You’re lugging a 100-gallon water tank, a pressure washer, and a bag full of high-pH chemicals into a stranger's driveway to work on a vehicle that might cost more than your house. It's a gamble. Every time you pull that orbital polisher out of the van, you are one slip away from a $5,000 paint correction claim or, worse, a total loss.
Honestly, most detailers start out with a "it won't happen to me" mindset. They think a basic general liability policy they found online for forty bucks a month has them covered. It doesn't.
If you drop a buffer on a Ferrari hood, your standard liability policy will likely laugh at you and deny the claim. Why? Because of a little thing called the "Care, Custody, or Control" exclusion. If you don't have the right mobile detailing business insurance, you aren't actually running a business; you’re just a hobbyist taking a massive financial risk.
The Garagekeepers Gap is Killing Small Detailers
Here is the thing that most insurance agents won’t tell you unless they specialize in the automotive niche. General liability covers you if a customer trips over your pressure washer hose and breaks their arm. That's "bodily injury." It also covers you if you accidentally spray degreaser on the customer's expensive mahogany front door and ruin the finish. That’s "property damage."
But it usually excludes the vehicle itself.
The vehicle is the "property in your care, custody, or control." To cover the car you are actually working on, you need Garagekeepers Liability.
Think about it this way. You’re polishing a 2024 Porsche 911. You move it two feet to get better lighting, and—oops—you tap the garage wall. Without Garagekeepers, you are paying for that bumper out of your own pocket. According to data from industry groups like the International Detailing Association (IDA), the average cost of a specialized "mistake" in high-end detailing has climbed significantly as ADAS sensors and complex paint finishes become standard.
There are two types of Garagekeepers you need to know about:
👉 See also: Why Amazon Stock is Down Today: What Most People Get Wrong
- Legal Liability: This only pays if you were actually negligent. It’s cheaper, but it’s a headache because you have to prove it was your fault.
- Direct Primary: This is the gold standard. It pays out regardless of who was at fault. If a hail storm hits while the customer's car is in your driveway, or if someone steals it while you're inside grabbing a glass of water, Direct Primary covers it. It’s more expensive, but it’s the only way to truly sleep at night.
Why Your Personal Auto Policy is a Ticking Time Bomb
You might be driving a Transit van, a decked-out F-150, or maybe just a Honda Civic with some buckets in the back. If you are using that vehicle for work and you only have a personal auto policy, you are essentially uninsured during work hours.
Insurance companies are not your friends when it comes to "commercial use" exclusions.
If you get into a fender bender on the way to a client's house, the first thing the adjuster is going to ask is, "Where were you going?" If they see a pressure washer bolted to the floor or a mountain of microfiber towels, they will deny the claim. They'll say you needed a commercial auto policy.
Commercial auto insurance isn't just about the crash, either. It covers your equipment if it's permanently attached to the vehicle. However, for the stuff that isn't bolted down—your $500 Rupes polishers, your steamers, your expensive vacuums—you need something called Inland Marine Insurance.
I know, the name sounds like it’s for boats. It isn't. It’s a historical term for "property in transit." Basically, it covers your tools while they are moving from Point A to Point B. If someone smashes your van window and grabs $3,000 worth of gear, your commercial auto policy covers the window, but the Inland Marine policy covers the tools.
The Reality of Chemical Liability and Pollution
Mobile detailing is a chemical-heavy game. You're using wheel acids, iron removers, and degreasers.
What happens if those chemicals runoff into a storm drain and a neighbor calls the EPA? Or what if a specific chemical reacts poorly with a ceramic coating and causes toxic fumes that make a customer sick?
✨ Don't miss: Stock Market Today Hours: Why Timing Your Trade Is Harder Than You Think
Most mobile detailing business insurance policies have a "pollution exclusion." This is a massive gray area. Some carriers offer a "Limited Pollution Liability" endorsement. It’s usually an extra $100 to $200 a year. Is it worth it? Ask anyone who has ever had to pay for an environmental cleanup because a bottle of hydrofluoric acid leaked into a driveway and then into the local water system.
Workers' Comp: Even if You're a Solo Act
"I don't need workers' comp, I'm just a one-man show."
Wrong.
First, many commercial contracts (like detailing fleets for a local dealership or a construction company) will require you to show a Workers' Compensation certificate before you can even step onto the lot. Second, if you get hurt—say, you blow out your back lifting a heavy extractor—your health insurance might deny the claim if they find out the injury happened while you were "on the clock" for your own business.
In many states, you can get a "ghost policy." This is a Workers' Comp policy for a business with no employees. It satisfies the legal requirements for contracts, and it's significantly cheaper than a full policy, but it doesn't actually provide you with benefits. If you want actual protection for your body, you need a policy that includes "owner coverage."
What Does This Actually Cost?
Let's talk numbers. Real numbers, not the "starting at $19" fake ads you see on Instagram.
For a legitimate mobile detailing setup with $1,000,000 in General Liability, $50,000 in Garagekeepers (Direct Primary), and a basic Inland Marine rider for tools, you are probably looking at **$1,200 to $2,500 per year**.
🔗 Read more: Kimberly Clark Stock Dividend: What Most People Get Wrong
The price swings wildly based on:
- Your location (Florida and California are always more expensive).
- Your claims history.
- The value of the vehicles you work on.
- Your years of experience.
If you’re detailing 1998 Toyota Camrys, your risk is low. If you’re the guy the local car club calls for their Ferraris and Lamborghinis, your premium will reflect that $200,000+ liability sitting in your "care, custody, and control."
Avoiding the "Quote Trap"
Don't just go to a big-name provider that insures houses and minivans. They don't understand the nuance of "overspray liability" or "ceramic coating failure."
You want to look for MGAs (Managing General Agents) or brokers that specialize in the "Automotive Service" niche. Companies like Progressive Commercial, Next Insurance, or even specialized brokers like Crossley Insurance (who have a long history with detailers) understand the specific risks.
When you call them, don't just say "I wash cars." Say "I provide mobile automotive reconditioning services, including paint correction and long-term surface protectants." It sounds professional because it is. It changes how the underwriter views your risk profile.
Actionable Steps to Protect Your Business Right Now
Stop scrolling and do these three things. It could save your business from a total wipeout.
- Check your General Liability policy for the "Care, Custody, or Control" exclusion. If it’s there, and you don’t have a Garagekeepers endorsement, you are essentially naked if you damage a client's car. Call your agent and ask for "Garagekeepers Direct Primary" coverage.
- Audit your tool inventory. Take photos of every polisher, vacuum, and steamer you own. Write down the serial numbers. If your van gets stolen tonight, you need this list for an Inland Marine claim. If the total value is over $1,000, you need a specific rider; don't assume your auto insurance covers them.
- Update your Service Agreement. Insurance is your second line of defense. Your first line is a solid contract. Make sure your customers sign a waiver that notes pre-existing damage. Use a "Pre-Detail Inspection Form" for every single car. Take photos of every dent, scratch, and cracked leather seat before you touch the car. If you have the photos, your insurance company can fight a fraudulent claim; if you don't, they'll just pay it out and hike your rates.
Running a mobile detailing business is about more than just a perfect shine. It’s about risk management. You spend hundreds of dollars on the best ceramic coatings and pads—spend the same energy on the paper that protects your bank account.
Getting your mobile detailing business insurance right isn't a one-time task. As your business grows, as you buy that $1,500 specialized steamer or start hiring a helper, your risk profile shifts. Review your limits every six months. It's much cheaper to pay an extra $20 a month in premiums than it is to pay $20,000 for a repainted Porsche.