Forge Insurance
Carrier website links, underwriting access points, mapped product lines, and appetite notes in one place.
This appetite summary is only a guide. Confirm eligibility, submission requirements, restrictions, and binding authority directly with the carrier or underwriter before relying on it.
Carrier appetite summary
Forge Insurance is a commercial auto specialist focused on light vehicles for small businesses and public auto/livery risks in a defined state footprint. Preferred / Target Business - Small Business Commercial Auto where the vehicle is a tool of the business, not the core business. Example target segments include artisan contractors and other local service businesses; detailed target NAICS lists are provided in their Product Highlights PDF linked from the Small Business page. - Eligible vehicles are commercial units under 26,000 lbs, including pickups, vans, SUVs, box trucks, smaller non‑for‑hire dump trucks (e.g., landscapers), private passenger autos, and trailers attached to otherwise eligible vehicles. - Radius of operation under 50 miles from garage location is preferred; 51–200 miles is acceptable. Operations beyond 200 miles are not eligible. - Preferred coverage symbols are 7 (specifically described autos) and, where allowed by class, 8 (hired) and 9 (non‑owned). Other symbol structures are referred to underwriting. - Public Auto segment remains a core competency (taxis and similar where operating the vehicle is the business), but current web-facing appetite detail is concentrated on the new small business commercial auto offering. Restricted / Declined Risks - Prohibited vehicle types include: heavy vehicles over 26,000 lbs, tractor‑trailer exposures, trailer‑only policies, mobile equipment, any risk subject to USDOT/FMCSA regulation, and tow truck/roll‑off exposures. - Non‑preferred exposures include over‑the‑road/long‑haul style operations and accounts with very large operating radii (over 200 miles from garage), which are generally ineligible. - Certain auto‑service related classes are flagged as ineligible on the Small Business appetite page: pilot/escort vehicles, driving schools, fast‑food delivery, garage and auto dealers, recreational vehicles, home movers, and junk hauling/garbage or waste removal. - Young (16–22) and older (70+) drivers, or drivers with adverse MVRs, are not automatically ineligible but must be referred to underwriting for individual review. Driver & Loss Eligibility (Operational Criteria) - Standard driver eligibility: ages 23–70 with acceptable history. - No more than 2 accidents in the last 12 months. - No more than 3 moving violations or at‑fault accidents in the last 36 months. - Drivers outside the preferred age band or not clearly meeting these thresholds are subject to underwriter review per the driver guidelines referenced on the Small Business page. Geographic Footprint - Forge writes commercial auto in 18 states plus the District of Columbia. The specific footprint and business‑development contact details are maintained on the “Where We Work” map page; agents are expected to confirm state availability and contact information there. Submission & Underwriting Process - Business is written through appointed independent agents using the FIRE (Forge Insurance Rating Engine) agent portal. Quoting is positioned as "fast and easy" and is the default path for submitting new business. - Forge orders and pays for motor vehicle reports and CLUE reports prior to binding; there are no chargebacks to agents for these reports. - Standard monoline commercial auto package: liability limits available up to $2,000,000 CSL; physical damage up to $100,000 stated value/OCN per vehicle; medical payments/PIP offered per state‑specific options. - Accounts with incidental exposures related to otherwise eligible operations but touching restricted categories (heavy vehicles, long radius, certain auto services) should be discussed with an underwriter; the appetite language explicitly invites outreach before declining such accounts. Broker / Producer Notes - Forge is actively building out its small business commercial auto segment and expects new agents to be able to build approximately a $50,000 book of small business commercial auto premium; this production expectation is noted on the “Become an Agent” page. - Existing agents are directed to use the Where We Work map to find their business‑development contact by state; new agents are instructed to submit an information request through the same site. - Underwriting uses third‑party data (e.g., MVR/CLUE and other data sources) and applies automated rules through internal rating engines; agents should provide complete and accurate driver, vehicle, garaging, and radius information to avoid referral delays. Operationally, Forge is best used as a market for local/light commercial auto and public auto risks with light‑ and medium‑duty vehicles under 26,000 lbs, short operating radii, and reasonably clean drivers, and is not a market for heavy trucking, long‑haul, tow, waste, fast‑food delivery, or other higher‑hazard auto segments.