Your company probably doesn't own a fleet of vehicles. But your employees still drive — to client meetings, to pick up lunch for an all-hands, to the airport for a conference. When an employee drives their personal car or a rental on company business and causes an accident, the injured party can sue your company. HNOA is a CGL endorsement that extends your liability coverage to these situations, sitting as an excess layer over the driver's personal auto insurance or the rental company's coverage.
Last reviewed April 24, 2026 · Reviewed by the Corgi Insurance team
Your team drives on company time. HNOA makes sure your company isn't exposed when they do.
Coverage structure under form CORG CGL 0101. Two coverage types — non-owned autos and hired autos — and how excess coverage works. Limits shown are illustrative; HNOA has its own sublimit within your CGL aggregate. Important: The coverage descriptions on this page are general summaries for informational purposes only. They do not constitute a policy, binder, or guarantee of coverage. Coverage is provided only under the terms, conditions, exclusions, and limits of the issued policy. Always refer to your actual policy wording and declarations page for the governing terms and conditions. If there is any conflict between this summary and the policy, the policy controls.
Hired & Non-Owned Auto
What this policy pays for.
Your office manager drives her personal car to pick up catering for a team event. On the way back, she runs a red light and hits a cyclist, who suffers a broken leg and significant medical bills. The cyclist's attorney sues both your office manager and your company.1
Non-Owned Auto Liability responds on an excess basis. When an employee drives their own vehicle on company business and causes bodily injury or property damage, your HNOA coverage steps in above the employee's personal auto insurance. The employee's personal policy pays first, up to its limits. If the claim exceeds those limits — or if the injured party sues the company directly — HNOA covers your company's liability for the excess.
Your CTO rents a car at the airport for a business trip. While driving to the hotel, he hits a pedestrian in the crosswalk. The pedestrian sues your company.2
Hired Auto Liability responds on an excess basis. When an employee rents a vehicle for company business and causes an accident, your HNOA coverage provides excess liability protection above whatever insurance the rental company provides. Your company's liability exposure for the hired vehicle accident is covered.
Your marketing lead rents a van to transport booth materials to a trade show. While backing into the loading dock, she clips a vendor's parked trailer, causing $25,000 in damage.3
Hired Auto Liability responds on an excess basis for the property damage to the vendor's trailer. The rental company's insurance pays first; your HNOA covers your company's excess liability. Note: damage to the rental van itself is not covered under HNOA — that's a matter for the rental company's collision/damage waiver or your own physical damage coverage.
Scenario notes
HNOA is always excess over other available automobile insurance. The employee's personal auto policy (or the rental company's policy) pays first. HNOA does not replace or substitute for the driver's own auto insurance. Employees driving on company business should maintain their own personal auto coverage.
HNOA is a CGL endorsement, not a standalone policy. It has its own sublimit that is part of, and not in addition to, your CGL's aggregate limit. Check your Declarations page for the specific HNOA sublimit — it may be lower than your full CGL per-occurrence limit.
"Hired Auto" means a vehicle your company temporarily rents, hires, or borrows. It does not include vehicles rented or borrowed from your own employees, partners, officers, or members of their households. "Non-Owned Auto" means an employee-owned vehicle used on company business — these are covered.
Policy notes
HNOA does not cover: company-owned vehicles (you need a commercial auto policy); rideshare or livery use — vehicles used to carry persons or property for a charge (the public livery exclusion applies); physical damage to the rental car itself (arrange separate coverage through the rental company's collision/damage waiver or your own policy); or bodily injury to your own employees (that's workers' compensation).
Independent contractor vehicles are not covered under this endorsement. Coverage extends to vehicles driven by employees, partners, members, and executive officers of the named insured. A contractor using a company-rented vehicle may be covered under the Hired Auto provision (anyone using a hired auto with the company's permission), but a contractor's own personal vehicle is not a covered Non-Owned Auto.
The scenarios above are illustrative examples only and do not guarantee coverage for any specific claim. Actual coverage depends on the facts and circumstances of each claim and the specific terms of your issued policy. Results may differ based on policy endorsements, exclusions, limits, and applicable law.
HNOA, Commercial Auto Policy, CGL (without HNOA) each respond to a different claim trigger and coverage boundary.
What it covers: Liability when employees drive personal or rented cars on company business Vehicle ownership: Vehicles you don't own — employee personal cars and short-term rentals How it pays: Excess — the driver's personal insurance or rental policy pays first Key difference: Fills the gap for companies that don't own vehicles but have employees who drive for work. It's a CGL endorsement, not a separate policy.
What it covers: Liability (and optionally physical damage) for company-owned vehicles Vehicle ownership: Vehicles your company owns, leases, or regularly uses How it pays: Primary — this is the first policy to respond for company-owned vehicles Key difference: For companies that own or lease vehicles. Most startups don't need this unless they have a fleet.
What it covers: Bodily injury and property damage from your business operations — but not auto-related Vehicle ownership: No vehicles — auto is specifically excluded from base CGL How it pays: Not applicable — if an auto is involved, base CGL typically excludes the claim Key difference: Without HNOA, your CGL has an auto exclusion. If an employee causes an accident while driving for work, you have a gap.
Non-Owned Auto Liability responds on an excess basis responds when your office manager drives her personal car to pick up catering for a team event. on the way back, she runs a red light and hits a cyclist, who suffers a broken leg and significant medical bills. the cyclist's attorney sues both your office manager and your company.
HNOA is always excess over other available automobile insurance. The employee's personal auto policy (or the rental company's policy) pays first. HNOA does not replace or substitute for the driver's own auto insurance. Employees driving on company business should maintain their own personal auto coverage. HNOA is a CGL endorsement, not a standalone policy. It has its own sublimit that is part of, and not in addition to, your CGL's aggregate limit. Check your Declarations page for the specific HNOA sublimit — it may be lower than your full CGL per-occurrence limit.
Available add-ons include Commercial Auto Policy (separate policy). Endorsements are required where noted and availability may vary by jurisdiction and underwriting.
If your company owns, leases, or regularly uses vehicles, you need a standalone Commercial Auto policy. HNOA only covers non-owned and hired auto situations. [Separate policy — talk to your Corgi advisor]
HNOA pairs naturally with CGL, Tech E&O, Cyber, EPLI, and more — modular coverage that grows with you.
Protects your business against third-party claims for bodily injury, property damage, and personal or advertising injury arising from your operations.
Protects against losses and claims resulting from data breaches, cyberattacks, and network security failures.
Covers claims alleging your technology products or services failed to perform as intended, causing financial harm to a client.
Covers claims made against company leaders for alleged wrongful acts in managing the business.
Protects against claims alleging wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, or other employment-related issues.
Protects your company and plan fiduciaries against claims alleging mismanagement of employee benefit plans, including retirement and health plans.
Protects against claims arising from your published or distributed content, including allegations of defamation, copyright infringement, or invasion of privacy.
Provides liability coverage when employees use rented or personal vehicles for company business.
Key terms from the policy language and approved coverage summary.
Go deeper on HNOA and the rest of the startup insurance stack.
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