Symbol 1 (Any Auto)
Covered auto designation providing the broadest coverage, applying to any auto including owned, hired, non-owned, and borrowed vehicles.
What It Is
Symbol 1, known as Any Auto, is the broadest covered auto designation available on the Business Auto Coverage Form. When applied to a coverage section, it means that section covers any auto—whether owned by the insured, leased, hired, borrowed, or used by employees for business purposes, including vehicles the insured does not own.
This symbol is most commonly used for the liability section because it provides the widest protection against third-party claims arising from any vehicle used in connection with the business. It effectively combines the protections of Symbols 2 through 9 into a single designation.
However, Symbol 1 is rarely used for physical damage coverage because it would require the insurer to cover damage to vehicles the insured does not own, creating adverse selection issues. Most carriers restrict Symbol 1 to liability coverage only.
Why It Matters for Brokers
Brokers frequently recommend Symbol 1 for liability because it eliminates the risk of a vehicle falling outside the covered auto definition. For businesses where employees regularly use personal vehicles, rent cars for business travel, or borrow equipment from other contractors, Symbol 1 ensures there is no liability gap. The failure to use Symbol 1 when appropriate is a common source of E&O exposure for brokers.
Real-World Example
A staffing agency with 5 owned vehicles also has 40 recruiters who drive personal cars to client sites daily. The broker places liability with Symbol 1, which means all 45 vehicles are covered for liability—the 5 owned autos plus the 40 personal vehicles used for business. If recruiter Jane causes a $350,000 accident driving her personal car to a client meeting, the commercial policy responds. Without Symbol 1, the staffing agency would have no liability coverage for that loss.
Common Mistakes
- 1Using Symbol 1 for physical damage coverage, which most carriers will not allow and creates rating confusion.
- 2Assuming Symbol 1 automatically covers all employees' personal vehicles for physical damage—it covers liability only in practice.
- 3Not explaining to the client that Symbol 1 does not replace the need for employees to maintain their own personal auto insurance.
How brokerageaudit.com Handles This
brokerageaudit.com's Policy Checker validates symbol assignments per coverage section and alerts brokers when Symbol 1 is applied to physical damage, which is almost always an error. The Submission Intake module also flags accounts where the employee vehicle count suggests Symbol 1 should be used for liability but a more restrictive symbol was selected.