AUTO MECHANIC & REPAIR SHOP INSURANCE — OHIO
Auto repair shop insurance in Ohio.
Protect your shop, your tools,
and every car in your bay.
Auto mechanics and repair shops face unique liability exposure — you're responsible for every vehicle in your care. Garage liability and garagekeepers coverage are non-negotiable. Myers Insurance Group has been insuring Ohio auto shops since 2008.
WHY AUTO SHOP INSURANCE IS DIFFERENT
A standard business policy doesn't cover what happens in your bays.
Auto repair shops hold customer vehicles — sometimes dozens at a time. That creates a liability exposure that standard General Liability policies simply don't address. When a customer's car is damaged in your care, your GL policy won't pay for it. You need garage liability and garagekeepers coverage — two specialty coverages specific to the automotive service industry.
Beyond the vehicle liability exposure, auto shops face significant property risk from tools and equipment, workers compensation exposure from physically demanding work, and professional liability from faulty repairs that cause accidents after the vehicle leaves your shop.
Myers Insurance Group builds Ohio auto shop policies that cover the full exposure — not just the parts a standard commercial policy happens to reach.
The coverage gaps that hurt Ohio auto shops
No garagekeepers coverage. A fire, theft, or vandalism that damages customer vehicles in your care is not covered by GL or commercial property. Garagekeepers is the only coverage that protects you for damage to vehicles you don't own.
No professional liability. A brake job or tire installation that fails and causes an accident generates a professional liability claim — not a GL claim. Many shops don't have this coverage.
Underinsured tools and equipment. Commercial lifts, diagnostic equipment, and specialty tools represent significant value. Most shops are dramatically underinsured on equipment.
Test drive liability gaps. When a customer or employee drives a repaired vehicle for a test drive, specific coverage is needed. This is part of garage liability — not standard auto coverage.
WHAT WE COVER
Auto repair shop coverage in Ohio.
A complete Ohio auto shop insurance program covers your bays, your tools, your employees, and every vehicle in your care.
Garage Liability
The core coverage for auto repair shops. Covers bodily injury and property damage arising from your garage operations — including test drives and vehicles moving through your facility.
Garagekeepers Coverage
Covers customer vehicles in your care, custody, and control against fire, theft, vandalism, and collision. Non-negotiable for any shop that holds customer vehicles overnight or for extended periods.
Professional Liability
Covers claims from faulty repairs that cause accidents or vehicle damage after the customer drives away. A brake failure or tire blowout traced back to your work is a professional liability claim.
Commercial Property
Covers your shop building or leasehold, office equipment, waiting room, and non-vehicle property against fire, theft, and covered perils.
Tools & Equipment Coverage
Covers your lifts, diagnostic equipment, specialty tools, and shop equipment. Standard property policies often undervalue or sublimit tool coverage — dedicated equipment coverage ensures proper protection.
Workers Compensation
Required in Ohio for employees. Auto mechanic work carries real injury risk — burns, cuts, crush injuries, and chemical exposure. Workers comp is non-negotiable for any shop with employees.
Commercial Auto
Covers shop-owned vehicles used for parts runs, customer shuttles, or towing. Personal auto policies exclude business use.
Crime & Theft
Auto shops hold valuable parts inventory and expensive tools. Dedicated theft coverage including employee dishonesty protects against internal and external theft losses.
Business Interruption
Covers lost revenue when a fire or covered loss forces you to close temporarily. An auto shop with empty bays is an auto shop losing money every day.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Auto shop insurance in Ohio — what you need to know.
What's the difference between garage liability and garagekeepers coverage?
Garage liability covers bodily injury and property damage that arises from your shop operations — a customer slipping in your waiting room, a test drive accident, damage to a third party's property. Garagekeepers coverage specifically covers damage to customer vehicles while they're in your care — fire, theft, vandalism, or collision while in your lot or bay. Both are essential for any auto repair shop. Neither replaces the other.
A repair I did failed and caused an accident — am I covered?
This is a professional liability or completed operations claim. If your work was performed negligently and caused damage or injury after the vehicle left your shop, your garage liability policy's completed operations coverage — and potentially a professional liability policy — respond to this claim. Standard GL policies often have limitations here that leave shops exposed.
A customer's car was broken into while parked in my lot overnight — am I liable?
Potentially, yes. When a customer leaves their vehicle at your shop, you take on a legal duty of care for that vehicle. Garagekeepers coverage is what pays for damage to customer vehicles in your care — including theft and vandalism. Without it, you're personally responsible for the cost of the customer's loss.
Do I need commercial auto if my shop has a courtesy van or shuttle?
Yes. Any vehicle owned by your business and used for business purposes — shuttles, loaner cars, parts runs — requires commercial auto coverage. Personal auto policies exclude business use. If a courtesy van is involved in an accident while shuttling a customer and it's only covered by a personal policy, that claim will be denied.