Auto Detailing Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages an auto detailing business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for shop-based and mobile detailers. Priorities reflect typical exposure; confirm against vehicle values and mobile work.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garagekeepers | Covers customers' vehicles in the business's care — confirm the basis (legal liability vs. direct) and limit. | Core | |
| Commercial General Liability | Covers damage to customers' property at mobile jobs and injuries. | Core | |
| Hired & Non-Owned / Commercial Auto | Covers staff driving customer vehicles and work vans. | Prevalent | |
| Inland Marine / Equipment | Covers pressure washers, generators, and tools. | Situational | |
| Workers' Compensation | Required in most states for employees. | Core |
The coverage gap most often missed
The most commonly missed gap for this class is garagekeepers coverage sized for the vehicles actually worked on. Detailers handle high-value cars, and a single paint or coating claim can exceed a small limit — while standard GL excludes vehicles in the business's care. Detailers should confirm garagekeepers limits match their highest-value vehicles, photograph condition before work, and capture runoff on mobile jobs.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your auto detailing coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Auto Detailing Insurance · Auto Detailing Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does an auto detailing business need?
The core coverages for an auto detailing business are Garagekeepers, Commercial General Liability, Workers' Compensation. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my auto detailing coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.