Dealership Insurance

Risk Factor

Your inventory is your livelihood. Cars can get damaged in a number of possible ways, including collisions, weather events, or fire. There’s also a risk that vehicles could be stolen while unattended or under the guise of a test drive.

Solution

Dealers open lot (DOL) offers coverage for physical damage to vehicles for specific losses named in the policy, which may include things like fire and theft. Coverage can vary based on how protected or open a lot is and can include driveaway collision for times when your vehicles are in transit to another location and false pretense for when a vehicle is taken fraudulently.

Note: Actual policies must be consulted for specific terms and conditions.

Risk Factor

As much as any business tries to avoid them, mistakes can happen. Whether it’s an error on loan or lease forms or a vehicle’s history is misrepresented, someone could file a lawsuit if they feel they were harmed by your dealership. Even if the claims are meritless, they must be defended.

Solution

Dealers E&O can help cover the cost of defense if your dealership is sued. This coverage can also help pay for damages that may be awarded to another party. Policies should cover a range of errors and omissions situations such as title errors, violations of credit or leasing laws, and allegations of negligence in recording a used vehicle’s history.

Note: Actual policies must be consulted for specific terms and conditions.

Risk Factor

You have many exposures associated with the operation of your dealership, including premises, auto, products/completed operations. Even a single auto accident or mechanic’s error can potentially put your business in financial jeopardy.

Solution

Garage liability insurance provides comprehensive coverage for bodily injury, property damage, and other liability exposures as they relate to the operation of your dealership and its parts and service departments.

Note: Actual policies must be consulted for specific terms and conditions.

Risk Factor

On average, it’s estimated that three out of five businesses will be sued by their employees. While there is nothing you can do to prevent someone from filing a lawsuit, you can limit the costs of defending a legal claim with proper insurance coverage.

Solution

Obtain employment practice liability insurance (EPLI) to protect your business from alleged employment-related acts such as wrongful termination, failure to promote, discrimination, and sexual harassment.

Note: Actual policies must be consulted for specific terms and conditions.

Risk Factor

The internet has spun a whole new web of liability exposures. E-commerce, social networking, cloud storage, and other technologies bring great benefits to large and small dealerships alike. But with these benefits also come challenges, including protection of privacy, data, and the financial information of your customers.

Solution

Cyber liability insurance protects your business in the event of unauthorized access to electronic data or software within your network. It also provides coverage for spreading a virus, extortion, accidental release of personal identifiable information, and resultant damage caused by a lost or stolen laptop or other mobile device. This coverage is quickly becoming more and more important as you embrace technology to help run your business.

Note: Actual policies must be consulted for specific terms and conditions.

Risk Factor

Any commercial property is at risk for damage due to fire or other events. Not only is your building and other structures on your property susceptible, everything inside from office furniture to inventory is at risk as well.

Solution

Commercial property insurance can help protect the property your business owns or leases, including things like equipment, inventory, furniture, and fixtures. Whether you own your building or lease the space, commercial property insurance can be purchased separately or can be combined with other necessary coverage to protect your business’ physical assets.

Note: Actual policies must be consulted for specific terms and conditions.

Risk Factor

Your business has a responsibility to protect the property of others when it is left with you. If your dealership includes a repair facility or you temporarily hold a vehicle that belongs to a customer, you could be held financially liable for damages to that vehicle while it is in your care, custody, and control.

Solution

You should purchase physical damage coverage, referred to as garagekeepers coverage, designed to help you protect your customers’ property and your business in the event that accidents, injuries, or property damage occurs. This protection covers the costs that arise from unfortunate and unforeseeable events, not bad workmanship, faulty parts, or warranties.

Note: Actual policies must be consulted for specific terms and conditions.

Risk Factor

If one of your employees receives an injury or becomes ill due to a work-related occurrence, you are required by law to have the proper coverage in place.

Solution

Workers’ compensation insurance protects your employees in the event that a job-related injury or sickness occurs during the course of their employment. This coverage is required by law, so be sure that your business has it.

Note: Actual policies must be consulted for specific terms and conditions.

Risk Factor

Dealerships face significant pollutant risks through their use of solvents, cleaning agents, paints, and other potentially harmful products. Spills could not only result in cleanup expenses, but you could also be held responsible for damage to third parties, as well as fines.

Solution

Pollutant cleanup and removal insurance can help to cover the costs of injuries and property damage that occurs as a result of a pollutant spill or leak. This could include coverage not only at your place of business, but also spills that occur while your pollutants are being transported for disposal. If your dealership has an underground tank, this coverage is a must.

Note: Actual policies must be consulted for specific terms and conditions.

Risk Factor

Given the potentially high value of the vehicles you sell and the amount of financial information you collect, your business is at risk for theft. What if one of your trusted employees is found guilty of doing something dishonest as it relates to his or her work with you?

Solution

Crime coverage can be obtained in your commercial property insurance, but coverage is very limited. Consider obtaining a standalone crime coverage policy that includes employee dishonesty coverage.

Note: Actual policies must be consulted for specific terms and conditions.

Risk Factor

What happens when your business faces a large liability loss that exceeds the basic limit of your standard policy?

Solution

A commercial umbrella insurance policy provides high limits of insurance, typically between $2 million and $10 million. Coverage is extended over your general liability, workers’ compensation, and business auto insurance. It provides a great safety net and helps to secure protection for your dealership.

Note: Actual policies must be consulted for specific terms and conditions.

Risk Factor

Exterior signs associated with your business are vulnerable to fire, vandalism, and weather. Most commercial property policies offer a sublimit of coverage for signs, but it might not be enough.

Solution

Evaluate your sign exposures and determine if your existing commercial property insurance policy provides sufficient coverage. If not, increase the policy limit as required.

Note: Actual policies must be consulted for specific terms and conditions.

Risk Factor

What would you do if a fire impacted the operation of your business? Or what if a pipe leak caused damage to your facility so that you couldn’t open? These and other events can destroy your ability to see customers and bring in revenue, which can have a major long-term impact on the viability of your business.

Solution

Business interruption insurance compensates you for lost income if your business cannot operate as normal due to damage that is covered under your commercial property insurance policy, such as fire or water damage. This type of insurance covers the revenue you would have earned based on your financial records, had the incident not occurred. The policy also covers continuing operating expenses such as rent, electricity, and ordinary payroll.

Note: Actual policies must be consulted for specific terms and conditions.