Updated July 8, 2026
Auto repair shops typically pay from about $660/year for general liability insurance, roughly 2.2x the base office rate. You're working on someone's $40,000 truck, and a mistake, a dropped tool, a fire from a fuel line, turns into a repair bill that dwarfs the job you were paid for.
What Drives the Auto Repair Shop Rate
Trade risk class and annual revenue are the two levers behind that number, and an auto repair shop lands at roughly 2.2x the base office rate. Run your own shop's revenue through the GL cost calculator for a specific figure.
One Thing Worth Knowing
Garagekeepers coverage is the one auto repair shops often miss. Standard GL covers injury and property damage on your premises, but it does not automatically cover damage to a customer's vehicle while it's in your care. Ask your agent whether garagekeepers legal liability is bundled or needs adding.
Other Policies Worth Stacking On
Bringing on employees makes workers' comp mandatory in most states; the workers' comp calculator puts a number on it. Pairing GL with a BOP gets you property coverage at a bundled discount instead of buying each apart. The total cost calculator adds all three together.
Shop Owners: What to Check First
- Ask specifically what your GL policy excludes for an auto repair shop; the gaps are rarely obvious until a claim exposes them.
- Confirm your limit against a $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate baseline; some licensing boards ask for more.
- If a broader primer would help before you shop, start with the SBA business insurance guide.