What is Garage Liability Insurance?

What is Garage Liability Insurance?

What is Garage Liability Insurance?

Running an automotive business comes with a unique set of risks. From repair shops to dealership lots, auto operations involve constant movement, valuable property and frequent customer interaction. 

Garage liability insurance is designed specifically to address these exposures, providing protection where standard policies often fall short.

 

What Is Garage Liability Insurance?

Garage liability insurance is a specialized policy built for businesses involved in the service, storage or sale of vehicles. It combines elements of general liability and auto liability to cover bodily injury and property damage that may occur in the course of business operations. 

 

Who Needs Garage Liability Insurance?

Garage liability insurance is essential for any business with a physical location tied to vehicle-related operations. From a customer slipping in a repair shop to damage caused during a test drive, this coverage is designed to address real-world situations that automotive businesses face every day. 

If a business involves handling, moving or being responsible for customer vehicles, garage liability coverage is a critical component of its risk management strategy. That includes auto operations like:

  • Automotive repair shops
  • Dealerships
  • Tow and impound lots
  • Tire dealers and service providers
  • Heavy truck sales and repair operations
  • Specialty shops such as transmission, muffler or upholstery services

 

Why It Matters: Common Claims in Auto Businesses

Automotive businesses encounter a wide range of exposures that can quickly turn into costly claims if not properly covered. Some of the most common include:

  • Customer Injuries: Slip-and-fall incidents in service bays, waiting areas or parking lots
  • Property Damage: Accidental damage to a customer’s vehicle during service or while on the premises
  • Test Drive Accidents: Liability arising from accidents that occur while a customer or employee is operating a vehicle
  • Completed Work Issues: Claims tied to repairs or services that result in damage or malfunction after the vehicle leaves the auto shop
  • Operational Risks: Incidents involving equipment, tools or day-to-day business activities

Even small incidents can lead to significant financial impact. Without the right coverage in place, these risks can disrupt operations, strain resources and impact long-term stability.

 

A Coverage Built for Real-World Operations

Garage liability insurance provides the foundation for protecting auto businesses against these everyday exposures. With flexible limits and options designed to fit a range of operations, it provides businesses with coverage tailored to their needs. 

At Lane & Associates, we understand that no two automotive businesses operate the same way. Our approach is built on providing quality protection, responsive service and expert guidance. By understanding their risks, we help auto businesses operate with greater confidence and customized coverage.

 

Coming Soon: Expanded Coverage Capabilities

As the industry evolves, so do the needs of our clients. Lane & Associates is continuing to expand capabilities to better support a wider range of garage operations, including:

  • Ability to write auto conversions
  • Impound and wrecker storage yard risks (no use of wreckers)
  • Tire sales, service and repair across all vehicle types

Karen Bivona is a Lane & Associates underwriter! She underwrites, quotes and services general liability accounts for contractor risks, including our online Artisan Contractor General Liability Program. She has worked with the company for more than 35 years.

Jonathan Whitaker is a Lane & Associates underwriter. One of his favorite parts about his job is the relationships and friendships he's able to extend beyond work. He enjoys golf, traveling, Saints football and spending time with his family.

Marie Hohensee is Lane & Associates Vice President of Commercial Underwriting and assists the commercial underwriters in making sound and profitable decisions in placing business for our customers, as well as underwriting her own book of business. She’s originally from California but has called Louisiana her home for more than 25 years and has been working in insurance for more than 30 years!

Brandy Lane is an Underwriting Assistant at Lane & Associates. Brandy's favorite part of her job is helping the underwriters so we can promptly get things to our agents! Brandy's hobbies include spending time with her friends, trying new restaurants and seeing live music.

Scott Landry is the president of Lane & Associates, an advocate of continuing education and has his CPCU, ASLI, AIS, AU, and AIDA. Scott is active in the insurance community, serving on Commissioner Donelon's Surplus Lines Insurance Advisory Council, The Louisiana Property and Casualty Insurance Commission and the Louisiana Surplus Lines Association. Some of Scott's hobbies include gardening and exercising.

Casey Lane is a Lane & Associates underwriter. His favorite part of his job is building relationships with the agents he serves. When he's not at Lane, Casey enjoys Saint's football, music and watching his four children's sporting events.

Chris Weego is a Lane & Associates underwriter. His favorite thing about working at Lane are his coworkers and the amazing agents he gets to work with. When he's not working, Chris enjoys playing golf, watching his kids play sports and cheering on the Chicago Cubs!

Don Lundy is a Lane & Associates Texas underwriter. Recently, he completed his CPCU designation after 15 years of off-and-on classes. When he's not working, Don enjoys photography, Star Wars, the Atlanta Braves and watching his son bowl.