Insurance – Finance Master https://finance.vmondeika.com Investment Tips & Top Stories Tue, 09 Jun 2026 21:28:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 Aegis Travel Insurance Review: Is It Worth the Cost? https://finance.vmondeika.com/aegis-travel-insurance-review-is-it-worth-the-cost/ https://finance.vmondeika.com/aegis-travel-insurance-review-is-it-worth-the-cost/#respond Tue, 09 Jun 2026 21:28:38 +0000 https://finance.vmondeika.com/aegis-travel-insurance-review-is-it-worth-the-cost/

Aegis General Insurance Agency offers travel insurance plans under its Go Ready Insurance subsidiary. This provider provides a suite of customizable plans instead of one-size-fits-all plans and coverages.

With Aegis travel insurance, you can choose from single-trip and annual multitrip policies, as well as cruise-specific plans.

Here’s what to know about this travel insurance plan that gives you flexibility starting at a mid-range price.

Aegis travel insurance offerings

Through Aegis, you’ll find a handful of travel insurance plan tiers:

  • Choice. Best for travelers who are planning a single trip and want budget-friendly, comprehensive coverage.

  • Elite. A comprehensive travel insurance option that provides more coverage options and higher limits.

  • Cruise. A plan that’s designed specifically with comprehensive coverages that cruise-goers want.

  • Trip Cancellation. A plan that’s useful if you’re traveling domestically and want affordable cancellation coverage.

What Aegis travel insurance covers

The best part about Aegis is its array of coverages and upgrades that let you build a bespoke travel insurance plan. Even if you opt out of the options coverages, Aegis travel insurance plans include what you’d expect from comprehensive policies:

  • Trip cancellation. Get reimbursement for up to 100% of your insured trip for unused, nonrefundable expenses that you’ve paid up-front.
  • Trip interruption. Receive up to 150% of your insured trip’s cost if an covered event caused an interruption to your travel or itinerary. 
  • Travel delay. Get reimbursed for food, lodging, and transportation expenses incurred due to a covered event.

  • Baggage coverage. Covers your bags and personal property up to your plan’s limit, if they’re lost, stolen, or damaged. 
  • Baggage delay. If your bags are delayed for 24 hours or more, most Aegis plans reimburse you for key personal items. 

  • Missed connection. Offers secondary coverage for out-of-pocket expenses that you incur if you missed a connection due to a covered event.

  • Medical and dental. Covers unexpected emergency illness that occurs during your trip

  • Preexisting conditions waiver. Certain plans include the preexisting conditions waiver which can help you qualify for a claim, if you were undergoing treatment for an illnesses or injury during the “lookback period” — about three to six months prior to your policy purchase date.

  • Emergency evacuation and repatriation. Provides coverage for medically necessary transportation, and returning your remains home in the event of death. 

  • Accidental death and dismemberment. Offers coverage for loss of life or limb, in the event of an accident.

Aegis also offers CFAR coverage, but only as an add-on upgrade to an existing plan purchase. A CFAR upgrade helps you recoup 50%–75% of non-refundable trip costs if you cancel at least 48 hours before your departure.

Aegis detailed policy review

Based on a seven-day vacation to Mexico from October 1–7, 2026, for a 45-year-old traveler from Illinois, here’s a policy and coverage overview.

Type of coverage

Coverage limits

Trip cancellation

Choice: Up to 100% of insured trip cost.
Priority Plus: Up to 100% of insured trip cost.
Elite: Up to 100% of insured trip cost.
Cruise: Up to 100% of insured trip cost.
Trip Cancellation: Up to 100% of insured trip cost.

Trip interruption

Choice: 125% of insured trip cost.
Priority Plus: 150% of insured trip cost.
Elite: 150% of insured trip cost.
Cruise: 150% of insured trip cost.
Trip Cancellation: Not included.

Travel delay

Choice: $200 per person daily; $2,000 overall limit per person.
Priority Plus: $200 per person daily; $750 overall limit per person.
Elite: $250 per person daily; $1,500 overall limit per person.
Cruise: $200 per person daily; $1,000 overall limit per person.
Trip Cancellation: Not included.

