Also known as: auto coverage symbols · commercial auto symbols · business auto coverage symbols
Numbered codes on a commercial auto declarations page that define exactly which vehicles each coverage applies to.
Auto coverage symbols are the numbers (typically 1 through 9, plus 19) shown next to each coverage on a business auto policy's declarations page, and they control which autos that coverage actually protects. Symbol 1 means any auto, 7 means specifically described autos, 8 means hired autos, and 9 means non-owned autos, so the symbol you pick is the difference between full and partial protection. For a startup, symbols 8 and 9 are often the ones that matter most: they cover liability when your team rents a vehicle or drives a personal car for company business, even if you own no vehicles yourself. Reading the symbols is how you confirm the policy covers the way your people actually use vehicles.
Auto coverage symbols are numbers on a commercial auto declarations page that specify which vehicles each coverage applies to. Symbol 1 covers any auto, symbol 7 covers only specifically listed autos, symbol 8 covers hired autos, and symbol 9 covers non-owned autos. The symbol assigned to a coverage determines whether that protection reaches the vehicles your business actually uses.
Often yes. If employees rent cars on business trips or drive their own cars for company errands, symbols 8 (hired autos) and 9 (non-owned autos) provide the liability coverage that responds to those situations. Owning no company vehicles does not remove the exposure, so these symbols are commonly the most relevant ones for an early-stage company.
Definitions are educational and may be modified by your specific policy language, endorsements, and state rules. For regulatory guidance, refer to the California Department of Insurance or the NAIC.
Last updated: July 2026.