How much liability insurance would I need as a motorcycle mechanic?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tom Z
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Tom Z

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It is not a Commercial General Liability policy that you will need. Instead you will be seeking a Garage policy. A Garage policy is a combination Business Auto Coverage form and Commercial General Liability Coverage form.

A typical garage business has an auto exposure (owned, non-owned and hired) as well as premises/operations, contractual and products/
completed operations exposures. The Garage policy allows you to combine the necessary coverages into one form. As far as limits are concerned I would seek at least $1,000,000,

You will also want to include Garagekeepers coverage. Garagekeepers coverage provides protection for damage to customer's motorcycles while they are in your care, custody or control. There are different levels of gargegekeepers coverage that your agent can explain. Limits here would depend upon the value of customers motorcycles you have at any one time.

You may need to search out an agent that is not only familiar with Garage Liability but also one who has a market for a motorcycle garage operation.
 
I am looking at starting a business restoring old motorcycles. I have done a few as a hobby and now want to pursue it as a source of income.

However, I'm concerned about liability. In my former life as a photographer I carried 2 million dollars in liability insurance, primarily because some of the venues where I shot required that of me. So I'm familiar with the concept, but not with the coverage I'll need in this industry.

The risk is substantially higher now. As a photographer I could never figure out a reason to need that sort of coverage. My contracts specifically disclaimed any sort of claim above and beyond the originally contracted amount, in the case of somehow screwing up my coverage of an event, and I can't imagine a way as a photographer I could have caused death or destruction of property or something.

Anyway, obviously as a mechanic it's a much bigger deal. Any heads up to other related issues would be appreciated.

Thanks!
 
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