Missed connection

Choice: $500 per person; minimum 3 hours delay.
Priority Plus: $250 per person; minimum 5 hours delay.
Elite: $1,000 per person; minimum 3 hours delay.
Cruise: $750 per person; minimum 3 hours delay.
Trip Cancellation: Not included.

Emergency medical/dental

Choice: Up to $50,000 per person; $1,000 per person dental.
Priority Plus: Up to $25,000 per person; $500 per person dental.
Elite: Up to $20,000 per person; $2,000 per person dental.
Cruise: Up to $100,000 per person; $1,000 per person dental.
Trip Cancellation: Not included.

Baggage delay

Choice: Up to $200 per person.
Priority Plus: Up to $500 per person.
Elite: Up to $750 per person.
Cruise: Up to $750 per person.
Trip Cancellation: Not included.

Baggage and personal belongings

Choice: Up to $500 per person.
Priority Plus: Up to $1,500 per person.
Elite: Up to $2,500 per person.
Cruise: Up to $1,500 per person.
Trip Cancellation: Not included.

What Aegis plans do not cover

Like any other travel insurance plan, Aegis’ policy specifies general exclusions that wouldn’t be covered under its plans. Below are some exclusions that would be covered in the event of a loss:

  • Pregnancy.

  • Mental health-related events or disorders.

  • Off-roading.

  • Participating in organized sports at any level. 

  • Extreme outdoor activities (e.g. skydiving, parachuting, cliff diving, mountaineering).

  • Underwater activities in water depths of 75 feet or more.

How Aegis travel insurance compares to its competitors

Aegis travel insurance earns 5 stars out of 5 in BoundlessCash ratings. Jump to see our methodology. Among providers charging between $60 to $80, Aegis travel insurance offers a nice balance for travelers as a relatively affordable option for comprehensive coverage.

Company

Star rating

Basic plan cost

Premium plan cost

Generate a quote

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

$52.

$112.

Tin Leg

$65.

$147.

WorldTrips Travel Insurance

$71.

$91.

World Nomads

$83.60.

$256.50.

Trawick International

$55.84.

$88.94.

AXA Assistance USA

$73.07.

$135.62.

AEGIS (GoReady) Travel Insurance

$69.

$84.72.

HTH Travel Insurance

$73.

$116.51.

Seven Corners

$75.

$126.

Travel Insured International

$74.

$162.

Allianz Global Assistance

$89.

$174.

USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services

$148.20.

$214.20.

AAA

$101.

$146.

IMG

$74.85.

$114.20.

Travel Guard

$81.06.

$160.13.

Arch RoamRight

$103.

$121.

These star ratings are based on a separate analysis of each travel insurance provider’s offerings. For more detailed scoring, see our recommendations for the best travel insurance companies, read each individual provider’s BoundlessCash review or view our methodology at the end of this article. Pricing is subject to change based on your specific trip details. You can verify the latest price by clicking through to Squaremouth (a BoundlessCash partner).

How much is Aegis travel insurance?

Based on the data we pulled across multiple insurers for the same traveler profile, the average basic-level coverage was $80.

Aegis’ travel insurance lowest-tier plan, Choice, was priced at $69, cheaper than approximately two-thirds of the plans we compared.

For the same sample trip, Aegis also offers other plans, ranging from $74 for Priority Plus to $94 for the Cruise Plan.

Which Aegis plan is best for me?

To choose the right plan for your needs, consider where you’re visiting, how you’ll get there, and the activities you’ve planned on your itinerary.

The Cruise plan, for example, can help you access higher coverage limits that might come in handy during a seafaring journey. For example, a $750 per person coverage — versus $250 per person limit under the Priority Plus plan — if you missed your cruise due to a delayed or canceled flight.

Ultimately, deciding which plan makes the most sense for you entirely depends on your personal preferences, risk tolerance, and trip details.

Does Aegis offer 24/7 travel insurance?

Yes, Aegis travel insurance specialists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week regardless of your time zone. Their multilingual associates can be reached any time of day at the following phone numbers:

  • Customer Service: 866-753-0945, Option 2

  • Emergency Assistance: 877-317-3472 (toll free), or 305-455-0896.

