How many of you guys have insurance?

GlossyTundra

GlossyTundra

Tractor Detailer
With my services becoming increasingly popular, and the level of high end cars coming in my shop increasing, I have given much thought to getting insured. I dont know how many of you pros have insurance, or what your thoughts on it are. For years I have went without, and have never messed anything up or damaged anyones car. As we all know however, accidents do happen eventually even to the most careful of detailers, and I want to be covered.



I have gotten a quote from a local insurance company that includes protection from me messing someones car up, and protection of me driving the car. The rate is pretty reasonable, but it's money I would rather spend on some Swissvax or something like that lol. I just feel like if its something I can do without, then I will. However, if insurance is something I need to keep growing, or to be protected, then I want to know all available options on doing so.
 
I'm no professional but I think insurance in this business is something you don't want to get caught without.



Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
 
If you have a shop, it's a must. If you're doing it part time, it's all about your exposure in relation to the risk you're willing to take.
 
yeah, seems like its needed for any automotive work. However, what kind of insurance would this be called for this type of business. And how much per month average wise?
 
It really depends on your risk level. If your a part timer and NOT driving the cars then it's really your call. There's not a lot of risk of high dollar screw up's if you know what your doing. However..... If you're doing more volume and higher end cars that have higher "Fix the oops" cost attached to them (refere to the $6000 to replace the window mouldings on the lambo thread) You might really want to consider it as a necessiety. If you're driving the car's and someone plows into you or anything else happens do you really want ot try and foot that bill on your own? They call them accidents for a reason. You could be the best driver in the world and it would take just one drunk guy out there or someone just not paying attention to wreck your world.... And of course like Dave said if you own a stand alone shop I don't think it's even possible to operate legally without insurence.
 
What would an insurance like this be called in the US\Canada? And what rates are we talking about here? Need to consider something like this in time..
 
garage keepers is the expensive part of the insurence. You only need that if you have a set location building that you would store cars in over night. If you're a mobile guy or work out of your own house and just do one day job there's really no need for garage keepers. For example with GK's I was paying about $1200 a year. Once I gave up the shop and just dropped it down I was only paying about $350/yr. Make's a huge difference. shop smart on this one.
 
Operating without insurance is equal to gambling. If you are going friends cars and not charging them its one thing. if you are doing this for money I think you would need to have it. So many things can go wrong working for honest people. Then there are the others. And as good and you guys are Sh*$ happens. The insurance will also get you jobs that you might not get without it. Before I had my deck sanded, stained and sealed I asked for insurance. The guy told me that he was self insured. i asked for a certificarte stating that and he never called back.



Insurance is a part of the business and I hate to pay it but it allows business to operate while hedging the risk of _______?



I can tell you my hands would be shaking enough buffing some of the supercars i see you guy correcting knowing that a poajnt job could run several thousand dollars a pannel. Compounded by the picky nature of the people who own these cars and it better to be safe than sorry.



Jusy my 2 cents.
 
i have a B.O.P. right now which is fairly cheap. covers me for 2mil over all and 1mil per car. I pay $195/year. Not only is insurance important it gives the customer peace of mind knowing you are insured. I would definately recommend it. also if you plan to have fleet accounts they require it before you work on their fleet vehicles.
 
who do you guys have insurance through? this is something i have been thinking about and hearing that it isnt too expensive is good to hear.
 
I wouldn't hire a contractor to whok on my house who is not insured.



I wouldn't hire a detailer to work on my car who is not insured.



Just makes good business sense.



LL
 
Brandon1 said:
With my services becoming increasingly popular, and the level of high end cars coming in my shop increasing, .
Click to expand...





How do you have a "shop" without any insurance? Don't you need that before they lease you a space?



Anthony
 
It's a farm garage, and it's covered under our commercial insurance. But I only do really big details there, anything small such as a wash I do mobile.
 
Brandon1 said:
It's a farm garage, and it's covered under our commercial insurance. But I only do really big details there, anything small such as a wash I do mobile.
Click to expand...



I doubt very much that the garage insurance policy covers things that are actually IN the garage. Generally, that kind of policy would cover the farm garage, and tools/equipment contained therein related to the business covered.



So if the farm garage is for an actual FARM, then it only covers the farm. If the garage collapses on top of the new Lexus that was in their being detailed, then I would be very surprised if the insurance company covered the lexus.



I don't know if its the same thing, but my homeowners policy on my house doesn't cover the contents of my garage if those contents can be registered motor vehicles. I learned this when I tried to insure my motorcycle for just the 6 months per year when i would actually ride it. I was told that I still needed collision coverage because if my garage collapses, my homeowner's policy won't cover the bike.
 
The farm policy covers everything in the garage at the time of any accident. State Farm is the company.



I am just going to get insurance to cover everything when i'm mobile and at a location, just to be sure.
 
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