Coverage for the machines and the customer's clothes.
Bailee coverage for garments in your care, property and equipment breakdown, pollution where solvents were used, and workers' comp for laundromats, dry cleaners and wash-and-fold services.
By Sam Alishahi · CA Insurance License #4348151 · Reviewed October 2026 · How this page is researched
Clothes, machines and old solvents
A dry cleaner holds customers' clothes, sometimes expensive ones, and needs bailee coverage when garments are damaged or lost. A laundromat depends on washers, dryers and water heaters that fail. Sites where dry cleaning solvents were used carry pollution questions that underwriters ask about.
I place laundromats and cleaners with carriers that write the class, and put equipment breakdown and bailee coverage at limits that match your volume.
- Bailee coverageCustomers' clothes and linens in your care.
- PropertyThe building or improvements, machines and contents.
- Equipment breakdownWashers, dryers, boilers and water heaters.
- PollutionSolvent contamination at current and past sites.
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.
- Type: laundromat, dry cleaner, plant or drop-off, wash and fold.
- Machines: number and replacement value.
- Solvents: what you use now and what was used at the site before.
- Garments: typical value of customers' clothes on hand.
- Building: owned or leased, square footage and value.
- History: current policies and any claims.
Laundromat and dry cleaner insurance, answered
Are customers' clothes covered?
Only with bailee coverage. General liability and property policies usually exclude other people's property in your care.
Does property insurance cover a broken dryer?
Not mechanical breakdown. Equipment breakdown coverage does, and it can cover lost income while the machine is down.
Why do underwriters ask about past solvents?
Older dry cleaning solvents can contaminate soil and groundwater, and cleanup is expensive. Pollution coverage addresses it.
Is pickup and delivery covered?
The vehicles need commercial auto, and clothes in transit need to be included in bailee coverage.
Do you offer laundromat and dry cleaner 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.
Tell me about your business. I'll shop it.
Business type, machines and your current declarations page 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.