How to file a claim with Aegis travel insurance

Aegis offers its Stress Less Benefits which help you avoid further disruption to your trip in the event of a covered event. Just call its 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team and they can assist by helping you navigate your plan’s coverages and paying medical and emergency providers upfront.

Each plan has its own list of Stress Less Benefits. For example, with Go Ready Choice, Stress Less is available for trip interruption, medical and dental events, and emergency assistance to name a few.

If you need to file a claim for an event that’s outside of your policy’s Stress Less Benefits, you’ll need to go through the typical claims process. Here’s how:

  1. Contact Aegis. Call, email, or speak to a live chat call center representative who can offer clarity about your policy coverage and necessary supporting documents.

  2. Await document prescreen. Aegis will prescreen the documents you submitted to ensure that it has all of the correct information to process your claim.

  3. Upload documents and forms to the online portal. Once the documents clear the pre-screening process, Aegis will email additional claims paperwork and a link to the online claims portal you’ll use for submission.

  4. Wait for claim processing. Processing the claim can take seven to 10 business days from the date you submitted all of your necessary forms and documents. 

  5. Receive your reimbursement. If the claim is cleared and is covered under your policy, Aegis will mail you a check.

Is Aegis travel insurance worth it?

The biggest advantage of Aegis travel insurance is that you can build a plan that best fits your preferences. If you have an unpredictable work schedule, for example, the Choice plan has an optional Cancel for Work Reasons upgrade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Aegis a good insurance company?

Aegis offers a variety of policy coverage tiers, including niche plans for cruise-goers and a standalone Trip Cancellation plan that offers peace of mind should you need to cancel your trip due to a covered reason.

Who is the most trusted travel insurance company?

Aegis is a major travel insurance provider, but determining the most trusted travel insurance company is subjective. Instead, find the best travel insurance company by comparing coverage limits, pricing, claims process ease and the responsiveness of the insurer’s customer support team.

Who is Aegis travel insurance?

Aegis travel insurance is provided through the provider’s Go Ready Insurance plans. Its operations are based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and travelers can access 24/7 support worldwide.

Travel insurance rating and review methodology

Travel insurance

BoundlessCash’s ratings for travel insurance companies take into account the following details about each insurer:

The best travel insurers excel in all of these categories. They provide the information people need to make a purchase without any surprises along the way. They offer insurance at a fair price and allow customers to customize plans to meet their coverage preferences. They’re also able to keep their customers happy throughout the relationship.

Data collection and review process

BoundlessCash collects over a dozen data points for each insurer we analyze from their public-facing websites and third-party analyses. These data points are then compared against one another and against BoundlessCash’s standards for good travel insurance companies to determine a star rating.

Data is collected on a regular basis and reviewed by our editorial team for consistency and accuracy. Final star ratings are presented on a scale of one to five stars, where a one-star score represents “poor” and a five-star score represents “excellent.”

The reviews team

The writers and editors behind BoundlessCash’s travel insurance reviews are insurance specialists who have had their work featured by or appear in The Associated Press, The Washington Post, The New York Times, the Chicago-Sun Times, U.S. News & World Report and the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. Each writer and editor follows BoundlessCash’s strict guidelines for editorial independence.

In addition to travel insurance, the team covers travel rewards programs, airlines and hotels.

Rating specifics

Our star ratings are weighted based on our editorial and professional opinions. We use the following weightings when rating travel insurers:

Scope of coverage ratings are based on assessments of a company’s standard protections, including:

  • Travel medical insurance.

  • Trip cancellation.

  • Trip interruption.

  • Trip delay.

  • Baggage and personal belongings, lost luggage.

  • Emergency medical assistance.

  • Emergency medical evacuation.

  • Emergency medical repatriation.

  • Accidental death and dismemberment insurance.

  • Rental car coverage.

Customizability ratings factor in whether coverage limits are fixed prices or a percentage of the trip cost (the percentage is generally better), whether a policy has customizations available, and the number of bonus features.

  • 24-hour assistance.

  • Pre-existing medical conditions coverage.

  • Extreme sport coverage.

  • CFAR add on availability.

  • Travel health insurance.

  • Interruption for Any Reason.

  • Travel Inconvenience.

  • Cancel for Work Reasons.

  • Electronics coverage.

