ServicesPhysical Damage Insurance
Physical Damage Insurance in Arlington
Physical damage coverage pays to repair or replace your own truck or trailer after a wreck, theft, fire or hail. We help you pick a stated value and a deductible that still make sense three years from now, not just on the day you sign.
What physical damage coverage does
Your liability policy pays for the other guy. Physical damage pays for your equipment. It usually comes in two parts. Collision covers your truck when it hits something or rolls over. Comprehensive covers the rest: theft, fire, vandalism, falling objects, flood and hail.
If you have a loan or lease on the truck, the lender almost always requires it and wants to be listed as loss payee. If you own the truck outright, it is your call. That call should rest on what the truck is worth, what it earns and how long you plan to run it.
We are licensed for property and casualty insurance, and we place physical damage for owner-operators, small fleets, hotshot rigs, box trucks and dump trucks.
What we set up on a physical damage policy
- 01
Collision coverage
Pays for damage to your truck from a crash with another vehicle or an object, or a rollover. It applies no matter who caused the wreck.
- 02
Comprehensive coverage
Covers losses that are not a collision. In North Texas that often means hail, which can wreck a newer tractor's hood and cab in a single spring storm.
- 03
An insured amount for each unit
We list an amount for each tractor, truck and trailer. We look at purchase price, age, miles and condition so the number matches what you could actually replace it for.
- 04
Deductible choices
We quote more than one deductible so you can see how the premium changes. Then you can weigh a lower yearly cost against what you would pay out of pocket after a loss.
- 05
Lienholder and lease filings
We add your lender or lessor as loss payee and send them proof of coverage. That keeps the loan in good standing and avoids force-placed coverage.
- 06
Optional add-ons
Depending on the carrier, you may be able to add towing, rental reimbursement or coverage for permanently attached equipment like a liftgate or dump body. We tell you which ones are worth it for your operation.
Questions about Physical Damage Insurance?
Call(817) 402-2551When it is time to look at your physical damage coverage
You just bought or financed a truck
The lender will want proof before you drive off. Getting the numbers right on day one matters more than rushing to any policy.
The number on your policy has not changed in years
Trucks lose worth every year. If your policy still lists what you paid five years ago, you may be paying premium on money you would never collect.
You paid off the loan
Now you choose the coverage, not the bank. Some owners keep full coverage, some raise the deductible, some drop collision on an older unit.
You added equipment
A new trailer, a reefer unit or an upfit on a box truck may not be on the policy. If it is not listed, it may not be covered.
Your premium jumped at renewal
Sometimes the fix is a different deductible or an updated insured amount, not a new carrier. We look at both before we suggest a change.
How we put your coverage together
- 1
A call about your equipment
We ask for year, make, model and VIN for each unit, what you paid, and whether there is a loan or lease. We also ask how you run: local or long haul, what you pull and where the truck parks at night.
- 2
Deductible options side by side
We show you two or three deductible levels with the premium for each. We talk plainly about which one fits your cash on hand and the age of the truck.
- 3
Quotes from the carriers that fit
We shop the policy and walk you through the differences in plain words, including exclusions and any add-ons.
- 4
Binding and paperwork
Once you choose, we bind the coverage, send the certificate of insurance and notify your lender. You get copies of everything for your records.
- 5
Check-ins at renewal
Each year we check what each truck is worth now. As the truck ages, the coverage should change with it.
What moves your physical damage premium
Physical damage is priced mostly on what the truck is worth and how likely it is to get hurt. A higher stated value means a higher premium, and so does a lower deductible. We explain each factor so you can see where your money goes and what you get back for it over the years you own the truck.
- Insured amount on each unit
- The bigger the replacement cost, the bigger the premium. Setting it too high wastes money, and setting it too low leaves you short after a total loss.
- Deductible amount
- A higher deductible lowers the premium. It only pays off if you can cover that amount when something happens.
- Driving record and experience
- Claims, tickets and years behind the wheel all count. A clean record helps on physical damage just as it does on liability.
- Type of truck and how it runs
- A dump truck on job sites, a hotshot rig on long runs and a box truck in city traffic each carry different risk. Where the truck parks at night matters too.
- Loss history
- Past claims on the truck or the operation can raise the rate for a few years. Carriers look back at your record when they price renewal.
Physical damage questions we hear a lot
Is physical damage insurance required by law?
No. Federal and Texas filings require liability, not physical damage. But if your truck is financed or leased, your lender will almost always require it in the contract.
Should I drop collision on an older truck?
Sometimes it makes sense. If the truck is worth little and you could replace it without hurting your business, paying premium every year may cost more than it would ever return. We run the numbers with you before you decide.
What does stated value mean if my truck is totaled?
It is the most the policy will pay. Many policies pay the lesser of that amount or the actual cash value at the time of loss. So keeping the number on your policy close to the real market price is the smart move.
Does this cover my trailer too?
Only if the trailer is listed on the policy. If you pull trailers you do not own, you may need trailer interchange insurance instead, and we can explain the difference.
Does physical damage cover the freight I haul?
No. It covers the equipment only. For the load, you need motor truck cargo insurance, which we can quote on the same call.
Get coverage that fits the truck you run
Have your VINs and loan details handy. We will go over insured amounts, deductibles and what each option costs you over time.