Detailing Insurance

Inthedetails

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Hi Folks,

I am working toward starting up a business detailing cars :badabum (no suprise that's why I am posting here).

I began looking into insurance to cover me if I foul up someone's paint, or if I have an accident with their vehicle (I am planning pickup and drop off service.)

Holy crap I say............$2000 a year for $50K worth of coverage.

Anyone have any ideas, better places to shop, or want to loan me the $$$$

Dave
 
I will give you an example that will make that insurance worth it. One of my frequent client owns a jaguar and his headlight got smashed out one time. The cost to fix that was $400 and that didnt include installation. No it wasnt me. It was his sun. But if your dealing with cars and you can get insurance do it!

Greg
 
Dave,

Check out the Professional Detailing Technicians Association (PDTA), I'm pretty sure they have insurance carriers that provide Liability Coverage and they just introduced a new group health insurance plan. I think it's about $75 to join the PDTA plus you receive a Stoner's Sample Kit (49.95) free for joining. It may be something worth looking into. Sounds like the premiums you're being quoted are pretty high. Though it is not through the PDTA, I know I pay about $400 a year...this gets me:
$1,000,000 (aggregate) general liability coverage...($500,000 per occurance)
$500,000 garage keepers coverage (covers the vehicle if I'm driving it or if it's being kept in my place of business, ETC.)
$10,000 medical expenses
$10,000 in equipment coverage for equipment and enclosed trailer


I have a different automotive plan for my truck. Hope this helps.

Also, check your local business laws about proper business licsensing, incorporation, waste water reclaimation, etc. I not sure of the amount of experience you have detailing or running a business, but a training program such as the one with Renny Doyle and Attention to Details has proved invaluable to the start up of my business. Highly recommended, with so many new businesses that fail by just "jumping in with both feet", an effective training program is so important. Good luck with your future business.

Matt Williams
Silver Lining Detail
 
Do like Matt suggested check out the PDTA . For some reason your premium is high and your 50k of coverage is not enough.
 
i would check around, but even $2000 isn't much if you have to paint a car with a pearl paint job on a luxury or exotic. your insurance will be a deduction and make sure you add a couple of dollars to each job you do to cover the cost of your premium.
 
Hey Matt,

Do you mind posting the name of your insurance carrier... the best I could find is around 500 and it's just for the 1M liability. Sounds like you got a good deal on yours!
 
pcjazz said:
Hey Matt,

Do you mind posting the name of your insurance carrier... the best I could find is around 500 and it's just for the 1M liability. Sounds like you got a good deal on yours!

I carry my insurance through State Farm Fire and Casualty. Jim Hammil with the PDTA has contacted them regarding coverage for other detailers on a nationwide basis, but unfortunately they only provide coverage to my local area. My advise would be to just keep checking around...I went through probably 7-8 companies before I found State Farm. Good luck.

Matt
 
I went through my allstate agent and she came up with the 500 price which really isn't that bad. I'll keep looking though.
 
Even though I am a mobile detailer, I have a full million dollar 'garage owners policy'. This policy is about $4k per year. It comes down to the fact that a certain land devlopment/owner/managing company requires I have this amount of coverage if I want to provide services on their property. I would never pay for this much insurance regularly. But this company owns about 50% of the office buildings and apartment complexes in my area.

SC~
 
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