NCCI · 22 states

Workers comp rates for code 7539: Automobile Rental

NCCI class code 7539 covers Automobile Rental in the services industry. The median rate across 22 states is $0.840 per $100 payroll. Rates range from $0.260 in Utah to $1.71 in Illinois.

Also known as: Car Rental

Cheapest 5 states for code 7539

  1. Utah $0.260
  2. Kansas $0.320
  3. Kentucky $0.500
  4. Virginia $0.540
  5. Tennessee $0.570

Most expensive 5 states

  1. Illinois $1.71
  2. California $1.60
  3. New Jersey $1.32
  4. Nevada $1.24
  5. Arkansas $1.06

What does NCCI class code 7539 cover?

Class code 7539 classifies employees performing Automobile Rental, also known as Car Rental. The NCCI classification system groups occupations by similar workplace exposure, loss-experience patterns, and operational characteristics. Code 7539 falls within the services industry group and is filed in 22 states.

NCCI's governing classification rules state that a single-classification employer with at least 51% of payroll in this occupation generally classifies all employees under code 7539, with two standard exceptions: clerical office work (segregated payroll records required, reported under code 8810) and outside sales / collectors (code 8742). If your operation has multiple distinct activities, ask your underwriter about a multi-class split before accepting a single-code rating.

Why rates for code 7539 vary so widely across states

The rate spread for code 7539 is 6.6× from cheapest to most expensive ($0.260 in Utah to $1.71 in Illinois). This isn't randomness, it reflects each state's claim experience for the occupation over the most-recent 5-year window NCCI uses, medical inflation in that state's hospital/clinic market, indemnity (lost-wage) cost levels driven by state maximum weekly benefit caps, and rating-bureau methodology. Independent-bureau states (California's WCIRB, New York's NYCIRB, Pennsylvania's PCRB, New Jersey's NJCRIB, Massachusetts's WCRIBMA, Delaware's DCRB, Wisconsin's WCRB, North Carolina's NCRB, Texas's TDI) often diverge significantly from NCCI's national pure premium, sometimes by 30% or more on the same occupation. Monopolistic-fund states (Ohio, North Dakota, Washington, Wyoming) don't allow private carrier competition, so the state fund's pricing is the only available option.

How to use this code 7539 rate data

  1. Benchmark your carrier quote. A carrier quoting code 7539 above the $1.03 75th-percentile rate is asking for a premium-rated quote, push back or get a second quote.
  2. Identify the right state filing. Use the table below to find your state's filed rate. If your carrier is quoting at a higher rate, the difference is either schedule debit, EMR, deductible loading, or a state-fund surcharge, ask which.
  3. Calculate your effective rate. Effective rate = base rate × EMR ± schedule credit/debit ± deductible loading. Two carriers quoting code 7539 at the same base can vary 30%+ on effective rate after these adjustments.
  4. Consider lower-rate states if locationally flexible. For code 7539, Utah ($0.260) is 85% cheaper than Illinois ($1.71). Multi-state employers split payroll by state-of-work, not state-of-headquarters, so locating the high-payroll site in a cheaper state directly lowers premium.
  5. Build a 3-year EMR strategy. A 0.85 EMR cuts base rate by 15%; the difference between 0.85 and 1.25 EMR on the same code is a 47% premium difference. Frequency control (preventing every claim, even small ones) drives EMR more than severity control.

Code 7539 rates in all 22 states

State Code Rate per $100 vs peers Source
Utah 7539 $0.260 5% view
Kansas 7539 $0.320 9% view
Kentucky 7539 $0.500 14% view
Virginia 7539 $0.540 18% view
Tennessee 7539 $0.570 23% view
Michigan 7539 $0.610 27% view
Maryland 7539 $0.680 32% view
Indiana 7539 $0.770 36% view
New York 7539 $0.808 41% view
Minnesota 7539 $0.810 50% view
Oregon 7539 $0.810 50% view
Oklahoma 7539 $0.840 55% view
Rhode Island 7539 $0.860 59% view
Alaska 7539 $0.930 64% view
Alabama 7539 $0.940 68% view
Hawaii 7539 $0.970 73% view
Louisiana 7539 $1.03 77% view
Arkansas 7539 $1.06 82% view
Nevada 7539 $1.24 86% view
New Jersey 7539 $1.32 91% view
California 7539 $1.60 95% view
Illinois 7539 $1.71 100% view

Bottom quartile (cheap) Mid Top quartile (expensive)

What types of claims drive code 7539 rates?

Workers comp rate filings for code 7539 reflect what's actually happening on the job, not just generic occupation hazard. NCCI publishes loss-cost analyses showing which injury categories account for the bulk of indemnity (lost-wage) and medical claim cost. For Automobile Rental, the top drivers are typically:

  • Musculoskeletal strain, lifting, twisting, and repetitive motion, is the most-common claim type across occupations.
  • Slips, trips, and falls on workplace surfaces account for 15-25% of typical workplace injuries.
  • Struck-by objects, falling and moving items, produce significant medical-only and indemnity claims.
  • Cumulative trauma conditions develop over years and produce long-tail claim costs in many occupations.

Targeting these drivers in your safety program produces the largest EMR improvement. Frequency control (preventing every claim, including small medical-only incidents) drives the modifier more than severity control. A documented written safety program addressing the top two drivers above is typically the highest-ROI intervention for employers paying for code 7539.

FAQs about NCCI 7539

What occupation is NCCI class code 7539?

Class code 7539 is "Automobile Rental" (also known as Car Rental), in the services industry. The code is filed in 22 states.

What is the average workers comp rate for code 7539?

The median rate across 22 states is $0.840 per $100 of payroll, ranging from $0.260 (Utah) to $1.71 (Illinois).

Why does code 7539 cost more in some states than others?

Workers comp rates reflect each state's loss experience for that occupation, the rating bureau's methodology (NCCI vs. independent), schedule rating credits, and the state's medical-cost inflation. Some states are monopolistic (only the state fund writes coverage) while others are open competitive markets.