If you own a car wash business, then you’re going to need a comprehensive car wash insurance policy as protection against claims if a customer’s car is damaged on your premises or due to your cleaning machinery. Similarly, auto detailers should also maintain an automobile detailing business insurance policy for the same reason.
If you’re considering starting a car wash facility or starting mobile car wash business or already own one and looking to get it financially covered, then you’ve come to the right place! Fortunately, getting cheap business insurance quotes and purchasing a policy online is now easier than ever before.
In this article, we’re going to break down all of the common terminology and coverage types that you’ll come across while trying to insure your car cleaning business. Then, we’ll go over the average premium costs that you can expect to pay, depending on what type of car cleaning business you own, and show you how to get cheap and affordable car wash and auto detailing insurance coverage!
Car wash or auto detailers insurance is designed to protect you and your business from the financial liability associated with the car washing and auto detailing industry. No matter how new your equipment is, how skilled you are at washing and detailing cars, or how great your employees are, there’s always the possibility of an accident happening.
When it comes to working with other people’s cars, you can never be too careful. If you put a scratch on the wrong car, it could be a $1,000 mistake. If somebody’s wallet goes missing out of their glove box while an employee is detailing their car, your business could face a $10,000 or more lawsuit.
These are just a couple of examples of things that could go wrong in the car wash and auto detailing industry. The more cars your business cleans, the more employees your company has, and the higher the value of the cars you work on, the higher the risk associated with your business. A comprehensive small business insurance policy for auto detailers and car wash businesses is the only way to ensure that you don’t have to pay out of pocket if (and when) claims come your way.
Most car wash and automobile detailing insurance policies are centered around liability insurance coverage. As the name implies, liability insurance is designed to protect you from financial liability. This means that if a claim is filed against your business, you won’t have to pay for it yourself. Instead, your insurance company will pay on your behalf. In addition to paying the claim, they’ll also handle any legal fees, if applicable.
When it comes to liability insurance for small businesses, you’ll usually have different options available. Since we’ll be discussing the various types throughout the article, we figured that this would be a good time to provide a brief definition of each type of car wash liability insurance coverage you’ll come across such as:
Public liability insurance
General liability insurance
Property damage liability insurance
Professional liability insurance
Public liability insurance protects your business from claims made by customers or the general public if they experience an accident due to your business operations. For example, this coverage would protect you if a customer claimed that they tripped and fell on your property then sustained injuries or had their personal effects damaged. Take a look at this example so that you understand further:
Hoses were lying around on the premises of your business. One of the clients was walking around and tripped, sustaining wounds and dropping his phone. The client demands you pay for his injury and reimburse the value of his damaged device
Public liability insurance is one of the cheapest liability insurance policies available. It’s cheap because the protection it provides isn’t very comprehensive. If you want something that covers most of the possible liabilities you’ll face from customers and other third parties, get general liability insurance.
General liability insurance policy typically encompasses several aspects of public liability insurance. In fact, you don’t need to get public liability insurance if you already have general liability insurance.
You use general liability insurance to pay for defense costs and compensation in case a client, vendor, or any other third party decides to file a personal injury claim or property damage claim.
But understand that general liability insurance’s usefulness lies in its comprehensiveness. General liability insurance will provide more protection if you decide to get its optional policies. These are:
Advertising injury coverage
Products and completed operations coverage
A third party might file a claim against your business for committing slander, libel, copyright infringement, false advertising, and other related acts. Advertising injury coverage will cover defense costs and compensatory payments on your behalf.
Your business’s completed auto detailing or car wash service might have caused personal injuries or property damage to a particular client. Products and completed operations coverage will cover defense costs and compensation for losses or suffering if the past client files a claim.
Property damage liability insurance is a must-have for car washes and mobile detailers alike. It protects you from being financially liable for damage to your customers’ cars and other personal property caused by your tools, methods, or improper technique. Here’s an example situation where property damage liability insurance applies:
An employee is carrying a heavy object and is traversing a path near a customer’s car. As he was passing by, the employee lost his balance due to the sheer weight of the load. The load then crashed on the client’s car, leaving the hood terribly damaged. Because of this, the client filed a claim and demanded payment
Professional liability insurance protects you from claims filed because your business committed the following:
Negligence - An employee was cleaning a customer’s car and caused damage. The client filed a claim after knowing that the employee wasn’t giving his full attention while working
Misrepresentation - While billing a customer, the employee registered the wrong figures. This resulted in the client paying more than what should be paid
Violation of good faith - Your business is hired by a company to clean its cars. The contract states 10 cars should be cleaned. However, you only managed to finish 5 because trouble happened
When buying general liability insurance, it’s good to get professional liability insurance too. By having these policies, you’ll have comprehensive protection against third-party claims.
