Garage is a broad category designed to protect dealerships, repair operations and specialty vehicle businesses from the unique risks they face. This article outlines common garage class targets, frequently asked questions, coverage solutions, submission requirements and what we’re seeing in the garage landscape.

Class Targets

We offer garage coverage for both dealer and service/repair risks across a wide variety of classes, including:

• Antique or classic auto dealers
• ATV, dirt bike, dune buggy and go-kart sales
• Auto brokers, auto pawn and wholesalers
• Boat dealers
• Car dealers (non-franchised)
• Commercial trailer and semi-trailer dealers
• Construction and farm equipment sales
• Dealers with salvage operations
• Electric car and low-speed vehicle sales
• Emergency vehicle sales
• Golf cart, moped, scooter and motorcycle dealers
• Mobility equipment sales
• RV, motor home and camper dealers
• Snowmobile and travel trailer sales
• Truck or tractor dealers
• Vacuum truck sales

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a separate general liability policy for a repair shop?
Typically, no, unless the shop has non-auto exposures that cannot be included on the garage policy.

Can an insured have a dealer at a residence?
Not all states allow this. If permitted, the dealer must be licensed and provide proof of homeowners’ coverage.

Do volunteers need to be listed on the application?
Yes. Garage liability covers premises exposure, so anyone working on-site (paid or unpaid) must be included.

Is a special driver’s license required?
Not for private passenger autos. For heavy trucks requiring a CDL, most carriers require the insured to have a CDL for test drives.

Do all policies require an inspection?
No. It depends on the carrier, premium and risk. For example, Colony requires inspections for premiums above $2,500, while Atlantic Casualty requires them above $5,000.

Coverage Solutions

Our markets offer a range of coverage solutions, including:

• Garage Liability: Premises and auto liability
• Garagekeepers Coverage: Physical damage for customers’ autos in the insured’s care
• Dealers Physical Damage: Physical damage for inventory (100% coinsurance applies)
• Medical payments
• Property coverages such as building, contents, business interruption, signs and tool floaters
• Fire legal liability
• Uninsured and underinsured motorists
• Personal injury protection
• Cyber suite, including data compromise and identity theft recovery
• Auto coverages available for select classes

Submission Requirements

To quote business efficiently, please provide:

• A fully completed garage quick quote form
• Additional supplements for heavy vehicles, equipment, motorcycles, boats or salvage exposures
• Values for garagekeepers and dealers’ physical damage when applicable
• Property ACORD 140 if property coverage is needed
• Confirmation of required licensing and any state-regulation required special requirements

What We’re Seeing

Used auto dealers remain one of the hottest classes, representing half of our garage book of business. We can consider new ventures when the insured has relevant experience, as well as accounts that are tough to place due to loss history. We have also seen success placing risks for insureds who own multiple businesses.

One of our recent notable wins is a new RV dealer with locations in three states. This complex account required collaboration between our transportation and commercial brokerage teams to obtain primary and excess coverage.

We are also seeing a lot of mobile repair operations, not just private passenger roadside assistance. This includes diesel mechanics servicing heavy vehicles and equipment onsite, and fleet maintenance providers performing routine services such as oil changes. We also write operations like window tinting and pressure washing for autos and buildings. With certain markets, we can include the separate general liability class under the same policy, eliminating the need for a standalone GL policy.

Our transportation team is continuing to expand Arlington/Roe’s capabilities in the garage space. Our appetite spans everything from antique auto dealers to heavy equipment sales, giving agents a flexible and competitive market for their garage accounts. Give one of our transportation underwriters a call, and we’ll help you find the right solution.