Motor trade insurance for garages, dealers & workshops

Specialist cover for businesses that work with vehicles. Road risk, premises liability, tools, and customer vehicle protection. Bespoke policies from insurers who understand the trade.

3,000+ clients protected
94% retention rate
35 years trading

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Our Insurers

Our Insurer Panel

Aviva Zurich AXA Allianz Hiscox Chubb Markel QBE Ageas Ecclesiastical AIG Intact Munich Re RSA Covéa +30 more →

Authorisations & Memberships

FCA Authorised No. 305819 Financial Conduct Authority Industry Body BIBA Member British Insurance Brokers’ Assoc. Professional Body CII Member Chartered Insurance Institute Certified Cyber Essentials NCSC Certified Scheme Accredited Employer Living Wage Real Living Wage Employer Government Framework Crown Commercial Services Supplier
Motor Trade Sector

Who needs motor trade insurance

Car Dealers & Showrooms

Stock, premises, test drives, customer vehicles on your forecourt, and demonstration cover.

Vehicle Repair Garages

Road risk for customer vehicles, premises cover, public and employers liability, tools and equipment.

MOT Centres

Vehicle in care cover, public liability, and road risk for testing. Essential for any MOT operation.

Body Shops

Customer vehicles in your care, premises cover, liability, and tools. Tailored to spray and repair risks.

Parts Suppliers

Stock cover, premises, customer liability, and business interruption if your operation is disrupted.

Mobile Mechanics

Tools and equipment, public liability, road risk, and cover for working at customer locations.

What It Covers

The full range of motor trade cover, in one place

Protecting your customers' vehicles

Road Risk Cover

Driving customer vehicles for test drives, repairs collection, and delivery. Covers damage to the vehicle and third-party liability.

Vehicle in Care Cover

Protection for customer vehicles on your premises — being repaired, serviced, stored, or awaiting collection.

Demonstration Cover

For dealers: taking customers out in vehicles to demonstrate. Covers you and third-party risks.

Stock Cover

For dealers: protection for your inventory on the forecourt, showroom, or storage. Covers fire, theft, and damage.

Protecting your business

Premises Cover

Workshop, garage, showroom, and storage buildings. Coverage for buildings, contents, and business equipment.

Public & Employers Liability

Liability if a customer or employee is injured. Essential for any motor trade business.

Tools & Equipment

Specialist equipment used in your trade. Coverage for tools in your workshop or mobile van.

Business Interruption

Income protection if your business is disrupted by fire, flood, or other covered incidents.

The Detail

What a complete motor trade
policy includes

Road Risk

Cover when driving customer vehicles. Third-party liability, damage to the vehicle, own vehicle damage if applicable.

Customer Vehicles

Vehicles on your premises whilst in your care. Covers fire, theft, malicious damage, and accidental damage.

Public Liability

If a customer is injured on your premises or due to your work. Up to £10m cover.

Employers Liability

If an employee is injured. Statutory requirement if you employ anyone.

Tools & Equipment

Specialist equipment used in your business. Usually portable items up to a set value.

Business Interruption

Loss of income if fire, flood, or other covered incident closes your business temporarily.

Why Forum

Why motor trade professionals
trust us year after year

We understand the risks

15+ years of motor trade experience. We know the difference between road risk, vehicles in care, and premises cover. No gaps.

Specialist insurer access

Our panel includes Aviva, Zurich, Allianz, and QBE — all with appetite for motor trade. Best rates and cover.

Expert claims support

When things go wrong, we handle it. Claim on a customer vehicle? We negotiate and follow through.

Bespoke policies, not templates

Every garage and dealer is different. We tailor cover to your specific risks — no one-size-fits-all nonsense.

Motor trade claims
are our specialty.

Example: Body Shop Customer Vehicle Damage

Customer brings in a BMW for respray. While in your care, it's damaged by another vehicle in your yard. Standard policies often exclude this. Our policies cover it. We've handled hundreds like it.

Example: MOT Centre Test Drive Accident

During an MOT road test, you're involved in a collision. Who's liable? Third-party injuries? We've negotiated these claims and got our clients back on the road.

See More Claims Examples
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Questions

Motor trade insurance FAQs

What is motor trade insurance?

Motor trade insurance is specialist cover designed for businesses that work with vehicles — garages, dealers, MOT centres, body shops, and mobile mechanics. It covers specific risks standard business policies don't: driving customer vehicles, storing vehicles in your care, working on customers' property, and liability for vehicles you handle. It's not fleet insurance (which covers vehicles you own) — it's about protecting your business when you work on or handle other people's vehicles.

What does road risk cover mean?

Road risk cover protects you when you're driving a customer's vehicle. This might be for a test drive before repair, a collection, or a delivery. It covers damage to the customer's vehicle, third-party injury or property damage, and your own legal liability. It's essential if you ever drive customer vehicles — even a short test drive — as standard business insurance doesn't cover this.

Do I need motor trade insurance for a mobile mechanic business?

Yes, absolutely. Mobile mechanics need motor trade insurance to cover: driving customer vehicles (including from their home to your workspace), tools and equipment carried in your van, public liability if you're working at a customer's location, and sometimes employers liability if you have staff. It's just as important as for a fixed workshop — arguably more so, because you're working across multiple locations.

What's the difference between motor trade and fleet insurance?

Fleet insurance covers vehicles your business owns — company cars, vans, lorries, etc. Motor trade insurance covers your liability when working with customer vehicles — you're not the owner. The risks are fundamentally different: fleet is about protecting your assets; motor trade is about protecting your business when you service, repair, sell, or handle other people's vehicles.

Does motor trade insurance cover vehicles in my care?

Yes — this is a core part of motor trade insurance. "Vehicles in care" cover protects customer vehicles whilst they're on your premises being repaired, serviced, stored, or awaiting collection. It covers damage from fire, theft, malicious damage, and sometimes accidental damage. This is one of the key differences between motor trade insurance and standard business policies.

How much does motor trade insurance cost?

Cost depends on several factors: your business type (dealer vs. garage vs. MOT centre), annual turnover, number of employees, number of vehicles you handle annually, your claims history, and the cover you choose. Garages typically pay £500–£2,500 per year. Dealers might pay £1,000–£5,000+. Mobile mechanics often pay £400–£1,200. Get a quote for your specific situation — we'll give you an accurate figure in minutes.

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Call us or fill the form above. We'll call within 2 hours with a quote.

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