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
Mobile auto detailing insurance policies include commercial auto insurance, general liability insurance, and professional liability insurance for starters. You don’t need public liability coverage included in mobile car wash detailing insurance since there’s general liability coverage already.
Some mobile detailers regularly work at large auto garages or shops that house multiple cars. In this instance, the risk levels are slightly higher. This is why some insurance companies offer garage keepers insurance for mobile detailing.
Garage keepers insurance will cover costs if something happens to the cars in the garage and you’re currently in charge of them. In practice, this insurance will reimburse the owners or help you pay for the repair expenses yourself. Note that garage keepers insurance is a common inclusion not just in mobile detailing insurance but also car dealer’s insurance.
Many mobile car valeting services also provide car washing or detailing services while the driver is occupied. Since valets will usually be driving the cars, there is an increased risk associated with the business. Not only will you risk damaging the exterior or interior of the car, but you’ll also be exposing it to the risk of a crash on the road or even theft (if somebody steals the keys).
Mobile car valeting insurance typically includes professional, public, property damage, and general liability policies.
The amount of car cleaning insurance coverage you purchase should depend on the value of the cars you’re working on. For example, if you’re just working on regular Nissans or Toyotas, then you’ll probably be fine with a lower limit or higher deductible. Conversely, if you’re working on Ferrari’s or other exotic supercars, then you’ll want a greater degree of coverage.
Small car detailing businesses can expect to pay between $30 and $40 per month or $360 and $480 per year for a standard general liability insurance policy having $1 million - $2 million coverage. Please find the average automobile detailing insurance cost that you can expect to pay based on data from our research below.
| Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Premium | Average Annual Premium | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| CoverWallet | $25 | $300 | Car wash and auto detailing insurance quotes comparison online |
| Thimble | $30 | $360 | Short-term car wash and auto detailers insurance, inland marine insurance for mobile auto detailers |
| Next | $31 | Specialized “faulty work” coverage for auto detailing and car wash businesses | |
| State Farm | $33 | $396 | Generalized insurance for car wash business, auto detailing businesses, vehicle alarm installation businesses, and more |
| Progressive | $42 | $504 | Auto detailing and car wash business commercial auto insurance having a maximum 15% discount, mobile car wash detailing insurance |
Keep in mind that these are just average rates. The amount you’ll pay could be cheaper or it could cost more, depending on various factors such as the business size, states, and cities your business operates in, gross revenues, how many employees you have, your years of experience in business, and what type of cars you detail.
To compare quotes online and get your customized car detailing insurance quote, click the ‘Get Quotes’ button on this page, follow the process, and you’ll receive competitive quotes online from some of the top car wash and car detailing insurance companies in the nation!
Mobile auto detailing insurance cost is slightly more expensive due to the fact that you’ll often be working in different locations. On average, mobile car detailing business insurance costs between $32 and $49 per month, or between $384 and $588 per year, for mobile car wash detailing liability insurance coverage.
A car wash insurance program typically costs more as there’s an increased risk of claims due to equipment malfunction, property damage, or injury while customers are at your car wash.
The average cost of premiums in America is $60 per month or $720 per year for $1,000,000 general liability insurance coverage. Please find the average rates from some of the best companies below:
| Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Premium | Average Annual Premium | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| CoverWallet | $61 | $732 | Car wash and auto detailing insurance quotes comparison online |
| Thimble | $63 | $756 | Short-term car wash and auto detailing insurance, inland marine insurance for mobile auto detailers |
| Next | $67 | $804 | Specialized “faulty work” coverage for auto detailing and car wash businesses |
| State Farm | $68 | $816 | Generalized insurance for car wash business, auto detailing businesses, vehicle alarm installation businesses, and more |
| Progressive | $76 | $912 | Auto detailing and car wash business commercial auto insurance having a maximum 15% discount |
Rates may vary significantly depending on:
The size of your car wash business
The car wash type
What type of equipment your business has
How many employees are working at the car wash
Its location
Years in business
Revenues
Claims history
And other factors that determine the risk your insurer carries by financially covering your specific car wash business
Mobile car wash insurance is usually priced lower since mobile car washes tend to involve less risk, as you’re not working on expensive-to-repair interior finishes, which means they’re a little cheaper.
