Auto repair shops in South Carolina need South Carolina business insurance to protect their assets from the risks associated with making repairs to other people’s vehicles. Any kind of injury, error, or property damage can result in a costly claim or a lawsuit.

A South Carolina independent insurance agent can help you find auto repair shop insurance that is tailored for your unique needs.

Auto Repair Shop Insurance in South Carolina

There are over 418,000 small businesses in South Carolina, employing nearly 795,000 people. Last year nearly $6 billion in commercial insurance claims were paid in South Carolina across businesses of all sizes.

For small businesses like auto repair shops, insurance claims often revolve around property damage. If you own an auto repair shop, your commercial property can be damaged in any number of ways, including burglary and theft, water damage, freezing, wind, hail, and fire. What’s more, you can be the target of costly claims and lawsuits related to customer slips and falls on your premises, faulty products, and accidents involving one of your business-owned vehicles.

Auto repair shop insurance in South Carolina pays for covered claims so you don’t suffer financial losses when something goes wrong. Depending on your coverage, it can help you pay for property damage, liability claims, lawsuits, and even worker injuries and illnesses.

Auto repair shop insurance in South Carolina is not a single policy. It’s a set of individual policies that together offer comprehensive coverage for your business. A typical auto repair shop insurance package will include basic property and liability coverage, as well as several other policies or endorsements that offer tailored coverage for your unique industry and risk exposures.

What Does Auto Repair Shop Insurance Cover in South Carolina?

Auto repair shops in South Carolina need several types of business insurance policies to ensure that all of their risks are covered. Most auto repair shops will need at least the following types of coverage:

• Commercial property insurance protects your auto repair shop if a fire, vandalism, smoke, theft, or other event damages your property. It provides coverage for lost inventory, office equipment, computers, and more.
• Business interruption coverage pays for rent, employee salaries, and other expenses if your auto repair shop must close temporarily due to a covered disruption (e.g., a fire, a severe storm).
• Commercial general liability (CGL) insurance provides protection for most basic liability issues that an auto repair shop could face. It protects you from the costs of lawsuits related to accidents, property damage, and a variety of other mishaps. You will probably want to consider garage liability insurance, which provides several forms of liability insurance more specifically designed for the needs of garage and auto body shop owners.
• A business owners policy (BOP) is a package policy designed for small businesses. It combines property, liability, and business interruption coverage in one affordable policy.
• Employee theft and crime coverage can protect your business from the costs of theft, dishonesty, and fraudulent acts committed by a single employee or a group of employees.
• Commercial auto insurance is particularly important for auto repair shops to cover any vehicles that your business owns. In addition, you need hired and non-owned auto liability insurance if you have any employees who drive their personal vehicles for business purposes.
• Garagekeepers liability insurance is specialty business insurance coverage designed for auto repair shops and just about any other type of establishment that provides parts or service for vehicles and temporarily stores those vehicles on-site. It protects you if a customer’s vehicle is damaged due to your negligence while it is in your care, custody, or control. This protection is not included in a standard garage liability policy.
• Workers’ compensation insurance protects your employees and your business from the costs associated with work-related injuries and illnesses. It provides coverage for medical care and income protection for an injured worker while they are unable to work. Workers’ compensation insurance also helps protect employers from lawsuits by injured employees.

Since auto repair shops vary significantly in the services they provide, you must work with your South Carolina independent insurance agent to determine if you need some type of specialty insurance product. These special products combine relevant business insurance policies into one comprehensive package, such as:

• Tow truck insurance
• Body shop insurance
• Repair shop insurance
• Muffler shop insurance
• Radiator services insurance
• Transmission repair insurance

What Doesn't Auto Repair Shop Insurance Cover in South Carolina?

Basic auto repair shop insurance in South Carolina contains a variety of specific coverage exclusions, and it’s important for you to be mindful of all of them.

In many cases, the excluded property or situation can be covered with another policy or special endorsement. If your general liability policy limits coverage for cyber liability claims but you have serious cyber exposure, you can purchase a cyber liability insurance policy or endorsement in addition to your auto repair shop insurance policies.

Some typical exclusions you’re likely to see include:

Most of these exclusions can be covered with some other type of policy or endorsement (some noted above). But remember, no policy will ever cover you for intentional wrongdoing or criminal acts.

Keep in mind that while garagekeepers liability insurance covers customers’ vehicles that are in your care, custody, or control, it does not cover the contents of a customer’s vehicle, and also does not cover damage that occurs as a result of faulty workmanship, parts, or insufficient warranties.

What Are the Benefits of Auto Repair Shop Insurance in South Carolina?

Automotive repair shops in South Carolina are entrusted with their customers’ cars in order to make repairs. If you own an auto repair shop, you’re also expected to keep your customers and their vehicles safe while they’re on your premises.

But it’s no secret that things can go wrong, no matter how careful you are. That’s where your auto repair shop insurance helps you avoid financial devastation and get back on your feet. Auto repair shop insurance in South Carolina benefits you by offering financial protection for the following:

• Slips and falls
• Worker illness or injury
• Faulty workmanship or parts
• Fire, bad weather, vandalism, or theft
• Damage to a customer’s vehicle while in your care
• Employee theft or crime
• Business interruption

Insuring your auto repair shop in South Carolina benefits you exponentially. You’ll be able to pay for property and inventory repairs and replacement if you have a property loss, and you’ll be able to hire an attorney and pay for damages if you’re ever sued for negligence.

Auto repair shop insurance gives you the peace of mind you need to focus on running your business and earning a profit. And it provides the financial backup you need to continue to operate even in the worst of times.

How Much Does Auto Repair Shop Insurance Cost in South Carolina?

A variety of individual risk factors will influence how much you pay for South Carolina auto repair shop insurance. These include the location of your shop, the number of employees you have, how much inventory you keep on hand, the average value and number of vehicles in your care at any one time, whether  you own your building, and the coverage limits and deductibles that you choose.

Even things like the crime and weather risks in your city will play a role. It’s important to work with an independent insurance agent who can get retail insurance quotes from multiple insurance companies in South Carolina. Independent agents aren’t tied down to a single carrier, so they can help you find the best coverage for your unique needs and budget.

How a South Carolina Independent Insurance Agent Can Help

Your auto repair shop in South Carolina is a unique business. Don’t trust your livelihood to a faceless quote or an insurance company representative that doesn’t know the ins and outs of your business. Take the time to find a local independent agent who will get to know you and your business.

South Carolina independent insurance agents can work with numerous, reputable insurance companies that specialize in auto repair shop insurance. Together you can review a variety of proposals and choose the best mix of coverage that meets your needs and budget.