintain or renew coverage or to provide evidence of renewal will be treated by City as a material breach of contract." - 22. Summit County Service Area #3, Snow Removal Services RFP (March 06, 2025), H. Insurance Requirements, on the Utah Public Notice Website
“This coverage to include contractual coverage and automobile liability coverage for owned, hired and non-owned vehicles. The policy shall have combined single limits for bodily injury and property damage of not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) and $3,000,000 in the aggregate.”
utah.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. For the Silver Creek Estates roads, 2025-2026 season. - 23. Progressive Commercial, Snow Plow Insurance page, basic coverages, commercial auto
“This policy consists of liability and physical damage coverage for your work vehicles and permanently attached plow equipment. Seasonal comprehensive coverage protects your vehicle during the off-season and is available in many states.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. A carrier's description of its own product. The page shows no date. - 24. Erie Insurance, "Is My Snowplow Covered Under My Auto Insurance Policy?" (published December 8, 2025)
“Under an ERIE personal auto policy, liability and physical damage coverage is usually automatically extended to your plow, as long as you have those coverages purchased for your pickup truck.”
erieinsurance.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Erie on its own policy, for a plow used on your own driveway or as a favor. - 25. Erie Insurance, snowplow article, plowing for income
“If you’re making an income as a full- or part-time snow removal contractor: You’d need to purchase a commercial auto policy.”
erieinsurance.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 26. GEICO, Commercial Auto Insurance page, who needs commercial auto insurance
“We often cover vehicles used by: Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC professionals Carpenters, painters, and other contractors Landscapers and snow removal services”
geico.com, accessed October 3, 2026. A bulleted list on the page; the line breaks between items are shown as spaces. - 27. GEICO, Commercial Auto Insurance page
“A personal auto policy may not cover vehicles used for business.”
geico.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 28. ERGO NEXT Insurance, Snow Plowing Insurance page (modified September 3, 2026)
“Our insurance packages typically include: General liability Contractors’ E&O Commercial auto Workers’ compensation Tools and equipment Commercial property”
nextinsurance.com, accessed October 3, 2026. A bulleted list on the page, after the sentence introducing ERGO NEXT's snow plowing insurance; line breaks between items are shown as spaces. - 29. The Hartford, Snow Plow Insurance page (last updated October 1, 2025), referral disclosure
“The Hartford does not currently have a product available to provide the coverage described on this page. You are being referred to Tivly in an effort to connect you with a carrier who may provide this coverage.”
thehartford.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 30. The Hartford, Snow Plow Insurance page, general liability example
“General Liability Insurance “I was plowing a client’s driveway when my truck hit a stone fountain that was buried in the snow. It was heavily damaged, and I had to pay to replace it.” General liability insurance for snow plowing helps cover claims that your business caused bodily injury or property damage to someone else.”
thehartford.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Quoted as what The Hartford says. The page compares it with ISO CG 00 01 exclusion g, which excludes an insured's "auto", and definition 14.f, under which a vehicle with permanently attached snow removal equipment is an "auto". - 31. Atlantic Casualty Insurance Company, Snow and Ice Removal Contractors Supplemental Application (10-24), operations
“Please note that ACIC does not write monoline Snow/Ice Removal Operations”
aces.atlanticcasualty.net, accessed October 3, 2026. Questions 6 and 7 ask for gross sales, payroll and the percentage of other work and of snow and ice removal. - 32. Atlantic Casualty snow and ice removal application (10-24), question 14, commercial automobile liability
“Is snow and ice removal/plowing excluded?”
aces.atlanticcasualty.net, accessed October 3, 2026. Asked right after "Do you have Commercial Automobile Liability Insurance in place?" and its limits. - 33. Atlantic Casualty snow and ice removal application (10-24), question 15, subcontractors' coverage
“Coverage includes Snow and Ice Removal for CGL coverage?”
aces.atlanticcasualty.net, accessed October 3, 2026. Followed by the same question for auto coverage and whether the applicant is an additional insured on every subcontractor's policy. - 34. Atlantic Casualty snow and ice removal application (10-24), question 8, work mix
“Describe your snow and ice removal, salting and/or sanding operations (must equal 100%)”
aces.atlanticcasualty.net, accessed October 3, 2026. The list runs from apartment complexes and airports to residential driveways, hospitals, local public roads and state and interstate highways. Question 9 asks for the three largest commercial clients; questions 10 to 14 ask about subcontractors, owner operators and owned and non-owned plows. - 35. Atlantic Casualty snow and ice removal application (10-24), question 16, loss history
“Have you had any Snow or Ice Removal losses in the past 5 years?”
aces.atlanticcasualty.net, accessed October 3, 2026 - 36. Merchants Insurance Group, Snowplowing Supplemental Questionnaire, General Liability & Auto (MU 7996 02 24), question 9
“Please list all commercial snowplowing accounts (Use an attachment if necessary) Customer Name Plowing Loc Address Type of Business # of Parking Spaces”
files.merchantsgroup.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Questions 1 to 8 ask years plowing, prior coverage and losses, receipts and payroll from snowplowing, number of plows, the residential and commercial split, public streets or roads, and roof raking or ice dam work. Question 10 asks for drivers. - 37. Merchants snowplowing questionnaire (MU 7996 02 24), question 6
“Types of plowing: Residential Percentage of plowing that is residential”
files.merchantsgroup.com, accessed October 3, 2026. The next line asks the same for commercial plowing. - 38. Merchants snowplowing questionnaire (MU 7996 02 24), question 11
“Equipment Model Year Description of snow removal equipment Garaging Address”
files.merchantsgroup.com, accessed October 3, 2026. A table heading on the form. - 39. Merchants snowplowing questionnaire (MU 7996 02 24), questions 12 and 13
“List all customers named as additional insured, indemnified or held harmless in any contract”
files.merchantsgroup.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Question 12 asks "Are signed contracts in place for snowplowing?" and says "PROVIDE A COMPLETE SAMPLE COPY OF YOUR CONTRACT".
Snow accounts start soon and the plow is not on the policy
Landscapers and plow contractors: the plow endorsement, the $1M the accounts ask for, and what the season costs.
Elsewhere on the site
Snow accounts lined up and the plow not on the policy?
Text Redoubt your trucks, your accounts and the insurance section of each contract. We will tell you what your auto and liability policies say about plowing, which endorsements are missing, and what has to be in place before the first storm.
This is general insurance information, not legal advice or a coverage determination. The policy forms, the endorsements the carrier issues, and the requirement in writing from whoever is asking control.