If you run a small gas station, then it’s often a good idea to get cheap business insurance that will keep you protected in case anything ever goes wrong. In fact, some states require you to carry specific forms of insurance coverage at the very least before starting a gas station business. In this specific guide, we bring you all the things you need to know about gas station insurance.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | GEICO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $500,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Products and completed operations aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Advertising injury coverage aggregate limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $500,000 |
| Tenant’s legal liability coverage limit | $100,000 | $100,000 | $300,000 |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | No |
| Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage included? | Yes | No | No |
| Equipment breakdown floater included? | No | Yes | Yes |
| Can you get a certificate of insurance online? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
General liability insurance is one of the most common forms of insurance for businesses like gas stations. The function of this inclusion in gas station insurance is to cover bodily injury and property damage claims. Here are some example scenarios for you to further understand:
You or an employee refueled a diesel car with gasoline. As a result, the customer’s car incurred some minor damages on its engine. The client filed a claim against your business and asked you to pay for his damaged property. General liability insurance will cover expenses in this situation and will cover defense costs if the aggrieved client decides to take the matter in court
Vendors are restocking supplies in your gas station’s convenience store. One of them stepped on the pool of water your employee didn’t clean. A slip and fall accident happened and the vendor had fractured hips. The vendor filed a claim and demanded you pay for his pain and suffering. In this situation, general liability insurance can help and will pay for the vendor’s medication and compensation. If things are taken to court, then general liability insurance will pay your attorney
Use the table above to compare the general liability policy of insurance companies we recommend for gas stations.
General liability insurance, which you can also find in oil and gas contractor insurance bundles, won’t only take care of bodily injury claims and property damage claims. There’s an optional policy called advertising injury coverage. Advertising injury coverage will protect your business if third parties decide to file a claim for:
Copyright infringement - Your gas station copied the elements or all of the elements of another business’s ad, slogan, or signage. Because of this, the business filed a claim. Advertising injury coverage will pay for defense costs and settlements on your behalf
Reputational harm - Your business might be accused of slander, libel, or defamation, and advertising injury coverage in general liability insurance will cover defense costs and settlements
General liability insurance is also useful if you’re renting or leasing a commercial space. Some companies underwrite general liability insurance including rented premises liability coverage or can be endorsed with rented premises liability coverage, which will cover you if you end up inadvertently damaging the property that your landlord is renting or leasing.
Keep in mind that general liability insurance doesn’t cover claims from employees. This is the job of another insurance called employer’s liability insurance.
Gas stations don’t need to follow state-mandated requirements that determine how much general liability insurance is needed. But still, bodily injury claims and property damage claims can scale between $10,000 - $500,000 or more. Considering this fact, your gas station needs to at least have $500,000 general liability insurance coverage to get basic protection. However, if you want the most comprehensive shield against property damage and personal injuries, get $2 million general liability insurance coverage.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | GEICO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $360,000 | $25,000 |
| Contents coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Outdoor signs | Excluded | $2,500 | Included |
| Accounts receivable | Excluded | Excluded | Included |
| Money and securities | Excluded | $2,500 | $1,000 |
| Lock and keys | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded |
| Business interruption floater | Excluded | Included | Included |
| Equipment breakdown floater | Excluded | Included | Excluded |
| Inland marine insurance floater | Excluded | Excluded | $10,000 |
| Employee dishonesty floater | Excluded | $5,000 | $2,500 |
Of course, your gas station’s physical assets are very important and you need to cover those with commercial property insurance.
Use the table above to compare the commercial property policy of insurance companies we recommend for gas stations.
Commercial property insurance will help reconstruct your gas station if it gets destroyed by fire or extreme weather. This insurance will also pay for reconstruction costs if your gas station is only damaged by fire, extreme weather, vandalism, theft, and other covered perils.
Your gas station has pumps and other specialized tools and equipment customers can use. Commercial property insurance takes care of those through its business equipment and tools coverage. Business equipment and tools coverage will reimburse your losses if your gas station's pump, hose, and other valuables considered as equipment/tools become damaged or lost due to fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils.
Your gas station also sells food and other consumer goods through its convenience store. Commercial property insurance covers those through its stocks and contents coverage. Stocks and contents coverage will reimburse losses if consumer goods you’re selling become damaged or lost because of fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils. In fact, this will even cover chairs, tables, display stands, lighting, and other items owned.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | GEICO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General liability aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,00 | $1,000,000 |
| Commercial property coverage limit | $50,000 | $360,000 | $25,000 |
| Optional policies can be added? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds for free? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BOP discount? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
If you’re planning to get commercial property insurance and general liability insurance for your gas station, we suggest you purchase a business owner’s policy to save on premiums.
Use the table above to compare the business owner's policy of insurance companies we recommend for gas stations.
A business owner’s policy is basically a fusion of general liability insurance and commercial property insurance. It's way cheaper than if you decided to buy commercial property and general liability separately. For example, if buying individually will cost $80 per month, then a business owner’s policy will be somewhere at $67 per month - very cost-efficient.
