Auto Detailing and Washing – What Insurance Do You Need?

Okay, auto detailing and washing – what insurance do you need?

Whether you have a shop or you’re a mobile operation you will need a few forms of insurance to protect you from potential claims that can arise.

The first issue to deal with is the potential liability when you have a customer’s car in your care, custody, and control.

Now, this can occur when a customer drops off a car at your shop, or hand you the keys while the car is in their driveway. There are two potential issues to deal with here.

The first is a potential auto liability when moving the car, or driving it, even the shortest of distances, and the potential bodily injury or property damage that can arise.

For this risk, you need a garage liability policy or a business owner’s policy which is endorsed to provide auto liability coverage for non-owned autos.

The second part of this liability risk is damage to the customer’s vehicle while it’s in your control.

You may move it and dent it, you could accidentally burn the paint while buffing it, or your tent could collapse while polishing it causing scratches or dents, or really any number of scenarios could occur that damage the vehicle while it’s in your custody that you’ll be responsible for.

Here you need Garage Keepers Liability Insurance. It is basically physical damage coverage for vehicles you don’t own which are in your care, custody, and control.

I explain the difference between garage keepers and garage liability in this video: Garage Insurance versus Garage Keepers Insurance – What’s the difference?

It doesn’t matter if you’re customarily detailing Ferraris or Fords – a minor accident is going to be expensive and you don’t want to have to cover out of pocket.

If you’re a mobile operation then you’ll need commercial auto insurance on the vehicles you operate own or lease in the business.

In some cases, you can combine this policy with the garage liability and garage keepers to help consolidate coverages and costs.

Next on the list is coverage for your property or equipment.

If you’re in an auto detailing and washing shop and customers come to you, a business owners policy can insure your equipment as contents or business personal property, but if that property moves – like when you operate a mobile business then you’ll be better off insuring your mobile equipment on an inland marine policy, often called a floater.

If you have employees you’ll, of course, need workers’ compensation insurance to satisfy the state or states you operate in as it’s mandated in most states when you have employees.

Those are the major policies or coverage forms you’ll need to get started and be protected.

But other policies for your auto detailing and washing business you may want to consider include cyber insurance and umbrella insurance to provide excess liability protection over your general and auto liability policies.

What’s does Auto detailing and washing insurance coverages going to cost?

That’s a good question and the best way to find out is to speak to a skilled broker, like me who represents several top-rated insurers who want to write auto detailers and can put together the right combination of price and coverages for you.

Does it make sense to buy online without a broker?

In my opinion, no – and you may think, well of course this guy will so no – he’s a broker, that’s self-serving.

So, let me explain. Business insurance regardless of how large or small your auto detailing and washing business is complex.

Answering a few questions online or clicking a few buttons will not fully address the potential risks and issues you face. Getting coverage without a broker or middleman is risky.

You may end up with a policy that doesn’t really fit your needs and not be covered for a potential claim down the road.

A skilled broker knows how to ask the right questions to make sure you’re covering your bases and seeing options.

On top of that, a broker is your advocate in good times and in bad.

Here’s the bottom line.

Buying direct doesn’t always save money and often costs you more in time, effort, and long-term costs. In my opinion, you want to work with an expert and The Coyle Group is that expert to help you find the right fit insurance for your auto detailing and washing business.

Give us a call, or drop us an email. When we connect I promise no high-pressure sales gimmicks – just a conversation to see if we’re a good fit for you and your business.

Thanks