Consumer experience ratings are based on provider reviews on Squaremouth.com. If the company is not in the Squaremouth database, we default to Google reviews.

Affordability ratings are based on the percentage of total trip cost a plan costs a policyholder. Less than 4% is considered excellent, whereas over 9% is considered poor.

How to maximize your rewards

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Mechanic Business Insurance: Companies, Costs and Coverage https://finance.vmondeika.com/mechanic-business-insurance-companies-costs-and-coverage/ https://finance.vmondeika.com/mechanic-business-insurance-companies-costs-and-coverage/#respond Tue, 02 Jun 2026 23:51:54 +0000 https://finance.vmondeika.com/mechanic-business-insurance-companies-costs-and-coverage/

Mechanics need business insurance in case the unexpected happens. At minimum, garage owners should have:

  • Garage liability insurance. Helps pay for injury and property damage to people outside your business. 

  • Garage keepers insurance. Pays if a customer’s vehicle is damaged or stolen while in your care.

  • Commercial property insurance. Covers your shop and the tools and equipment inside it.

  • Workers’ compensation. Pays for injuries that happen on the job, including medical care, lost wages and therapeutic costs.

Larger operations, mobile mechanics and shops that handle higher-risk work will likely need more coverage. Here are the policies to consider, plus where to start your search for them.

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Best insurance companies for mechanics

  • Relative number of complaints to state regulators for each company.

  • Financial strength, meaning how well a company can pay claims.

  • How easy it is to get a quote and buy a policy online. 

We reviewed the top carriers for companies that offer policies tailored for mechanics. BoundlessCash recommends comparing multiple quotes to find the best coverage at the best price.

BoundlessCash

Why trust BoundlessCash

250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.

80+ years of combined experience covering small-business and personal finance.

Objective, comprehensive small-business insurance ratings based on the financial strength, complaint records, digital features and customer service availability of insurance market leaders. Read our methodology.

BoundlessCash’s small-business insurance content — including our ratings, reviews and recommendations — is produced by a team of writers and editors who specialize in small-business finances. Their journalism has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, MarketWatch, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, MSN and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows BoundlessCash’s strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage.

Best for business owner’s policy

Mechanics and garage owners can likely find all the insurance they need at The Hartford. It offers business owner’s policies that combine general liability with property coverage, and garage keepers is available as an add-on. You can also get workers’ compensation and coverage for data breaches or faulty work.

The Hartford is financially strong, and consumer complaints are on the low side for its size. You may be able to get a quote online, but you’ll likely need to speak to an agent to buy a policy. Read our review of The Hartford.

Best for garage liability coverage

Auto-Owners is only in 26 states. But if you work in one of them, consider its dedicated garage insurance program. It includes garage liability and garage keepers policies, as well as specialized options like mechanics errors and omissions. You can get workers’ comp, commercial property and more as well. Plus, Auto-Owners offers bundling discounts.

Credit rating company AM Best gives Auto-Owners its highest rating possible. It got far fewer complaints about its workers’ comp and commercial auto programs than we’d expect given its size. You’ll need to work with an agent to get coverage. (BoundlessCash has not written a full review of Auto-Owners business insurance.)

For an auto repair shop policy you can buy online in minutes, consider Ergo Next. The carrier has bundled mechanic policies in three coverage levels that include general liability and property coverage. The two higher levels include garage keepers and faulty work coverage.

You can also buy other key policies like workers’ comp insurance and hired and non-owned auto. The latter covers you if you drive a customer’s car. Read our review of Ergo Next.

Best for equipment breakdown coverage

A business owner’s policy from Nationwide includes equipment breakdown coverage, an uncommon feature. You can also buy garage keepers insurance. Together with a BOP or garage liability, this will cover any damage to your customers’ cars while in your care.

Nationwide also offers workers’ compensation, employee dishonesty and data breach coverage, among other policies mechanics may need. You may be able to get a quote online, but you will have to work with an agent to buy a Nationwide policy. Read our review of Nationwide.

Why do mechanics need insurance?

Few businesses face the number of unique risks auto repair shops do. Insurance pays when issues arise so your business doesn’t have to.

