1. Forms
2. CA
3. CA-05-24

What the form is

Endorsement CA 05 24 11 20, Non-Ownership Liability Coverage for Volunteers, is an Insurance Services Office (ISO) form designed to modify a commercial auto policy. Its primary purpose is to extend liability coverage to individual volunteers when they are using their own vehicles or other non-owned vehicles in connection with the named insured's business activities. Importantly, the endorsement can also provide coverage to the person or entity that furnished the auto to the volunteer for the business activity, though this coverage is limited to their liability arising specifically from that activity. The term "volunteer" is specifically defined within the endorsement. This endorsement was newly introduced in 2020.

Classes of business it applies to

This endorsement is particularly beneficial for a wide range of organizations that rely on the services of volunteers who may use their personal vehicles for organizational tasks. Common examples include:

• Non-profit organizations
• Charitable institutions
• Community groups
• Social service agencies
• Religious institutions
• Youth sports leagues

Real-world example: A local food bank (the named insured) has volunteers who use their personal cars to deliver weekly groceries to homebound seniors. If a volunteer, while en route to make a delivery, causes an accident resulting in injury to another driver or damage to their vehicle, this endorsement would help cover the liability of both the volunteer and the food bank.

Special considerations

• Scheduled Activities: For coverage to apply, the specific activities the volunteer is performing may need to be described in the endorsement's schedule. If the activity is not explicitly scheduled, the volunteer must be clearly acting on the named insured's behalf at the time of the incident.
• Covered Auto Symbols: The vehicle being used by the volunteer must qualify as a "covered auto" under the main policy. This means the appropriate covered auto symbols (typically Symbol 1 "Any Auto" or Symbol 9 "Non-Owned Autos Only" for liability) must be active on the Business Auto Policy.
• Volunteer's Own Injury/Vehicle: This endorsement provides liability coverage for bodily injury or property damage caused by the volunteer to third parties. It generally does not cover injuries sustained by the volunteer themselves or physical damage to the volunteer's own vehicle. The volunteer's personal auto insurance would typically be primary for damage to their own car.
• Replacement of Previous Forms: In some contexts, the CA 05 24 11 20 endorsement has been noted to replace older forms like CA 99 33 (Social Service Agencies – Volunteers as Insureds).

Key information for agents and underwriters

• Risk Assessment: Underwriters should carefully evaluate the scope of volunteer driving activities. This includes the frequency of such activities, the types of vehicles used, the general nature of the tasks (e.g., transporting people vs. supplies), and, if possible, the organization's process for vetting volunteer drivers.
• Clarifying Coverage Gaps: Agents must ensure that the named insured understands the limitations of the endorsement. It is crucial to explain that this is not a replacement for a volunteer's personal auto insurance and does not cover the volunteer's own injuries or damage to their personal vehicle.
• Verification of Symbols: It's essential to confirm that the underlying Business Auto Policy has the correct covered auto symbols activated for liability coverage to ensure the endorsement functions as intended.
• Importance of Scheduling: Agents should advise insureds to be thorough in describing volunteer activities in the schedule if required by the endorsement's terms, or to maintain clear records demonstrating that volunteers were acting on the organization's behalf.
• Interaction with Other Endorsements: Consider whether other endorsements, such as CA 04 39 Volunteer Hired Autos (if volunteers rent vehicles for the organization), might also be necessary to provide comprehensive coverage.
• Premium Impact: The use of volunteers driving non-owned autos introduces an additional exposure that needs to be considered in the policy's rating. Underwriters will assess this based on the information provided about the volunteer program.