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Motor Trade Liability Insurance

Protect your business against a range of liability risks – from vehicle damage, to accidental loss, through to slips and trips. Road Runner can help.

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What is Motor Trade Liability Insurance?

Motor Trade Liability Insurance offers specialist protection against claims from employees, customers, and the general public. It covers liability arising from maintenance or repairs carried out by you or your team, or from products you’ve sold or supplied.

No matter the nature of your business, whether it’s an MOT garage or a car repair workshop, our liability insurance will protect you against third-party claims and help you to continue running your premises with minimal interruption.

What does Motor Trade Liability Insurance cover?

Road Runner’s Motor Trade Liability Insurance can include:

£10M Employers’ Liability Insurance – provides protection if an employee suffers an injury, incident, or illness while at work. Compulsory in virtually all cases if you have employees.

£1M, £2M or £5M Motor Trade Public Liability Insurance – provides protection against injury or property damage to customers or members of the public, whether on your premises or as a result of your work

£1M, £2M or £5M Products Liability – protects your business against claims caused by products you sell, supply, or repair

Portable hand tools – the option to include cover for to portable hand tools, either at your business premises or including cover away from the business too. Choose between cover limits: £1,500, £2,500, or £5,000

Defence costs associated with claims made against you

A wide range of covers and protection – option to include Road Risk and Premises cover

Cover options:

Public Liability only
Public and Products Liability
Public, Products, and Employers’ Liability

Read our Liability Summary of Cover and Liability Policy Wording for details of the cover available and exclusions that apply.

ELTO

The Employers’ Liability Tracing Office (ELTO) is an insurance industry initiative to centrally record basic details of all EL insurance policies. Most insurers, including us, are members. You can read more about ELTO on their website – www.elto.org.uk

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Why Road Runner for Motor Trade Public Liability Insurance?

Specialist motor trade expertise – always by your side

We’ve been supporting independent motor traders for over 25 years, and we understand the unique risks of the industry. Our experience means we can tailor cover to suit garages, workshops, mobile mechanics, and more.

Flexible cover options – designed to suit you, not us

Choose from public liability only, public and products liability, or full cover including employers’ liability. We make it easy to build a bespoke policy that fits your business without paying for unnecessary extras.

Dedicated support team – insight is our superpower

Our friendly, knowledgeable team is here to guide you through every step – so you can focus on running your business with confidence.

Do I need Motor Trade Liability Insurance?

The only element of this cover required by law is Employers’ Liability – if you employ staff. But the other elements, like public and product liability, are usually strongly recommended if you want to maximise your business’ risk protection and minimise any business interruption.

It doesn’t matter if you’re based at home, at a garage, or on the road – there’s always a risk that someone will make a claim against you due to your work in the motor trade. At Road Runner, we don’t want to let that happen.

Our policies not only help make sure independent motor traders like you have the funds to defend or settle a claim, but they also mean you’ll have someone to help you when it comes to dealing with the claim. This leaves you with more time to focus on what’s most important to you – your business – while we focus on the product, employer, and public liability insurance for the motor trade.

Who needs Motor Trade Liability Insurance?

This cover is important for those who operate a business within the motor trade – small or large. This includes handling, trading, repairing, or valeting vehicles.

These are just some of the trades that typically require Motor Trade Liability Insurance:

Mechanics
Auto electricians
SMART repairers
Car dealers
Valeters
Breakdown and recovery services
And more

So, if you’re looking for motor trade liability insurance in the UK for a small business, or a larger enterprise, you’re in the right place.

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Motor trade liability insurance FAQs

If you have any questions about our public liability insurance offering, we may just have the answers for you – take a look at our frequently asked questions below. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Why is motor trade public liability insurance important?

Motor trade public liability insurance is vital because it protects your business against claims for injury or property damage caused by your work. Without this cover, you may face expensive compensation and legal costs that disrupt your operations.

For garages, workshops, and mobile mechanics, accidents can happen at any time – having liability insurance for your motor trade business ensures you stay protected and conduct your operations with confidence.

How do I make a motor trade liability insurance claim?

If you need to make a claim:

Get in touch immediately – get in touch with AXA claims department as soon as you become aware of an incident that could lead to a claim. Quick reporting helps your insurer act fast and help you fully. You can call them on 0370 900 1753.
Provide key details – share what happened, when, and who was involved. Include any supporting documents, such as photos or witness statements.
You’ll be guided through the process – the claims team will explain what’s needed, handle communication with third parties, and keep you updated.
Stay focused on your business – let your insurer manage the claim so you can continue running your motor trade operations with minimal disruption and business interruption.

Having cover means you’re not alone – your insurer is by your side to resolve claims efficiently and protect your business.

Can your motor trade public liability insurance cover part-time motor trades?

Yes. If you operate in the motor trade on a part-time basis – such as running a small garage, offering mobile repairs, or working evenings and weekends – our motor trade public liability insurance can still provide cover.

As long as your work is a genuine business activity (not just a hobby), we can tailor a policy to meet your needs. This means you’ll have protection against claims for injury or property damage caused by your work, even if you’re not trading full-time.

How much does motor trade public liability insurance cost?

Motor trade public liability insurance costs will vary between clients. At Road Runner, we tailor policies to your specific needs, so you only pay for what you need – not unnecessary extras. Factors like whether you need employers’ liability, products liability, or just public liability will influence the price.

To get an accurate quote, contact our team or request a quote online. This way, you’ll receive a competitive price for motor trade liability insurance that fits your business.

Can I pay for my motor trade liability insurance in instalments?

Of course – we offer a range of instalment options which you can benefit from. Read our guide on how to pay to find out more information.

Other types of coverage we offer

We’ve been providing independent and commercial motor trade insurance for over 25 years. We’ve established a whole host of knowledge and experience so we can offer the best service to our customers.

We understand all elements of the motor trade – from shifting gears in showrooms to making operations easier for mechanics – and public liability insurance is no exception. Every motor business is unique, which is why we tailor our cover options to best suit your requirements.

We’d love to learn more about your business, so we can build a flexible and competitive policy that’s right for you. Get in touch with our friendly team today to discuss your options.

Your Motor Trade Insurance team

We’re proud to present a specialist team who’ll not just provide you with insurance policy options, but also get to know you and your business. So, let’s introduce:

An animated squirrel character in a work uniform and cap, holding a wrench with arms crossed; the uniform reads

Spanners

Branch Manager

A woman with blonde hair in loose waves, wearing a green blazer and striped shirt, smiling at the camera.

Louise Velez

Divisonal Director

Lee Dicks

Sales Manager

Fidoo Etwaroo

Renewals Manager

Find out more

Our other products

ROAD RISKS

Whether you take the wheel of your customers’ vehicles or drive your own as part of your day-to-day business, then Road Risks cover is for you. And that’s exactly what we offer.

PREMISES INSURANCE

If you work from a premises, it’s likely you’ll have spent a lot on your tools, equipment or vehicle stock – and the last thing you want is any loss or damage. That’s where we can help.

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Specialists in Motor Trade Insurance

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Road Runner is a trading name of Howden UK Brokers Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No. 307663. Registered in England and Wales under company registration number 02831010. Registered Office: One Creechurch Place, London, EC3A 5AF. Calls may be monitored and recorded for quality assurance purposes.