- Garage Liability: This insurance protects auto repair firms from claims such as poor work and customer slips and falls. It doesn’t cover your building or mechanic tools, so if you need to secure these assets, you’ll need to look into property and equipment insurance.
- Garagekeepers Legal Liability: Coverage if you’re judged to be accountable for a customer’s vehicle’s physical damage while it’s in your care, custody, and control.
Other mechanic shop insurance you might need:
- If you’re a mobile technician or run a business that relies on vehicles, you’ll need a commercial auto coverage. We cover cars used by auto repair shops, including as pickup trucks and tow trucks.
- Workers’ Compensation: Provides coverage in the event that one of your employees is injured or becomes ill while on the job.
- General Liability: Although mobile mechanics often do not own business property, they nonetheless require basic liability coverage in the event that they cause bodily harm or property damage while on the job.
What insurance do I need to be a mechanic?
From mobile mechanics to auto electricians, mechanic insurance is designed to cover a variety of vocations in the industry. The hazards involved with the automobile trade necessitate specialized insurance to preserve your livelihood, so you can rest easy knowing you’re covered if the worst happens.
There are a variety of coverings to choose from that may be customised to your specific business needs. Any mechanic needs liability insurance, and public liability can protect you from third-party property damage or unintentional harm. Even if you are diligent in your daily tasks, mistakes can happen, which is why comprehensive mechanics insurance is critical for any business owner.
Employers’ liability insurance, which is needed by law if you have full or part-time employees, should also be purchased in case they are injured at work. Employers’ liability insurance, for example, would cover legal and medical costs as well as any compensation granted if a member of staff burned their hand while welding.
If you are driving your clients’ vehicles, whether to drive them back to their homes or just to move them in and out of your repair shop, you must have road risk insurance to protect yourself against unanticipated accidents. This can protect your company from accidents while the automobiles of your customers are under your care.
Whether you operate on the road or in a workshop, you’ll have a large tool collection that would be expensive to replace. It is critical to safeguard your equipment; without it, you would be unable to trade. Buildings insurance can be added to your policy if you own the location where you do business.
If you experience damage to your property as a result of an insured incident, business interruption insurance can help. This implies that if your firm was closed due to a fire, business interruption insurance would cover your profit and fixed expenses, such as employee salaries, to get you back up and running.
All of these coverages may be personalized to your specific needs, so whether you’re on the road or in the office, we’ll find the best mechanic insurance for you.
Call now or leave a message for a call back. Our consultants are available to talk about your individual needs and set up your mechanic insurance coverage.
Do I need qualifications to be a mobile mechanic?
You may already be working in the auto repair industry, but if not, you’ll need to obtain some credentials before you can begin working on automobiles. According to the National Careers Service, you can learn the trade and obtain the necessary certifications by enrolling in a college-level course or an apprenticeship.
Can a mechanic insure his tools?
Professional mechanics and technicians have very little coverage for their tools and equipment under their employer’s insurance policy, and almost none under their homeowner’s policy. This is regrettable, given that the average technician spends $10,000 to $50,000 on their toolbox, tools, and equipment.
Many technicians aren’t aware that their current coverage levels are insufficient. Technicians are protected in the case of a loss under the Loss of Income Coverage clause included in every Pro-TEC Policy, even if their tools or equipment cannot be replaced for 30 days.
What are liabilities in insurance?
- Liability insurance protects you from lawsuits stemming from injuries and physical damage to people and/or property.
- Liability insurance pays for legal fees and payments if the insured party is proven to be at fault.
- Intentional harm, contractual liabilities, and criminal prosecution are among the provisions that are not protected.
- Automobile insurance coverage, product producers, and anybody practicing medical or law all require liability insurance.
- Responsibility insurance includes personal liability, workers’ compensation, and commercial liability.
Can mechanics drive any car?
Most motor trade policies cover you to drive any of your own or rented vehicles for business purposes. Certain types of automobiles are prohibited by some insurance.
What is the difference between garage liability and general liability?
According to CoverWallet, while general liability insurance will cover most liability situations, your business garage liability policy will provide particular coverage that an umbrella policy will not. The manner in which claims are handled will also be different. A garage liability insurance policy will cover an event up to a certain amount for each protection. Depending on the type of claim, the limits may be computed on an aggregate total or per occurrence.