Furthermore, some insurance companies include additional policies in their business owner’s policies. For example, there’s CoverWallet that offers a business owner’s policy with workers' compensation insurance.
Gas station employer’s liability insurance will protect you if an employee decides to sue your gas station after experiencing a work-related injury. In practice, this will pay for defense costs and compensatory payments. Employer’s liability insurance is an inclusion in workers' compensation insurance or can be sold as a stand-alone policy.
Employer’s liability insurance doesn’t cover wrongful termination, sexual harassment, and other related events. Covering these is the job of employment practices liability insurance, which also covers defense costs and compensatory payments on your behalf.
Workplace accidents can happen in gas stations. Your employees might experience a slip and fall accident, be run over by a drunk customer, or be robbed at gunpoint. Continuous exposure to gasoline and diesel might result in gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine diseases, and more.
Work-related hazards in gas stations are real and apparent. Here are some examples to prove this point:
At 5: 35 a.m. on July 3, 2018, an employee working at a gas station and convenience store, was shot and killed while standing next to the cash register
At 10: 00 a.m. on March 7, 2018, an employee was working for a gas station and was responding to a service call of a semi-truck. When the semi-truck moved, the employee was dragged resulting in numerous injuries to his internal organs
At 9: 30 p.m. on January 31, 2018, an employee was throwing off the garbage and was robbed and hit with a blunt object. He was killed as a result
At 5: 37 a.m. on October 17, 2017, an employee working for a gas station became the target of an attempted robbery and was killed as a result
At approximately 10: 30 p.m. on January 13, 2015, an employee was working by himself at the gas station when two armed men entered the premises and demanded money. Despite complying with the criminal’s request, the employee was shot and killed
On June 25, 2007, an employee was working on the underground tank of a gas station and was found by responders unconscious
Workers comp laws or labor laws mandate your gas station to take care of the employee if he or she suffers from a work-related hazard. We’re sure that you don’t want to use business funds. This is where workers' compensation insurance becomes helpful.
As the name suggests, this kind of insurance exists to cover employees in case they end up getting injured or sick because of a job-related activity. There are several things that workers’ comp will do for you. The bullet below outlines how workers compensation insurance works :
Workers compensation insurance will cover medical treatments/procedures, hospitalization, rehab, and medication. In some states, workers' compensation insurance will also reimburse the travel expenses of the employee if he or she needs to visit far to get periodic treatment and checkups
If the injured or sick employee needs to take a break to continue healing, workers' compensation insurance will reimburse the income he or she would have earned. Lost income compensation is equal to two-thirds or 67% of the average weekly wage. If we do the math, gas station employees earn $546.4 weekly. Therefore, the lost income compensation workers comp provides will be $366.08
If the employee dies because of his or her work-related sickness/injury, workers' compensation insurance will provide death benefits to the children, spouse, or any other dependents. The death benefits will be equal to two thirds or 67% of the average weekly wage
Workers' compensation insurance also provides a degree of protection. Some states adopt a workers comp law that prevents employees from suing employers who have workers compensation insurance
Workers’ compensation insurance is a type of no-fault insurance, meaning that it will pay out regardless if the employee got injured or sick whether it's his/her fault or your fault.
Many gas stations use company vehicles, and a commercial auto insurance policy will allow you to cover these vehicles while they're on the job. Commercial auto insurance is entirely separate from personal auto insurance because of how much more frequently commercial vehicles are used than personal vehicles.
A car that spends more time on the road will be more likely to get into an accident, and this means that your insurance carrier will be accepting more of a risk when covering a commercial vehicle. And so, commercial auto insurance is more expensive than personal car insurance.
But this is alright. If you continue to cover a commercial vehicle with personal car insurance, two things can happen; (1) The insurance company will put a significant increase on premiums (2) The personal car insurance will be terminated and the insurance company won’t reinsure you.
So how does commercial auto insurance help? This insurance offers the following protection for your gas station:
Auto liability coverage - If your gas station’s commercial vehicle caused an accident, auto liability coverage will pay for the medical expenses of the injured parties and will also reimburse the losses of individuals who had their property damaged. Furthermore, auto liability coverage will pay attorney fees and settlements if someone decides to sue
Physical damage coverage - Physical damage has two forms - collision and comprehensive - which kick in depending on how your commercial vehicle incurred damage. If your gas station’s commercial vehicle incurred damage because it collided with a vehicle or object, collision physical damage coverage will pay for parts repair or replacement. Comprehensive physical damage coverage will take care of parts repair or replacement if fire, theft, vandalism, hail, wind, storm, other acts of nature, or other covered perils damaged your gas station’s commercial vehicle
Medical payments/personal injury protection - Medical payments/personal injury protection will take care of the treatment of the commercial vehicle’s driver and passengers (if there are any) injured because of a vehicular accident
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Deductible | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General liability insurance | $100 | $1,200 | $0-$500 |
| Commercial property insurance | $150 | $1,800 | $1,000-$2,500 |
| Business owner’s policy | $200 | $2,400 | $500-$1,000 |
| Commercial auto insurance | $105 | $1,260 | $1,000-$1,500 |
| Workers compensation insurance | $125 | $1,500 | $2,000-$5,000 |
The average gas station insurance cost is $100 per month or $1,200 per year for general liability insurance offering $1 million in coverage.