On average, the cost of insurance for mobile car wash businesses is between $27 and $36 per month, or between $324 to $432 per year, for a $1 million general liability insurance coverage.
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
Let’s review the top insurance companies for car wash and auto detailing business insurance. Know their pros, cons, and pricing for a $1 million general liability coverage.
But before that, compare quotes by simply clicking the ‘Get Quotes’ button on this page to get customized, cheap auto detailing and car wash insurance quotes online from top companies that provide insurance for detailing business and car wash business. You can then decide which one offers you the best deal and suits your car wash or detailing business needs best and instantly buy the policy online.
Cancel a policy anytime
Stable rates
Pay premiums online
Has online live insurance agents
Not an insurance company but an insurance broker
Doesn't offer tailored hand car wash insurance
CoverWallet isn’t an insurance company. It’s actually an insurance broker that sells the car wash and auto detailing insurance quotes of its partners.
This company’s quotes comparison platform will help you find the best coverage. Use it to find the companies that offer coverage for car wash businesses and auto detailers and compare offers and pricing.
CoverWallet also has ready-made insurance plans that feature the coverages of its partners. These plans are as follows - general liability insurance for detailing business and car wash business with products and completed operations coverage, general liability and commercial property insurance, business owner’s policy with workers compensation insurance, and a custom plan.
Best for: Car wash and automobile detailing insurance quotes comparison online
Average cost: $61 per month for car wash businesses, $25 per month for auto detailing businesses
Our rating: 10/10
Get covered online
Choose to have zero deductible
Decide to only have coverage for hours, weeks, days, or months
Takes time to process claims
Thimble car wash and car detailing insurance only offers general liability insurance. This company allows you to buy the policy as a short-term insurance that only lasts for hours, weeks, days, or months. Other separate insurances you can get for more protection are workers compensation insurance and tools and equipment insurance.
Note: Inland marine insurance is available if you’re a mobile detailer.
Best for: Short-term car wash and auto detailers insurance, inland marine insurance for mobile auto detailers
Average cost: $63 per month for car wash businesses, $30 per month for auto detailing businesses
Our rating: 9/10
Get an instant live certificate of insurance
Has a specialized faulty-work coverage that’s different from professional liability insurance
Garage keepers liability insurance offers up to $100,000 in coverage
Insurance process is very digitized
Doesn’t have tailored automobile detailing insurance
NEXT offers general liability insurance, commercial property insurance, and garage keepers insurance in its insurance tailored for car wash businesses. This is the first time we’ve heard of this, but there’s an additional “faulty work” coverage, which you shouldn’t confuse with professional liability insurance. The amount of insurance money depends on what kind of insurance plan you decide to get. Take a look at the table below so you understand what this means:
| Basic plan | Pro plan | Pro plus plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial property insurance | $300,000 per occurrence limit | $300,000 per occurrence limit | $300,000 per occurrence limit |
| General liability insurance | $500,000 per occurrence limit | $1 million per occurrence limit | $1 million per occurrence limit |
| Garage keepers liability insurance | none | $50,000 per occurrence limit | $100,000 per occurrence limit |
| Faulty work coverage | none | $1 million per occurrence limit | $1 million per occurrence limit |
Best for: Specialized “faulty work” coverage for auto detailing and car wash businesses
Average cost: $67 per month for car wash businesses, $31 per month for mobile detailing businesses
Our rating: 8/10
Has numerous contact channels and quickly resolves issues with customers
File and track a claim online
Has an online agent finder so that you immediately get in touch with a State Farm agent
19,000+ agents all over the US
Provides online quotes but you have to purchase insurance through a State Farm agent
State Farm doesn’t have an insurance product specially underwritten for your auto detailing business or car wash business.
Instead, you can get coverage through the company’s insurance for auto service businesses that’s available to alarm installers, towing businesses, car wash businesses, auto detailing businesses, and more.
Inclusions are commercial property insurance with equipment breakdown coverage, garage keepers insurance, business interruption insurance, and employee dishonesty insurance. You can also customize and add workers compensation insurance, commercial auto insurance, and commercial umbrella liability insurance.
