UMIP Offers Safety Advice to Protect Church Vehicles
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Church vans and buses play a vital role in ministry, especially with the various summer youth trips your churches have lined up. However, they also carry significant liability. Whether churches own vehicles or borrow/rent one, here are a few key things to help promote safety in ministry:
 
Insurance Checklist
If your church owns a van, bus, or even a trailer, you must have commercial auto insurance. Personal auto insurance won’t cover ministry-related accidents, even if a volunteer is driving.

  • Church-owned vehicles: Require commercial auto coverage.
  • Personal vehicles used for ministry: Should be disclosed to your insurer. You will need hired and non-owned auto coverage (HNOA).
  • Rented vehicles: Check if your policy covers short-term rentals or if you need to add coverage under HNOA as well.
     

Driver Screening
Not everyone with a license should drive for church events. Create a policy that lists approved drivers and review it regularly. Insurance Companies often require: 

  • A tiered scoring system where certain amounts or types of driving violations would make a driver ineligible. (Sample here)
  • A minimum age requirement (usually 21 or 25).
  • Proof of valid insurance (for personal vehicles).
  • Background checks for those transporting minors.
     

Vehicle Maintenance Records
Keep vehicles well-maintained with logs of:

  • Oil changes, tire checks, brakes, and lights.
  • Annual inspections.
  • Repairs and recalls.

A well-documented maintenance history not only reduces risk—it strengthens your case in the event of a claim.
 
General Transportation Safety

  • Require seat belts for everyone—no exceptions.
  • Never overload vehicles.
  • Use a trip log to track who went, who drove, and where you went.
  • Train drivers in basic safety protocols (like how to respond to an accident).

 Proper insurance and safety practices protect your members and your ministries. If you or any of your churches have questions related to best practices for auto-related exposures, please don’t hesitate to send them our way!

Used from United Methodist Insurance Program