Petrol station insurance cost can vary dramatically based on a wide range of factors, so there’s no more accurate way to find out how much you can expect to pay other than getting your own quotes. Of course, there are a few obvious factors that can influence the cost of your gas station insurance.
For example, the safety history of your gas station will have a dramatic impact on the cost of your insurance. If you have a poor record and you’ve had multiple employees or customers who have been injured while they were at your gas station, then insurance companies will increase your premiums.
Other than that, you’ll have to account for the size of your gas station. A larger gas station can expect to see more customers over the course of a day and that increases the chance of one of your clients ending up injured or having their property damaged at your place of business.
Finally, you’ll also have to consider what kind of coverage you’re getting. If you’re only getting general liability coverage or workers’ comp insurance, then you can expect to pay far less than you would if you had opted for a more comprehensive business insurance policy.
Here are the average gas station business insurance rates from some of the top insurers out there for gas station insurance:
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEXT | $50 | $600 | Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for gas stations |
| Tivly | $50 | $600 | Comparing gas station insurance quotes online |
| CoverWallet | $62.50 | $750 | Gas station insurance quotes comparison online |
| Geico | $70 | $840 | Gas station commercial auto insurance |
Along with the price of your gas station insurance, you’ll have to carefully consider which insurance carrier you’re going to go with since they can offer different policies and prices. Some carriers cover gas stations under more traditional business insurance policies while others may have specialized policies for gas stations. Read the reviews below to know the best gas station insurance companies' pros, cons, and pricing for a $1 million general liability insurance.
Best overall
Get an online proof of insurance and send as a text message, email, or social media post
Fastest general liability insurance for gas stations
Great customer service and reputation
Issues an online proof of insurance instantly
Outstanding value for money
Bundle two or more insurance policies and get a 10% discount
Couldn’t find any
NEXT offers gas station insurance in partnership with Tivyl. That said, this company will refer you to a Tivly representative who will then give you a quote. Policies you can purchase are general liability, commercial property, business owner’s policy, and more.
Best for: Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for gas stations
Average cost: $50 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Cancel a policy anytime
General liability insurance for gas station includes products and completed operations coverage
Compare quotes using CoverWallet’s online quotes comparison platform
Not an insurance company but a broker selling the quotes of partners
CoverWallet is an online insurance broker that sells the quotes of its partners to provide you with tailored gas station business insurance. This company’s insurance for gas stations has four options-general liability only ( includes products and completed operations), general liability and commercial property insurance, business owner’s policy with workers compensation insurance, and a custom plan.
Pick CoverWallet because this insurance company is sure to provide coverage whether you’re just a small gas station in the outskirts, a gas station for truckers, or a busy gas station for all kinds of vehicles.
CoverWallet is ready to give you the quotes of all gas station insurance companies so that you can research options. But if you’re looking for immediate insurance, this company is ready to insure you in a few simple steps.
Best for: Gas station insurance quotes comparison online
Average cost: $62.5 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Responsive customer service
Compare gas station insurance quotes over the phone
A partner of many reputable insurance companies
You need to call to get a quote
Tivly offers insurance for high risk and low risk gas stations. Policies you can get from this company are general liability, commercial property, business owner’s policy, and others. You need to call a Tivly representative to compare quotes and know the details of your coverage.
Best for: Comparing gas station insurance quotes online
Average cost: $50 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Cheap commercial auto insurance rates for gas stations
High customer ratings
Local agents are very few
Geico offers a range of policies that would work well for gas station owners, including business owner policies, commercial auto,and individual liability policies. Getting a quote from Geico is relatively simple because of their intuitive online interface, and once you have a policy, you can also manage it directly on their site.
Along with general liability coverage and business owner policies, Geico also offers workers’ comp coverage in case your employees have any accidents or even if they end up falling ill. However, in exchange for their in-depth services and heavy online presence, Geico’s coverage tends to be a little more expensive.
Best for: Gas station commercial auto insurance
Average cost: $70 per month
Our rating: 9/10
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
Use anyone except Employers. Period. They are non-transparent and shameful. After I complained long enough to warrant a call from a supervisor, the supervisor called back from a PRIVATE NUMBER (no caller ID), left a message that they are not reversing their decision (without any communication with me), and failed to leave a phone number for me to call back. She was hiding! They also fact find via email and phone calls, which is terrific for speed and communication. However, after setting a precedence of email or phone calls, they send time sensitive information via email, without any heads up... they are hoping you miss it and forfeit via expiration. Evil policies. Go elsewhere.
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!
Not all those who wander are lost.
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