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Motor Trade Premises Insurance

Working in the motor trade means you'll have invested in the right tools for the job. Our premises insurance is all about protecting these assets and covering you against third-party claims too.

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What is Motor Trade Premises Insurance?

Motor Trade Premises Insurance is specialist cover designed to protect motor traders’ physical premises and the valuable assets inside. This includes cover for tools, machinery, and equipment – against risks like theft, fire, or accidental damage. It also includes liability protection for claims made by third parties, helping safeguard your business from unexpected costs.

It’s an essential safety net for anyone running a motor trade business. Whether you operate a workshop, garage, or store vehicles at your premises, this cover ensures your investment is protected. It can even apply to leased buildings, not just those you own, giving flexibility for a variety of motor trade setups.

At Road Runner, our Premises cover needs to be bought alongside our Road Risks cover. So you’ll also have all the benefits that come with our specialist Road Risks Insurance.

What does Motor Trade Premises Insurance cover?

Road Runner’s Motor Trade Premises Insurance can include:

Buildings cover
Up to £200,000 buildings cover for your commercial premises. Protects your premises’ structure against insured risks.

Contents cover
Up to £140,000 (total cover) for contents. Can include tools, machinery, Plant, fixtures and fittings (if you have a Hire Purchase or other lease agreement, we can normally note the interest of another party on the policy).

Road risks
Up to comprehensive levels of road risks cover – for when your team is on the move.

Employers’ Liability cover
Includes a £10M limit of indemnity for employee injury or illness claims.

Public liability cover
Choose from £1M, £2M, or £5M to suit your business’ needs. Protect against third-party injury or property damage claims.

Product liability cover
Choose from £1M, £2M, or £5M for protection against claims caused by products you supply. Protect against third-party injury or property damage claims. Product indemnity cannot be more than your public liability indemnity.

Vehicles at premises
Up to £100,000 cover for damage to vehicles left on the business premises, whether stock or owned for personal use.

Business interruption
Covering you against a fall in your profit if you can’t trade at your normal level (subject to criteria and T&Cs)

Theft of money

Personal possessions of customers and employees

Please note that our Premises cover must be bought alongside our Road Risks Insurance.

If you want to find out more about the cover options available, just get in touch or take a look at our Premises Summary of Cover, which outlines your options and any exclusions.

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Why Road Runner?

Decades of expertise, years of listening

With over 25 years’ experience in the motor trade, we understand the unique risks your business faces and tailor premises cover to match.

Flexible, comprehensive cover

From buildings and contents to liability and vehicles at your premises, our policies are designed to protect what matters most – whether you own or lease your premises. And we’re never ‘one size fits all’ – every policy is designed specifically for clients.

Trusted by motor traders

Highly rated by customers for reliability and service, Road Runner gives you peace of mind so you can focus on running your motor trade business.

Is Motor Trade Premises Insurance legally required?

Motor Trade Premises Insurance is not legally required as a whole, but certain elements of the wider cover may be mandatory depending on your business setup:

Road Risks Insurance: This cover is legally required if you or your employees drive vehicles on public roads for business purposes.
Employers’ Liability Insurance: If you employ staff, UK law requires you to have this cover, typically with a £10M indemnity limit.
Buildings and Contents Cover: These are not legally required, but they may be a condition of your mortgage or lease agreement.
Other elements (Public Liability, Product Liability, Business Interruption): These are optional but strongly recommended to protect against financial risks and claims.

So, while the full Motor Trade Premises Insurance package isn’t a legal obligation, specific components are compulsory under UK law.

Who needs Motor Trade Premises Insurance?

Anyone who runs a motor trade business with a physical premises should consider Motor Trade Premises Insurance. This includes:

Workshops and garages where repairs, servicing, or MOTs are carried out
Dealerships or forecourts that store vehicles for sale
Parts suppliers or motor trade shops operating from a fixed location
Home-based traders who keep tools, equipment, or vehicles at their property

So if your business relies on a premises – whether owned or rented – and you store valuable assets like tools, machinery, or vehicles there, this cover helps protect against risks such as theft, fire, accidental damage, and liability claims.

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How much does Motor Trade Premises Insurance cost?

The cost of this cover varies based on several factors, including:

Size and type of premises (e.g., workshop, garage, forecourt)
Level of cover chosen (buildings, contents, liability, vehicles at premises, etc.)
Value of assets you need to protect (tools, machinery, vehicles)
Business activities and risk profile (e.g., whether you also need Road Risks cover)

Because every motor trade business runs differently, insurers typically provide a tailored quote rather than a standard price. The best way to find out is to request a quote from Road Runner based on your specific needs.

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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:

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Spanners

Branch Manager

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Louise Velez

Divisonal Director

Lee Dicks

Sales Manager

Fidoo Etwaroo

Renewals Manager

Find out more

Other cover we offer

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.

Motor Trade Liability Insurance

If you’ve got people working for you, or if you have customers regularly visiting your site, you’ll need to think about Motor Trade Liability Insurance. We’re here to help keep you covered.

Latest News

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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.