Contingent Auto Liability Policy Feature Checklist
What to confirm in a contingent auto liability policy — what's standard, what's often limited, and what to add if needed — plus the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current contingent auto policy and check the box next to each feature you can confirm it includes — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor.
Tick each feature you can confirm your policy includes — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Confirm? | Policy feature | What to confirm | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| How Coverage Is Triggered | Confirm whether the policy defends you from the first suit or only after the carrier's insurer fails to pay. | Standard | |
| Negligent Selection Claims | Confirm suits alleging you hired an unsafe carrier are covered — the core claim after Montgomery (2026). | Standard | |
| Limit and Umbrella Fit | Confirm the limit meets shipper contracts and that your umbrella sits over this policy. | Standard | |
| Defense Outside the Limit | Crash suits can run 3 to 5 years; defense inside the limit can use it up before a verdict. | Often limited | |
| Unscheduled Vehicle Condition | Some forms deny claims if the truck was not listed on the carrier's auto policy. | Often limited | |
| Double Brokering / Dishonest Acts | Dishonest-acts exclusions can remove coverage when a load was re-brokered without your knowledge. | Often limited | |
| Punitive Damages | Often excluded, and not insurable in some states. | If needed | |
| Agents as Insureds | Confirm independent agents booking under your authority are covered. | If needed |
The gap most often missed in this coverage
The most commonly missed gap in this coverage is how it is triggered. A true contingent form waits until the carrier's insurer fails to pay, and large crash suits often take three to five years to resolve — after the Supreme Court's unanimous Montgomery decision in May 2026, brokers will be named in more of them. Read the trigger and defense wording, not the policy title, and consider primary truck broker liability if you need a defense from day one.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your contingent auto liability coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Contingent Auto Liability Insurance · Contingent Auto Liability Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What should a contingent auto liability policy include?
Standard features to confirm in a contingent auto liability policy include How Coverage Is Triggered, Negligent Selection Claims, Limit and Umbrella Fit. This checklist also flags the features that are often limited or sublimited and the ones to add if needed, with a plain-English note on each.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my contingent auto liability coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.