Garagekeepers Insurance for Shops That Hold Customers’ Vehicles
For repair shops, body shops, detailers, tire shops and other businesses that take custody of customer cars — explained plainly, next to the coverages it is often confused with.
Who needs garagekeepers
- Auto repair and mechanical shops
- Auto body and collision centers
- Detailing shops and mobile detailers who store vehicles
- Tire and wheel shops
- Oil-change and quick-service locations
- Other businesses that take custody of customer vehicles, subject to eligibility
Five coverages that are easy to confuse
They have similar names, but they protect different things. Most shops need more than one.
| Coverage | What it protects | Typical example |
|---|---|---|
| Garagekeepers | Customers’ vehicles while in your care, custody or control | A car in your bay is damaged by a fire or stolen overnight |
| Garage liability | Injury or damage to others caused by your garage operations | A customer slips in your waiting area; a repair you made fails and causes an accident |
| General liability | Injury or damage caused by a non-auto business’s premises and operations | Used by businesses whose operations do not involve auto service |
| Commercial property | Your building, tools, equipment, lifts and inventory of parts | A storm damages the roof and the alignment rack |
| Dealer garage coverage | Liability for an auto dealer, often combined with physical damage on inventory | Written for dealerships, not service-only shops — see used car dealer insurance |
Exact names and forms vary by carrier and state. Your quote shows which of these is included, the limits and any exclusions — read it before you bind.
What to have ready
- Services you offer and the share of revenue from each
- Number of employees and whether any drive customer vehicles off premises
- The most customer vehicles on site at one time and their combined value
- Whether vehicles are kept inside or outside overnight, fencing, lighting and alarm details
- Building ownership and square footage
- Five years of loss runs
Shops that also sell cars
If you buy and sell vehicles as well as repair them, a dealer program may fit better. See used car dealer insurance.
Common questions
Doesn’t my general liability policy cover customers’ cars?
Usually not. Liability policies exclude damage to property in your care, custody or control, and a customer’s car on your lift is exactly that. Garagekeepers is the coverage designed to fill that gap.
What is the difference between legal liability and direct coverage?
Legal liability garagekeepers pays only when your shop is legally responsible for the damage. Direct coverage can pay for covered damage to a customer’s vehicle regardless of fault — on an excess basis (after the customer’s own insurance) or a primary basis (before it). Direct coverage costs more but avoids arguments with customers about fault.
How do I choose a limit?
Base it on the total value of the most customer vehicles you could have on site at one time, including overnight, not the average. A shop that stores three high-value trucks over a weekend needs a higher limit than its daily average suggests.
Are test drives and road tests covered?
It depends on the form and the options chosen. Collision coverage under garagekeepers can apply to customer vehicles you are driving, and liability for the driving itself comes from your garage or auto liability. We confirm both on the quote.
Do you insure the building and my tools too?
Yes, as separate parts of the package — commercial property for a building you own, business personal property for tools and equipment, and coverage for tenant improvements if you rent.
States where we quote garagekeepers insurance
Insurance guides
- Garagekeepers vs. Garage Liability Insurance
Two coverages with nearly the same name protect completely different things. Here is how to tell them apart — with examples from…
- Insurance Options for Used Car Dealerships
Dealer liability, open lot coverage, garagekeepers and property — what each one does for an independent dealer and the gaps to watch…
Del Toro Insurance is an insurance agency. Coverage is subject to policy terms, underwriting approval and availability in your state; not every coverage described is available in every state or for every property or business.
Trucking, transportation and contractors
Cargo vans, box trucks, hot shot, semi trucks and contractor insurance (commercial auto, general liability and workers' comp) are quoted by our specialist team at dannyruizmyagent.com.
- Contractor Insurance (Auto, GL, Workers' Comp)
- Cargo Van Insurance
- Box Truck Insurance
- Hot Shot Insurance
- Trucking & Semi Truck Insurance
Tell us about your shop and how many cars you hold overnight
Call, message us on WhatsApp or request your quote online. We work in English and Spanish.