Specialist cover for accident repair centres and body shops. Choose road risk only, road risk with public liability, or a combined policy that can cover customer vehicles, spray booths, premises, equipment and liability.
Specialist cover for accident repair centres and body shops. Choose road risk only, road risk with public liability, or a combined policy that can cover customer vehicles, spray booths, premises, equipment and liability.
Customer cars coveredInsurer-approved workFaulty workmanship
Spray booth & oven
Speak to an adviser today 0330 808 1117
Bodyshop insurance is a motor trade policy for businesses that repair vehicle bodywork and paint. It can be road risk only, for moving and road testing customer cars, or road risk with public liability. A combined policy can also protect customer vehicles in your care, your premises, spray booths and equipment, and cover products and employers’ liability.
Paint, solvents and hot work make body shops a higher fire risk than most garages, insurers will ask how you manage it.
Your bodyshop insurance depends on:
Your postcodeRepairs and refinishing you doSpray booth and oven typeNumber of employeesPremises, paint store and securityEquipment and tool valuesInsurer and fleet work
Cover that fits the way your body shop works
Cover that fits the way your body shop works
Build a policy around the repairs you carry out, your premises and the vehicles in your care.
Build a policy around the repairs you carry out, your premises and the vehicles in your care.
Customer Vehicles
Protects cars in your care while they’re stripped, sprayed, stored or moved.
Property & Contents
Cover for your workshop, paint store, spray booth and office contents.
Employers’ Liability
Often a legal requirement if you employ panel beaters, sprayers or apprentices.
Public & Products Liability
Covers injury claims and claims linked to repairs and paintwork you supply.
Business Interruption
Helps replace lost income if a fire or flood stops you repairing.
Stock & Equipment
Cover for paint, panels, tools, lifts and specialist repair equipment.
Which covers does a body shop need?
Which covers does a body shop need?
Road risk is a legal requirement if you drive customer cars, and employers’ liability is often a legal requirement if you have staff. The rest protect the premises, equipment and vehicles a body shop depends on.
Road risk is a legal requirement if you drive customer cars, and employers’ liability is often a legal requirement if you have staff. The rest protect the premises, equipment and vehicles a body shop depends on.
| Type of cover | Legally required? | Why body shops need it |
|---|---|---|
Employers’ liability | Often, if you employ staff | Panel beaters, sprayers and apprentices |
Road risk | Yes, to drive customer cars | Moving and road testing repaired vehicles |
Customer vehicles in your care | Not legally required | Damage or theft while cars are with you |
Public liability | Not legally required | Customers and visitors at your premises |
Products liability | Not legally required | Claims from repairs, paint and parts supplied |
Premises and contents | May be required by your lease | Fire, flood and theft in a high fire-risk trade |
Business interruption | No | Lost income while you can’t repair |
Equipment breakdown | No | Spray booths, ovens and compressors |
Top Tip
Insurers will ask how you store paint and solvents and how you manage hot work. Good housekeeping and a documented fire risk assessment help reduce the risk of fire.
What could go wrong in your body shop?
What could go wrong in your body shop?
The most common body shop claims involve fire in the paint area, damage to customer cars being repaired, faulty repairs, overspray and theft of tools and parts.
The most common body shop claims involve fire in the paint area, damage to customer cars being repaired, faulty repairs, overspray and theft of tools and parts.
This cover is built for businesses repairing and refinishing vehicle bodywork, whether you work for insurers, dealers or the public.
Bodyshop insurance suits:
Accident repair centresBody and paint shopsSMART and cosmetic repairersClassic car restorersDealer-approved repairersFleet and insurer repairersReal claims body shops make
Real claims body shops make
These are the claims body shops make most often, and the part of the policy that responds to each.
These are the claims body shops make most often, and the part of the policy that responds to each.
Customer car damaged
A repaired car is scratched or dented while being moved around your workshop.
Potential cover
Customer Vehicles
Spray booth fire
A fire starts in the paint area and damages the booth, stock and building.
Potential cover
Premises + Business Interruption
Employee injury
A technician is injured using sanding or lifting equipment.
Potential cover
Employers’ Liability
Paint defect claim
A respray fails months later and the customer claims the cost of putting it right.
Potential cover
Products Liability / Workmanship
Bodyshop insurance has no set price. It depends on your postcode, the repairs you carry out, your premises and fire precautions, the customer vehicles on site, your equipment values, staff numbers, excess and claims history.
