Customer cars covered while they're yours.
Garage liability, garagekeepers coverage for customers' vehicles, property, paint and pollution exposure, and workers' comp for collision and paint shops.
By Sam Alishahi · CA Insurance License #4348151 · Reviewed October 2026 · En español · How this page is researched
Garagekeepers is the coverage shops miss
General liability doesn't cover damage to customers' cars in your care. Garagekeepers coverage does, whether the damage happens in the booth, on the lot or on a test drive.
Body shops also carry fire risk from paint booths and pollution exposure from solvents. I place collision, paint and restoration shops with carriers that write the class.
- Garage liabilityInjuries and damage from your operations.
- GaragekeepersCustomers' vehicles in your care.
- PropertyBuilding, booths, frame machines and tools.
- Workers' compTechnicians and painters.
What underwriters will ask
Having these ready means I can go to market on the first call. The quote form asks for the same things, and anything you don’t know yet can wait.
- Shop: address, square feet and years in business.
- Work: collision, paint or restoration.
- Booths: number of paint booths.
- Customer cars: how many at once and their values.
- Payroll: technicians and office staff.
- History: current policies and loss runs.
Auto body shop insurance, answered
What is garagekeepers coverage?
It covers damage to customers' vehicles while they're in your care, custody or control, such as fire, theft or a technician's accident.
Does general liability cover a customer's car?
Usually not. That's what garagekeepers is for.
Is my paint booth a problem for carriers?
Booths are common in the class. Carriers look at booth construction, fire suppression and cleaning.
Do I need pollution coverage?
Many shops add it for paint, solvents and waste, which general liability often excludes.
Do you offer auto body shop insurance outside California?
Yes. Clients across the country send the same quote form. California policies are placed directly; outside California the request is handled together with a partner agency in your state, and the shopping across carriers works the same way. Rules, minimums and markets differ by state — see insurance requirements by state.
Send the shop details. I'll shop it.
Your address, payroll and how many customer cars you hold are enough to start.
Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, California License #4348151. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage; coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued. Some policies may be placed with nonadmitted (surplus lines) insurers, which are not members of the California Insurance Guarantee Association (CIGA).
Tell me how to reach you. I’ll take it from there.
Takes about 30 seconds. I review every request personally and call you back, usually the same day.
(424) 552-4545Answered 24/7 · CA License #4348151
Get a reminder before your renewal.
Tell me when your policy renews and I’ll email you about six weeks before, when it’s worth comparing. One email, no calls.