If a claim exceeds your insurance limit, you’ll be responsible for the remaining costs, therefore it’s critical to understand the limitations and deductibles when selecting a coverage. Instead of particular limits for specific coverages, most general liability plans will cover up to a total cap maximum each year.
In addition, there is a large price difference between the two. Garage liability insurance is much more expensive than standard liability insurance. According to Small Business Chronicle, premiums for a garage coverage can range from $1000 to $3500, while general liability plans will cost between $500 and $1000. Garages are a larger insurance risk and have higher claim amounts than other businesses, which explains the higher cost.
Regardless of the expense, the majority of garage owners choose for additional coverage. If you own a garage, you’ll almost certainly require garage keepers insurance and workers compensation, which can cost up to $6000 in premiums.
What is mechanic liability insurance?
Customers rely on your professional abilities and automotive expertise if you work as a mobile car mechanic, but if you make a mistake or something goes wrong, you could face a compensation claim.
If you are ever faced with a liability claim, mobile mechanic insurance can assist protect you from financial damage and keep your business running.
It’s a form of motor trade insurance that serves to protect you and your company in the event of a claim. It addresses the specific dangers that you experience as a mobile mechanic.
This form of coverage, like other motor trade plans, can be tailored to meet your individual needs. The following are some of the most significant types of insurance you may require:
- Technician liability insurance – Public liability insurance should be a top consideration for every mobile mechanic. If a customer or member of the public has an accident and blames your business, for example, if they fell over tools you left lying around, this covers compensation and legal fees.
Other types of liability insurance available to mobile mechanics include product liability, which would cover you if a part you installed turned out to be defective.
- Defective workmanship insurance, also known as service indemnity insurance, is a type of insurance that protects you if your work isn’t up to par. If someone makes a claim for injury or damage as a result of faulty craftsmanship, this covers the costs.
- Road risk insurance – This allows you to drive cars that are not yours. If you’re going to test drive a customer’s car on public roads, you should at the very least have third-party road risk insurance. Keep in mind that third-party insurance only covers damage to other people’s cars, not your own.
Third-party, fire, and theft insurance, on the other hand, will reimburse you if cars under your care or control are stolen or burned down.
However, you might wish to choose complete coverage for the most peace of mind. This covers damage to a vehicle in your possession, such as a customer’s vehicle.
- Mechanic tools insurance – Covers the cost of replacing or repairing tools and equipment that have been lost or stolen.
- Breakdown coverage If your clients rely on you to repair or service their vehicles, the last thing you want to deal with is your own vehicle breaking down. Instead of disappointing a customer, an insurance that includes emergency assistance or a courtesy van might assist you in getting to a task.
- Legal fees whether you’re a part-time self-employed mechanic or the owner of a big mobile mechanic business with numerous staff, the legal fees incurred if your company is sued by a client or a member of the public could be exorbitant.
It’s tough to provide a typical average because the cost might vary substantially depending on a variety of factors relating to both you and your motor trade firm.
When calculating your premiums, most insurance companies will consider any or all of the following factors:
- How old you are Young drivers pay higher insurance premiums than older, more experienced drivers, so if you’re under the age of 25, you may expect to spend extra for your policy.
- Your previous claim history The bigger the number of claims you’ve filed, the higher your premium will be.
- The kind of cover you select – Comprehensive coverage is sometimes more expensive than third-party only coverage, but it may be well worth it if you cause an accident while driving a customer’s vehicle.
- Any optional extras you include The more optional extras you include in your policy, the more expensive it will be.
- If you’ve added tools protection to your mobile mechanic insurance, where you keep those tools could have an impact putting them in a locked garage is usually a better idea than leaving them in a van parked on the side of the road, for example.
Pay for your insurance in one large sum rather than monthly installments if you can. It may appear to be a large outlay, but it actually saves you money because you won’t have to pay any additional administrative or interest fees.
Increasing your voluntary excess can also help you save money on your insurance rate. If you decide to do this, be sure it’s still within your budget, because you’ll have to pay this excess before you can file a claim.