Where you trade matters. Postcode is one of the biggest rating factors on a motor trade policy, and it affects more than the price. It can decide whether an insurer will quote at all.
Repairs you carry out
Insurers will ask what repairs you carry out, including any spraying, welding or hot work.
Number of employees
More staff means higher employers’ liability exposure.
Premises and fire risk
Your building, paint store, booth and fire precautions strongly affect the price.
Level of excess
Your excess is what you pay towards each claim, so choose a level you could manage.
Customer vehicles on site
The number and value of cars held overnight changes your sums insured.
Claims history
Insurers will ask about any claims you have made, especially for fire and theft.
How to insure a body shop
How to insure a body shop
Tell us about your repairs, premises and equipment, and we’ll compare specialist motor trade insurers for you.
Tell us about your repairs, premises and equipment, and we’ll compare specialist motor trade insurers for you.
Tell us about your body shop
Your repairs, refinishing, premises and spray booth setup.
Confirm values and staff
Customer vehicles on site, equipment values and employees.
We compare insurers
We search specialist motor trade insurers for bodyshop cover.
Get covered and repairing
Choose your policy and receive your documents quickly.
UK-based specialist advisersAccess to specialist insurersNo obligation, just expert helpTrusted by body shops and accident repair centres across the UK
Trusted by body shops and accident repair centres across the UK
From independent paint shops to busy accident repair centres, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to get the right cover and expert support when it matters.
From independent paint shops to busy accident repair centres, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to get the right cover and expert support when it matters.
Bodyshop guides
Bodyshop guides
Practical advice on cover, fire risk and claims for accident repair centres.
Practical advice on cover, fire risk and claims for accident repair centres.
Insurance Revolution’s Guide to Motor Trade Insurance Policies
The motor trade industry is diverse and complex, encompassing everything from car dealerships and repair shops to valeting services and vehicle recovery businesses. Whether you’re buying and selling vehicles, offering repairs, or running a garage, motor trade insurance is a crucial component of protecting your business.
Common Motor Trade Insurance Claims and How to Avoid Them
Running a motor trade business comes with daily risks. Whether you operate as a used car dealer, mechanic, vehicle valeter, MOT centre, or mobile repair specialist, accidents can happen when you least expect them.
Why Would I Need Motor Trade Insurance?
“Do I or do I not need to take to motor trade insurance policy?” most of the motor traders are in this constant dilemma with the insurance scheme and are kind of clueless what benefits they would be getting by opting for the motor trade insurance. The law demands every motor trader to sign up with motor trade insurance policy and any negligence here would amount to violating the law.
Why Public Liability Insurance Is Crucial for Car Forecourt Traders
As a car forecourt trader, you’re not just selling vehicles; you’re inviting potential buyers onto your premises, where they interact with your staff, inspect vehicles, and often test drive them. While this activity is essential for your business, it also introduces various risks. This is where public liability insurance becomes crucial, alongside having the right level of forecourt cover.
Understanding Motor Trade Insurance as a Small Business Owner
As a small business owner in the motor trade industry, it’s crucial to understand the importance and nuances of motor trade insurance. Whether you’re selling vehicles, offering repair services, or dealing with vehicle parts, having the right insurance coverage can protect your business from a variety of risks.
Navigating the Road to Secure Trade: Unveiling the Considerations of Motor Trade Insurance
Opening your garage, paint shop, or car lot is exciting. However, many hidden pitfalls can cause you to blow out and take your business off the road. In this 2-minute read, we’ll highlight the different types of motor trade business insurance you need to protect your business should something unexpected happen.
What Are The Different Trades Covered Under Motor Trade Insurance?
Motor trade insurance is a legal requirement when you are in a motor trade business. You will have to sign up for a motor trade insurance policy if your business involves having clients’ vehicles under your custody, care or control. These would apply to businesses engaged in auto sales, including both new and pre-owned vehicles
Bodyshop insurance FAQs
Bodyshop insurance FAQs
Straight answers for accident repair centres on cover, cost and liability.
Straight answers for accident repair centres on cover, cost and liability.
Bodyshop insurance is a motor trade policy for accident repair centres and body shops. It can be road risk only, for moving repaired cars, or road risk with public liability. A combined policy can also cover customer vehicles in your care, your premises, spray booth and equipment, and products and employers’ liability.
Still not sure what cover you need?
Our motor trade specialists can build cover around your repairs, premises and equipment.
