Insurance for car washes.

General liability, coverage for damage your wash does to customer cars, property, and equipment breakdown, for tunnel, in-bay automatic, self-serve, and full-service washes.

What car washes usually carry

General liability
Car wash damage to customer vehicles
Property and wash equipment
Equipment breakdown
Garagekeepers, for full-service
Workers’ comp

Watch for these in a car wash policy

Damage in the tunnelGeneral liability often excludes or limits damage to cars going through your wash. Brushes, conveyors, and dryers that break mirrors and trim need car wash coverage to answer.
Damage that was already thereMany claims are old damage the customer just noticed. Posted signs about what you are not responsible for, and camera footage at the entrance, help settle them.
Employees driving carsAt a full-service wash, staff drive customer cars to the drying or vacuum area. That needs garagekeepers and auto coverage, not just general liability.
Slips and iceWet pavement, and ice at the exit in winter, bring slip and fall claims. Keep a log of salting and mat checks.
Equipment breakdownA failed motor or controller can shut down a tunnel for days. Equipment breakdown pays for the repair, and business income on the same coverage can pay for the lost days.

What landlords and lenders ask car washes for

Additional insuredThe landlord or lender, named on general liability.
Building and equipment valuesLenders want the wash equipment insured to replacement value, with them named.
Fleet termsDealers and fleets that send cars in bulk often ask how damage in the wash is handled.

Questions car washes ask