Auto Dealerships Insurance
Dealers combine large inventory values, sales operations, service departments, and finance and insurance activity.
How this coverage works
Coverage built around your operations
Dealers combine large inventory values, sales operations, service departments, and finance and insurance activity.
Insurance for auto dealerships is usually assembled from several policies, rather than one policy that covers everything. Locations, services, employees and contracts shape which coverage forms should be reviewed together.
Exposures that deserve attention
Common review topics include inventory on open lots including hail and theft; garagekeepers exposure in the service department; dealer plates, loaners, and test drive use; finance and insurance compliance allegations. Disclose changes in these activities so the insurance description stays aligned with your actual work.
Compare the details, not just the premium
Have current policies, loss runs and contract requirements ready. We can help compare deductibles, exclusions, valuation, claims reporting and coverage limits. Carrier eligibility and state availability vary, and coverage begins only after binding is confirmed.
Details to review
- Average and peak inventory value by lot
- Service, body shop, and detailing operations
- Loaner fleet and driver criteria
- Years in operation and ownership experience
- Annual revenue and payroll by role
- Prior loss history for the last three to five years
- Contract insurance requirements you must satisfy
What the coverage includes
Coverage names, terms, and availability vary by insurance carrier and state. These descriptions are educational and are not a policy contract.
Common optional add-ons
Endorsements change what a policy covers. Availability differs by insurance carrier and state.
Customer vehicles and inventory
Repair shops and dealers should review garagekeepers and dealer inventory forms; these are not interchangeable with fleet auto coverage.
Cargo and transit property
Transporters may need cargo coverage matched to commodities, contracts, refrigeration and loading responsibilities.
Pollution and fuel operations
Fuel storage and transport can create environmental exposures requiring specialty forms and regulatory review.
Hired and non-owned vehicles
Review rented vehicles and employee-owned vehicles used for work, including exclusions and required underlying coverage.
Who this is generally written for
Eligibility is set by each insurance carrier and can differ by state. Nothing here is a guarantee of eligibility or coverage.
Commonly a good fit
- Owners and operators of auto dealerships seeking a coordinated coverage review
- Established operations with current policies approaching renewal
- New businesses with a clear operating plan, budget and required licenses
- Businesses preparing proof of insurance for a landlord, client or lender
- Organizations adding staff, locations or equipment and reviewing existing limits
Worth a conversation first
- Average and peak inventory value by lot
- Service, body shop, and detailing operations
- Prior claims, canceled coverage or a lapse in insurance
- Subcontracted work, temporary staff or unusual contractual obligations
- New services, interstate operations or high-hazard activities
Availability varies by state
State regulation notice
- Monopolistic workers compensation states
- A small number of states require workers compensation through a state fund rather than a private insurance carrier.
- Catastrophe-exposed regions
- Coastal wind, wildfire, and earthquake exposures often require separate deductibles, sublimits, or specialty markets.
- Licensed trades and permits
- Some states and municipalities require specific bond forms or minimum liability limits before a permit is issued.
Frequently asked questions
Coverage that often comes up next
Related coverage worth reviewing at the same time. Nothing is added without your direction.
- Garage LiabilityGarage liability is written for automotive businesses. It combines premises and operations liability with auto liability arising out of garage operations on a single coverage form.Learn more
- GaragekeepersGaragekeepers covers physical damage to customer vehicles left in your care, custody, or control. The three common coverage bases behave very differently at claim time.Learn more
- Commercial PropertyCommercial property coverage responds to physical damage to the buildings, contents, and improvements your business depends on to operate.Learn more
- Employment PracticesEPLI responds to claims brought by employees and applicants alleging wrongful employment practices, which general liability and workers compensation do not cover.Learn more
A coordinated industry coverage review
Review these policies together for overlapping terms, gaps and contractual requirements. Nothing is added without your direction.
- Garage Liability
- Garagekeepers
- Commercial Property
- Employment Practices
- Cyber Liability
- Cyber LiabilityCyber coverage addresses the cost of responding to a security incident and the liability that follows when data you hold is exposed.Learn more
Ready to compare your options?
Start online in a few minutes or speak with a licensed insurance professional. There is no obligation, and quoting does not bind coverage.
Insurance coverage is not bound or effective unless and until it has been confirmed in writing by TruvaLink Insurance Agency or an authorized representative of the applicable insurance carrier. Submission of a quote request, application, payment, or other information does not guarantee coverage or constitute proof of insurance.