Motor Trade Insurance

If you work with vehicles for profit in any capacity—whether you're buying, selling, repairing, recovering, or delivering—Motor Trade Insurance is essential. At Crowthorne Insurance Services, we specialise in flexible, common-sense insurance for all motor trade professionals, from full-time garages to part-time home-based traders.

Unlike many providers, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all policies. Instead, we build insurance packages that reflect your unique trade, level of risk, and how you operate. You’ll always deal with real advisors who understand the motor trade, not call centres or scripts.

Motor Trade Insurance is a specialised form of cover for individuals or businesses who earn income from working with vehicles. This includes activities such as:

Buying and selling used vehicles
Vehicle repairs and servicing
MOT testing
Breakdown recovery
Vehicle delivery and trade plate driving
Bodywork, wrapping and paint repair
Mobile mechanics and auto electricians

These policies can cover the vehicles you drive, your business premises, your tools and machinery, your liabilities to others, and much more. They ensure you’re legally compliant and financially protected.

Road Risk Insurance is the essential minimum for any motor trader who drives vehicles that are not registered in their name. It is ideal for part-time traders, home-based mechanics, or vehicle dealers working without formal premises.

Key benefits include:

Drive customer vehicles and vehicles for sale
Cover levels: Third Party Only, Third Party Fire & Theft, or Comprehensive
Optional social, domestic and pleasure use
Named driver or any driver policies (subject to underwriting)
Options for young or convicted drivers

Combined Motor Trade Insurance offers comprehensive protection for traders operating from a fixed site. It builds on road risk insurance and includes cover for premises, stock, employees, tools and liabilities.

Cover can include:

Road risk cover
Buildings insurance
Vehicle stock and customer vehicles on-site
Business contents and equipment
Tools and diagnostic gear
Public liability and employers’ liability
Service indemnity and product liability
Business interruption cover

Most standard motor trade policies exclude cover for vehicles stored at a business address. If you store customer cars or sales stock at a garage, workshop, or even on private land, Vehicles at Premises Insurance is essential.

Provides protection against:

Fire, theft and vandalism
Accidental damage or storm/flood damage
Loss of customer or stock vehicles
Security-rated cover depending on CCTV, alarms, locked gates, etc.

Recommended for:
Home-based dealers, forecourt traders, part-built vehicles, overnight storage of stock.

If you move or transport vehicles as part of your business, this policy covers those vehicles while they’re in your care but not being driven. This includes collection and delivery, recovery work, or transport via trailer.

Cover can include:

Theft during loading, unloading or transit
Fire and accidental damage
Damage caused to vehicles on a trailer or truck bed
Flexibility for multiple vehicle types and weights (up to 44 tonnes with specialist markets)

Ideal for:
Vehicle recovery operators, car delivery drivers, trade plate operators, dealers moving cars between sites.

Liability insurance is essential for motor trade businesses that deal with the public, suppliers, or employees. It protects your business if someone is injured or if property is damaged as a result of your work.

We provide:

Public liability insurance
Employers’ liability (a legal requirement if you have staff)
Product and service liability (for claims arising from faulty repairs or parts)

Policy limits can be tailored to your business risk and size.

Suitable for:
Garages, MOT centres, vehicle servicing businesses, mobile traders.

Used Car Dealer (Home-Based or Forecourt)

What you do:
Buy and sell vehicles either from home, a forecourt, or a commercial unit.

You may need:

Road Risk Insurance (to move and test vehicles for sale)
Vehicles at Premises Insurance (to cover stock on-site)
Public Liability (if customers visit your premises)
Combined Motor Trade Policy (if you operate from business premises)

Mobile Mechanic

What you do:
Travel to customers to perform diagnostics, servicing, or repairs at their location.

You may need:

Road Risk Insurance (to test customer vehicles)
Tools and Equipment Cover (especially for tools kept in your van overnight)
Public Liability (to protect against accidents at customer sites)
Vehicles in Transit Cover (if you transport vehicles occasionally)

Garage-Based Mechanic or MOT Station

What you do:
Repair and service vehicles, conduct MOT tests, and may also offer diagnostics and tyre fitting.

You may need:

Combined Motor Trade Insurance (including tools, premises, and liability)
Employers’ Liability (if you have staff)
Service Indemnity/Product Liability (in case of faulty repairs)
Stock Cover (if selling parts or accessories)

Body Shop or Paint Sprayer

What you do:
Repair vehicle bodywork, perform paint spraying, detailing, or accident repair.

You may need:

Combined Policy (for premises, equipment, and liability)
Public & Employers’ Liability
Tools & Paint Equipment Cover
Vehicles at Premises Insurance

Breakdown Recovery Operator

What you do:
Collect broken down vehicles and transport them to garages or back to customers.

You may need:

Road Risk Insurance (if driving recovered vehicles)
Vehicles in Transit Insurance (to cover vehicles on your truck or trailer)
Public Liability Insurance
Cover for Recovery Vehicles (up to 7.5T or 44T with specialist markets)

Vehicle Delivery / Trade Plate Driver

What you do:
Drive vehicles on trade plates between locations (e.g., from auction to dealership).

You may need:

Road Risk Insurance (with trade plate use)
Vehicles in Transit Insurance (if you also trailer vehicles)
Cover for High Volumes of Vehicle Movements
Convicted Driver Cover (if applicable)

Auto Electrician / Diagnostics Specialist

What you do:
Diagnose and fix electronic faults in vehicles either mobile or on-site.

You may need:

Road Risk Cover (for test drives)
Tools & Diagnostic Equipment Cover
Public Liability
Combined Policy (if based at a unit or garage)

Windscreen Repairer

What you do:
Replace or repair damaged windscreens and windows, often on-site or mobile.

You may need:

Road Risk Cover
Tools Cover
Public Liability
Goods in Transit (for replacement screens if transporting stock)

Vehicle Wrapper / Detailer / Valeter

What you do:
Apply wraps, tinting, paint protection, or deep cleaning/detailing services.

You may need:

Public Liability Insurance (especially if using chemicals)
Tools & Materials Cover
Road Risk Insurance (if moving vehicles for work)
Combined Policy (if operating from a fixed unit)

Tyre Fitter

What you do:
Mobile or garage-based tyre replacement and balancing.

You may need:

Public Liability
Tools and Compressor Cover
Road Risk Cover (if moving customer vehicles)
Employers’ Liability (if you have staff)

Vehicle Locksmith

What you do:
Gain access to or replace locks/keys for vehicles; often mobile-based.

You may need:

Tools & Diagnostic Cover (keys, programming equipment)
Public Liability
Road Risk Insurance

Classic Car Restorer / Project Builder

What you do:
Rebuild or restore older or specialist vehicles for resale or customers.

You may need:

Combined Policy
Stock & Part-Built Vehicle Cover
Road Risk Cover (for test drives)
Business Contents & Tools Cover

Vehicle Export / Import Businesses

What you do:
Buy or sell vehicles overseas or specialise in left-hand drive or rare models.

You may need:

Road Risk Insurance
Specialist Cover for Import/Export Risk
Transit Insurance
Cover for Specialist or Modified Vehicles

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