I am gonna try to start up a Side Detailing Business on the weekends this summer just for some extra money and because I like doing it. Hopefully I will be able to work myself up to about one customer a weekend, but this is more for fun and some extra cash then it is a full time business. My question is, do I need to get some time of insurance if i am just gonna do this as a side job? Do any of you guys on here that do this as a weekend part time business have insurance or have any other type of legal protection(waivers)? Thanks for the help
Weekend Detailing Business - Need Insurance?
- Thread starter SR77
- Start date
detailbarn
Professional Detailer
Since you're in NJ I have to say don't even worry about it. For one you would be floored to find out how much the insurance would cost that is if you could get a company to write it. Come lately if an insurance company doesn't want the risk they are sending people away and telling them they are high risk and have to be insured through the state plan which is highway robbery. They are doing this one people who have been in business for 20 years never had a claim or anything they just don't want the exposure. It's so wrong. On top of that if you did get insured after paying close to $2500 or more a year your deductible would be at the minimum $1000 and that only cover damage that can be casued by the work you are doing not an auto accident. Accidents are not covered under a garage keepers policy. The owner of the car you're detailing gives you implied consent when he gives you the keys thus making you temporarliy covered on their policy. Now to throw something else into the mix say you're going to be detailing cars over $75,000 dollars your automaticly high risk and deemed uninsurable. 
Ok now that I've blew off that stem , I'll tell you what I found to be a good idea if you want some coverage , number one a waivers stating that you have permisson to drive their car and that any damage that may occur as a result of your work would be covered by your company. If you do plan to do highline cars then do what I did get a 1 million dollar umbrella policy , I got it on my homeowners since I work at home but you could also get it on your own car if you're mobile. Personally I've never even came close to wrecking a customers car and if some one did hit me then it would be on them. As far as causing damage while I'm working on the car , I have once and I paid it out of pocket , and then I had a policy but the deductible was $2500 so it wouldn't have covered it any way. I sat down in a Beamer with a razor blade in my back pocket and riped the leather , owner understood that it was an accident and I paid to have the seat recovered. I think insurance is a big scam but sometimes you need it , for a part time detailing gig I think you don't and it wouldn't be cost effetive. Hope my rambling helps.
Ok now that I've blew off that stem , I'll tell you what I found to be a good idea if you want some coverage , number one a waivers stating that you have permisson to drive their car and that any damage that may occur as a result of your work would be covered by your company. If you do plan to do highline cars then do what I did get a 1 million dollar umbrella policy , I got it on my homeowners since I work at home but you could also get it on your own car if you're mobile. Personally I've never even came close to wrecking a customers car and if some one did hit me then it would be on them. As far as causing damage while I'm working on the car , I have once and I paid it out of pocket , and then I had a policy but the deductible was $2500 so it wouldn't have covered it any way. I sat down in a Beamer with a razor blade in my back pocket and riped the leather , owner understood that it was an accident and I paid to have the seat recovered. I think insurance is a big scam but sometimes you need it , for a part time detailing gig I think you don't and it wouldn't be cost effetive. Hope my rambling helps.Thanks for the replys. Some good advice. I am only planning to keep this as a side job for some extra cash, so I am not starting a small company or anything like that. Can an individual get a waiver written for them for stuff like this, and do you think this would be a good idea? I have been told that waivers are not really that protective because any good lawyer can get around any waiver. I guess I will just go without any insurance and play extra safe. If I can get a portable vacuum and some QEW, I will just go to them instead of driving thier car. Thanks again for all the help
Detailing NY
New member
I agree with detail barn, just doing this on weekends, with about 1 car a weekend to start, i would not get insurance.
I am really not sure how NJ works with the liability insurance.
I am really not sure how NJ works with the liability insurance.
derek37
New member
Do you guys think it's ABSOLUTELY necessary to have insurance for a mobile detailing biz? Even when you won't be driving the cars anywhere?
imported_garyo
New member
Waivers are a mixed bag. Depending on the law in your state they work for some issues but not others. For one thing it is difficult to draft an effective waiver for negligence, which is why everyone says a good lawyer can get around a waiver. If you decide to go the route of a waiver I strongly recommend you spend the money on a lawyer for this. Let the attorney draft the waiver for you. That said look into establishing an entity to run all your detailing through. The entity can then isolate your personal assets from any potential liability. Once again seek the advice of an attorney in your state for this. Most likely you can form a single member LLC. This will offer you some protection for your personal assets but not make your taxes more complicated because it is a disregarded entity for tax purposes.