Insurance for auto detailers.

General liability, garagekeepers for customer cars, commercial auto, and equipment coverage, for mobile detailers and detail shops doing paint correction, ceramic coating, and interiors.

What auto detailers usually carry

General liability
Garagekeepers
Commercial auto
Tools and equipment
Workers’ comp
Property, for a shop

Watch for these in a detailing policy

Damage from your own workBurned paint from a buffer is damage from your own work. Many garagekeepers forms exclude faulty work, so ask whether yours pays for it.
The car in your careGeneral liability excludes the customer’s car while you are working on it. Theft or a fire at the shop needs garagekeepers to answer.
Mobile rigsA mobile rig carries a water tank, a generator, and chemicals. Your auto policy covers the van, not the equipment in it.
RunoffWash water and chemicals running into a storm drain can bring cleanup claims. Many policies exclude that under the pollution exclusion.
Moving customer carsA dent from moving a customer’s car at a dealership is a garagekeepers collision claim, and only if collision is included.

What dealerships and customers ask auto detailers for

Additional insuredDealerships that bring you in to prep inventory often want to be named on general liability.
Garagekeepers limitHigh enough for the most valuable car you work on, not your typical job.
Certificate before setupCondo lots and office parks often ask for a certificate before you set up on site.

Questions auto detailers ask

Straight answers.

The questions we hear most, answered plainly.

Is paint damage from a buffer covered?

It depends on the form. Many garagekeepers policies exclude faulty work, so a burned clear coat can fall outside it. Get that answer in writing before you bind.

Do mobile detailers need commercial auto?

Often. The insurer needs to know the vehicle is used for work, and loose equipment like a pressure washer or generator is not covered by any auto policy.