Business insurance can help cover costs for the following scenarios:

  • A customer vehicle is damaged in your care, or gets stolen off the lot overnight.

  • An employee strains their back on the job and needs physical therapy.

  • Your faulty wheel repair leads to an accident.

  • A customer trips over a wire and falls, requiring medical care.

  • Your tech has an accident during a test drive. 

  • The shop catches fire, or is damaged in a windstorm, and you can’t operate.

  • You incur a data breach where customer information is stolen. 

What types of insurance do mechanics need?

Garage liability insurance

Garage liability insurance covers bodily injury and property damage to non-employees from your business operations. It also includes coverage for accidents involving customers’ vehicles while in your care. For instance, if a mechanic is moving or driving a customer’s car and causes property damage or injuries to a non-employee, garage liability pays.

A garage liability policy may also include faulty work coverage. Also known as completed-operations liability, this pays for property damage and injuries if you or an employee’s faulty work causes an accident.

Garage liability insurance only pays out to third parties, or non-employees. It doesn’t cover damage to your shop or injuries to your employees. It also excludes damage to your customers’ vehicles — for that, you’ll need garage keepers insurance.

Can mechanics opt for general liability insurance instead?

General liability insurance has major gaps for mechanics. It typically excludes accidents in customer vehicles, whether on public roads or on your shop’s property. It also tends to exclude lawsuits and claims due to negligence or faulty work.

You may be able to address those issues with a customized general liability policy from some carriers. But whatever route you choose, your liability insurance should cover all of the following. If you’re not sure if a policy does, confirm with the insurer.

Coverage

Example

Bodily injury

A customer is injured in your shop and needs medical care.

Property damage

A shop mechanic accidentally spills coffee in a customer’s car and ruins the upholstery.

Advertising injury

Your competitor claims your social media ad included a lie about their shop.

Garage liability

A tech rear-ends another vehicle while driving a customer’s car to diagnose a funny noise the engine is making.

Faulty work

Your employee replaces brake pads that fail the following week, causing a fender bender.

This policy covers damage to a customer’s vehicle while it’s in your care. It can come in three different versions for auto mechanics:

  • Legal liability. This pays only when you’re legally responsible for the damage. It excludes vandalism, weather, and theft, for example. 

  • Direct primary. This pays for damage regardless of fault and covers things like weather, vandalism and theft.

  • Direct excess. This pays for damage regardless of fault, but only after the customer’s own insurance is exhausted. 

For example, all three policies cover vehicle damage that employees cause by test driving or moving customers’ cars on-site. But only direct policies pay for vandalism, hail or an overnight theft, and only a direct primary policy would guarantee payment.

A direct excess policy might not pay to repair damage to a customer’s car, or it may pay only the deductible. It would depend on whether the customer had comprehensive coverage on their personal auto policy.

Commercial property insurance

This policy pays for damage to your auto repair shop and any tools, equipment and furniture inside it. Commercial property insurance covers events like fire, burglary, vandalism and most windstorms.

However, policies typically exclude floods and earthquakes. Additionally, insurance only protects tools and equipment at your business property — mobile mechanics need a separate inland marine policy.

Commercial property coverage typically includes business income insurance. This helps pay costs if a covered disaster hits your shop and you have to shut down temporarily. This coverage can help with costs like payroll, rent and utilities while your shop is repaired or rebuilt.

For example, say a grease fire burnt a hole in the side of your auto repair shop. It ruined all the nearby tools, melting their rubber grips into a workbench. Commercial property insurance pays for the repair to the wall and workbench, plus the cost to replace the tools. Business income insurance pays some of your bills and payroll while the shop’s being fixed.

A business owner’s policy, or BOP, combines general liability, commercial property and business income insurance into one policy. Some carriers include equipment breakdown coverage, which can be a smart choice for mechanics.
A BOP can offer cheaper coverage than buying policies separately. But you’ll still want to ensure it includes garage keepers and garage liability coverage, or that you can add them on. The same is true with completed-operations insurance.

Workers’ compensation insurance

This coverage pays medical bills, lost wages and therapeutic costs due to work-related medical events. If an employee is injured or sickened on the job, workers’ compensation insurance pays — not health insurance.

