Specialist motor trade cover
From independent garages and MOT stations to vehicle dealers, mobile mechanics and recovery operators, CoverPilot is being built to help motor traders understand the protection their business may need.
Pre-launch information only. CoverPilot is not currently arranging insurance or providing quotations.
What is motor trade insurance?
Motor trade insurance is designed for businesses that buy, sell, repair, service, test, recover, transport or otherwise work with vehicles. The right structure depends on how the business operates. A part-time trader working from home may need a different arrangement from a garage with employees, customer vehicles, specialist machinery and commercial premises.
Rather than selecting cover from a generic list, the starting point should be your actual activities: who drives which vehicles, where work is carried out, what property is kept on site, whether customers visit, and how the business would cope after a serious loss.
Cover options
Designed primarily for driving vehicles connected with the motor trade. Depending on the policy, this may cover vehicles owned by the business, stock vehicles and customers’ vehicles while being driven for an insured purpose.
Explore road risk cover →A broader package that can combine road risks with protection for premises, stock, tools, machinery, liabilities, money, business interruption and other operational exposures.
Explore garage and MOT cover →Who we aim to help
Customer vehicles, premises, lifts, tools and liability risks.
Vehicle dealersStock vehicles, demonstrations, collections and sales activity.
Mobile mechanicsRoad risks, tools, working away and customer property.
Recovery operatorsRecovery vehicles, vehicles in custody and roadside work.
BodyshopsCustomer vehicles, paint processes, premises and equipment.
Tyre fittersWorkshop or mobile fitting, stock, tools and road risks.
Vehicle deliveryDriven and transported vehicles, collections and handovers.
Part-time tradersProportionate cover for genuine trading activity.
What may be included
Levels of road cover
The minimum level of road cover, protecting against liability for injury or damage caused to other people and their property. It does not normally cover damage to the vehicle being driven.
Adds cover for loss or damage caused by fire or theft, subject to policy terms, while retaining third-party liability protection.
Can add accidental damage cover for an insured vehicle. Excesses, vehicle values, driver restrictions and permitted uses remain important.
Information insurers commonly need
Motor trade proposals are detailed because businesses can look similar from the outside while presenting very different risks. Accurate, complete information reduces delays and helps avoid gaps or disputes later.
Frequently asked questions
Potentially, provided there is genuine motor-trade activity and the insurer’s eligibility rules are met. Evidence of trading, experience, vehicle volumes and intended use may be requested.
No. Policies contain vehicle, value, use and driver restrictions. Some vehicles may need to be referred, listed or specifically agreed.
Employees can only drive when the policy permits it and they meet its driver criteria. Insurers may require named drivers or apply age and licence restrictions.
They may be covered under road risks, material damage or liability sections, depending on what happened and where the vehicle was at the time. The wording and limits must be checked carefully.
Tools and equipment can often be included within a combined policy. Portable equipment, tools left in vehicles and higher-value machinery may have separate conditions.
Often yes, but every location and activity should be disclosed. Different security, construction or flood exposures can affect the terms.
Preparing to launch
Register for launch updates and specialist guides. This is not a quotation request and no insurance advice will be provided before CoverPilot is authorised and permitted to trade.
