Types of Insurance an Auto Repair Shop Should Consider Having

• Garage Liability Insurance (Business Liability)

Garage Liability insurance is a specific business liability policy designed to protect auto repair shops from lawsuits or medical cost of an individual who is injured while at the shop.  Auto repair shops differ from other businesses in that the injuries sustained and the risk for injury are different than a regular office building would have.  A Garage Liability insurance policy is designed with your specific business needs in mind.

• Garage Keepers Insurance

While liability insurance will protect you from lawsuits or injuries, you still have to take into consideration your need to protect the vehicles under your shops care.  You can choose coverage ranging from protecting against only what you are legally responsible for or you can select coverage that protects the value of the vehicles regardless of the liability your shop holds.  The more coverage you want, the more your premium will be; however, offering full coverage to your customers can make a great selling point!

• Business Auto Insurance

Auto repair shop employees are going to get behind the wheel of the vehicle they are fixing, either to figure out what may be wrong or to ensure that the fix is complete.  Business Auto insurance helps provide coverage should your employee be involved in an accident while road testing a vehicle under your care.  If your shop also owns a tow truck, coverage can be provided for the driver as well.  Some Business Auto policies may even provide coverage for an employee who is traveling to pick up auto parts or even lunch for the whole shop.

• Business Interruption Insurance

Flooding or a fire can damage your shop, leaving you without a repair shop and your employees without a job.  Florida is home to a busy annual hurricane season and welding tools can pose a fire hazard for your shop.  Business Interruption insurance protects your business and employees should something happen that leaves you unable to open your doors for business for an extended period of time.  Business Interruption insurance, also known as Loss of Income insurance, can help you cover employee wages, pay business related bills (electricity, water, car part invoices, etc.), rent payment for your shop, supplies, and even taxes.

• Workers’ Compensation Insurance

If you employ four or more employees (regardless of part-time or full-time status), Florida law requires that your company carry Workers’ Compensation insurance.  This insurance can help prevent lawsuits from your employees should they ever become injured on the job.  Workers’ Compensation pays for the medical costs of job-related injuries and can provide additional benefits if the person is unable to work because of their injuries, and it pays the benefit regardless of who is at fault for the injury.  In exchange for providing this benefit, employees are unable to sue their employer for work related injuries.  Working around heavy machinery, slippery floors (if car oil or lubrication is spilled) and using dangerous tools, auto repair shop employees are at constant risk for a work-related injury.  Workers’ Compensation insurance is worth the cost to avoid the risk of liability for those injuries.

• Business Property Insurance

Auto repair shops contain a lot of valuable tools and inventory.  Protecting these alongside your storefront is just as important in the event of fire, storms, vandalism, theft, and accidents.

• Property and Equipment Insurance

Property and Equipment insurance goes a step further than Business Property insurance to protect any special equipment your shop owns from damage caused by a power surge, mechanical breakdown or burned out motor, and even employee error.

• Key Person Insurance

Key Person insurance is essentially a Life insurance policy on a key employee (someone, likely yourself, the business owner, who without them, the business would likely fail).  The business is the policy’s beneficiary.  Should the key employee pass away suddenly, Key Person insurance pays the benefit to the company, allowing the company to stay afloat during the loss of the main employee.  The benefit can be used to continue the business until a replacement is found or to pay off any outstanding debt, pay investors, and even supply a severance for the remaining employees while the business is closed down or sold.

Fearnow Insurance provides a unique ability to provide numerous services for our commercial clients, including auto repair shops.  In addition to our Business Insurance solutions, we also provide group and individual Health insurance plans, Life insurance, and Payroll Servicing.  Why pay several companies to do the job when you can save and use Fearnow for all of your business needs.