Most states require workers’ compensation if you have employees. But this coverage is critical even if you’re a sole proprietor or mobile mechanic.

For example, say a tool falls from atop an engine while you’re underneath the vehicle. It hits you in the eye and causes a nasty gash on your forehead. Even if you’re self-employed, your health insurance would not cover this claim. But workers’ comp would, including costs for physical or occupational therapy and a portion of lost wages.

Other types of mechanic insurance

Policy type

Coverage details

This is a must if you own or operate vehicles for the business, including mobile-mechanic vans, tow trucks and supply vehicles. A personal auto policy generally won’t cover an accident that happens during business use.

Say a mobile mechanic is driving to a service call and rear-ends another driver. Commercial auto would pay for the damage to both vehicles and any injuries to the other driver.

Tools and equipment insurance

Covers tools, diagnostic computers, lifts and equipment while in transit, at a worksite or stored off-premises. Commercial property usually only covers items at your business address.

Say a mobile mechanic’s tool chest is stolen out of the work van overnight. Tools and equipment coverage helps pay to replace it.

Employee tools coverage

This covers tools your technicians own but kept in the shop. Many techs own $20,000 or more worth of personal tools, and standard commercial property typically doesn’t cover them.

Say someone breaks in and clears out three rolling tool chests that belong to your techs. Employee tools coverage helps pay to replace them.

Pollution liability insurance

Standard general liability and BOPs typically exclude or sharply limit pollution claims. Mechanics handle toxic chemicals like brake fluid, antifreeze and solvents. All of these can trigger pollution claims if they leak or spill.

Say leaking oil contaminates the soil under your shop and the government orders a cleanup. Pollution liability would help pay for the investigation, cleanup and any of your neighbors’ claims.

Equipment breakdown coverage

Pays for repairs or replacement when motorized or electrical equipment fails due to a covered event (not wear and tear). This can include lifts, alignment racks, diagnostic computers and air-compressors.

For example, a power surge fries your shop’s diagnostic scan tools and computer-controlled alignment rack. This coverage helps pay to repair or replace them.

Faulty work, or completed-operations coverage

Pays for claims that your repair caused an accident or other financial loss. General liability policies typically exclude the cost to redo your own work.

Say a brake job fails after three weeks and the customer rear-ends another vehicle. Faulty work coverage helps pay for the damage and any injuries.

On-hook towing coverage

You need this if you tow customer vehicles. It covers them while attached to your truck and in transit.

If a tow-truck driver drops a car on the road in transit, on-hook towing helps pay to repair or replace the customer’s vehicle.

Pays costs related to data breaches, ransomware and other cyberattacks. Worth a look if you use shop-management software, vehicle inspection tools or accept credit card payments.

Say ransomware hits your shop-management system and exposes customer payment data. Cyber insurance helps with the investigation, the required customer notifications and any legal fees.

Umbrella coverage effectively increases the limits of your other business liability policies. It’s worth considering if you do high-value work, store exotic vehicles or have contracts that require higher limits.

Say a test-drive accident judgment exceeds your $1 million garage policy limit by $500,000. Umbrella would help pay the rest, up to its own limit.

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What to watch out for in mechanic insurance

Insurance carriers often exclude services or otherwise limit the risk they will take on. Mechanics will typically need to purchase a separate policy or buy an endorsement to cover these gaps. Watch out for the following when insuring your auto repair business.

Ensure complete coverage of customer vehicles in your care

General liability policies cover property damage to non-employees — except when that property is a car you’re working on. If you store cars outdoors in your lot overnight, primary (not legal liability) garage keepers insurance pays out for theft, vandalism or storm damage costs. And if you want to ensure claims from this policy are fulfilled, you may need security measures in place, such as cameras and fencing with a locked gate.

🤓 Nerdy Tip

Garage keepers insurance policies often have starting limits around $1 million per claim. Consider raising those if you have a large storage lot or work on expensive vehicles like high-end cars, RVs or heavy equipment.

Mobile mechanic coverages

Even if you drive to repair sites in a personal vehicle, you may need commercial auto insurance. Personal auto policies won’t pay claims for an accident you’re in while working, and no auto policies cover the tools and equipment inside a vehicle. For that, you’ll need tools and equipment or inland marine coverage.