Best for: Generalized insurance for car wash business, auto detailing businesses, vehicle alarm installation businesses, and more
Average cost: $68 per month for car wash businesses, $33 per month for auto detailing businesses
Our rating: 7/10
Has a business insurance program that streamlines the insurance process and gives a up to 15% discount on commercial auto insurance quotes
File a claim online or via phone
Customer reviews from Progressive don’t favor the company much
Doesn’t have tailored car detailing insurance
Progressive’s tailored insurance for auto detailing businesses only includes general liability insurance and commercial auto insurance. The company also offers a business owner’s policy and workers compensation insurance for auto detailing businesses.
Decide to enroll in Progressive Advantage® Business Program. By doing so, you’ll enjoy fast and accurate business insurance quotes. The best thing is that the company will allow you to get up to 15% discount on commercial auto insurance premiums.
Best for: Auto detailing and car wash business commercial auto insurance having a maximum 15% discount
Average cost: $76 per month for car wash businesses, $42 per month for auto detailing businesses
Our rating: 6/10
If you’re looking for cheap car wash and auto detailing business insurance, then the best thing that you can do is to compare and contrast different insurance companies and quotes online. Given the highly competitive nature of small business insurance, most commercial insurance providers will do anything they can to undercut a competitor and offer you a better deal.
You can compare quotes easily by simply clicking the ‘Get Quotes’ button on this page to get customized, cheap auto detailing and car wash insurance quotes online from top companies that provide insurance for detailing businesses and car washes. You can then decide which one offers you the best deal and suits your car wash or detailing business needs the best and instantly buy the policy online.
This place is an absolute joke of a company and should be ashamed of the way they conduct business. I was hurt on the job at the end of July and it took them just shy of 7 weeks to issue out a paycheck to me. Yes the amount was back dated but still. Not many have the luxury of not receiving a paycheck for almost 2 months. To top it all off, the original adjuster marked me down for the wrong state which caused a problem from the get go, I've had 3 different adjusters now since each one can't seem to figure out the simplicity of my claim. All my paperwork which includes, my job, house, and drs visits all are from the same state and city but yet some how I have been filed under a completely different state 1500 miles away. They do not answer your phone calls or emails no matter how many you leave. I've had to escalate my frustrations to the supervisors of each of these individuals in order to even get some kind of response. I've had more communication and information given to me about my claim from the customer service representatives then the actual adjusters.......... please tell me how that works?! A serious overhaul needs to happen here in order to serve your clients the way they deserve to be taken care of. 10/10 do not recommend this company to a single soul on earth
I have never had the displeasure of working with a more incompetent and disrespectful person in my life. I’m an injured worker and the adjuster that was assigned to my case was named Carrie Furgeson. In the past 6 weeks that I’ve been injured and out of work I have only been able to get ahold of her twice, not for lack of trying. I have left countless voicemails, countless emails, and she ignores them all. When I am finally able to get ahold of her I’m greeted with terrible customer service. She is rude, she talks over me and I’m hardly able to get a word in edgewise. She spelled my name wrong on my documents even after I spelled it for her properly countless times, this caused a whole new issue with my bank. I have bill collectors from the hospital calling me demanding payment and Carrie Furgeson won’t do a single thing to help, or to get them paid. All of my documentation is in Colorado, my job is in Colorado, my address is in Colorado, all my Dr offices and appointments have been in Colorado and Carrie still managed to hold my claim because she wasn’t sure what state she needed to file it under. It’s been 6 weeks since my Injury and my company still hasn’t received the wage paperwork to fill out so they can get me my correct wages. When she’s not ignoring me she’s answering my questions with “I don’t know” well I don’t know how she got this job, because apparently she doesn’t know anything about it. She is a disgusting morose individual inside and out and I genuinely wish her the worst in all of her future endeavors. I highly recommend you don’t use this company. Please if you are a business owner and your looking into this company please don’t use them. I’m sure they have the cheapest payment and that’s why companies use them in the first place, but you will be doing your employees a grave disservice by forcing them to venture into this absolute dumpster fire of a company. I would rate 0/5 if possible but 1 was the lowest I was allowed.
Their general liability insurance purchase process is simply the best online experience I've ever had in my life!
As long as they cover your line of business, you're literally covered! best rates, best coverage, best online experience, best professionals, can't be happier that I chose them!
It really can't get any better than this... wow
Not all those who wander are lost.
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