Additionally, some garage and general liability policies for auto shops exclude off-premises operations. Make sure your policies don’t. Or get an endorsement if you work off the business property.

Check on coverage for employees’ tools and equipment

Standard property insurance only covers tools and equipment the business owns. If your shop is like many where mechanics buy and use their own tools, check on an endorsement for employee tool coverage. This way if there’s damage or theft, all the tools are replaced and you’re back in business sooner.

Should mechanics get risk management services?

Risk management is usually a suite of services insurers offer a business to improve safety, reduce costs and limit insurance claims. These services can pay off for mechanic shops, given the profession’s high injury rate.

Examples of risk management services include:

  • Safety inspections, including for lifts, jacks and racks.

  • Employee training on lifting technique, hazardous-material handling and OSHA-required programs.

  • Help preparing for environmental compliance audits.

If your shop is large, has high employee turnover or handles specialty vehicles, it’s worth asking carriers what services it includes.

How much does mechanic insurance cost?

Business insurance for mechanics can be relatively affordable, especially if you choose bundled or combined options like a business owner’s policy. Here are some median annual costs for select mechanics policies, according to data shared with BoundlessCash by online brokerage Coverdash:

  • Business owner’s policy: $4,200 per year.

  • General liability: $2,200 per year.

  • Workers’ compensation: $3,500 per year.

  • The type of work you do.

  • Your shop size and revenue.

  • Where your shop is located.

  • Loss and claims history. 

  • How much coverage you choose.

For example, a towing company with eight trucks and twelve employees that frequently crosses state lines will have higher costs than a sole proprietor. The best way to get a good deal is to compare quotes from multiple companies before you buy your policies.

How to shop for mechanic insurance

Follow these steps to assess your risk and compare multiple quotes for the policies your auto repair business needs.

1. Identify coverages and gather documentation

At minimum, you’ll need:

  • Garage liability (or general liability with garage coverage). 

  • Garage keepers insurance.

  • Commercial property insurance. 

You’ll need workers’ comp if you have employees, but you should also consider it if you’re a sole proprietor. Add commercial auto if you operate vehicles or are a mobile mechanic and specialty endorsements based on your work.

Then, gather all the documentation related to those risks and your business. In addition to business details like address, payroll, revenue and time in operation, you’ll need business vehicle information.

Employers need their federal employer identification number, while sole proprietors need their Social Security number.

2. Get quotes from multiple insurers

To compare multiple policies, there are three common options.

  • Contact an agent or broker. An insurance expert can walk you through policies, explain exclusions and endorsements and answer questions. They can also get the quotes for you, but only from their own network of insurers.

  • Get quotes directly. If you know the insurer you want to work with or have a shortlist in mind, you can contact them directly for quotes. This puts you firmly in control of your shopping experience, but may be time consuming — especially if each carrier requires you to speak with an agent.

  • Use an online marketplace. This is the simplest method, where you go to a single site like Insureon or Coverdash and get multiple quotes from their network of companies. You can easily compare coverage and likely buy online from their network, but you may not have access to an agent if questions arise.

Many mechanics may be able to buy business insurance online, but you may find that speaking with an agent provides the most clarity on what you’re getting. Additionally, if you need a lot of policies or have a larger business, you may find that you can only buy a policy through an agent.

3. Compare limits, exclusions and companies

This step is very important for auto repair business owners. Read all policy language for:

  • Legal liability vs. direct primary vs. direct excess garage keepers coverage.

  • Faulty-work and pollution exclusions.

  • Off-premises coverage if you do mobile work.

  • Per-vehicle limits if you handle high-value cars. 

Check each carrier’s complaint trends in states you operate with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. You can also check this with the insurance board website for your state. Additionally, look at reviews for the carriers on sites like the Better Business Bureau, as well as independent reviews.

4. Buy policies and review them annually

Once you’ve decided on your carrier and policies, it’s time to buy online or through your agent. After you do, you can typically access your certificate of insurance (COI) through the same online portal you make payments and access other documents from.

Revisit coverage if you add bays, hire employees, open a second location or take on contracts that require higher limits. Outside of that, review your policies annually to ensure they still cover your business fully.

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