The policies an auto detailing business carries
The claim detailers plan for is damage to the customer's car: a burn through the clear coat, a chemical that stains a seat. Ask how your policy treats the vehicles in your care.
| Policy | Average a month |
|---|---|
| General liability | $54 |
| Commercial auto | $46 |
| Workers' compensation | $131 |
| Business owner's policy | $89 |
Averages are what Insureon's customers who are car detailing and car wash businesses pay, from Insureon's cost page; most of its customers have fewer than five employees. Across all its small business customers, general liability runs $265 to $3,030 a year.
Claims auto detailers plan for
- A polisher burns through the clear coat
- A chemical stains leather seats
- A car is scratched while being moved
- Water gets into an electrical part under the hood
Ask your agent, in these words:
- Would my policy pay if a polisher burns through the clear coat?
- Would my policy pay if a chemical stains leather seats?
- Would my policy pay if a car is scratched while being moved?
- Would my policy pay if water gets into an electrical part under the hood?
Name the work you sell
A policy covers the work you describe on the application. From the auto detailing services list, name each of these and ask whether any is excluded: exterior wash and protect; interior detail; full detail; one-step polish; paint correction; ceramic coating; pet hair removal; headlight restoration; engine bay clean; odor treatment.
Mobile detailers carry water tanks, generators and polishers that should be listed. On the tools list, the items to list on the policy are water tank and pump; generator or battery power station; hot water extractor; cordless polisher; steam cleaner; paint thickness gauge, and from the starter kit, dual-action polisher; foam cannon; pressure washer, electric or gas; wet and dry vacuum with crevice tools; microfiber towels in quantity.
State rules in the license
Most states do not license auto detailing work as a trade of its own, so there is usually no state insurance minimum tied to a license. Cities and commercial customers can still set their own.
Workers' comp and bonds
The SBA says every business with employees must carry workers' compensation, unemployment and disability insurance. Insureon's average for car detailing and car wash businesses is $131 a month, priced per $100 of payroll. A bond protects the state or the customer, not you; Insureon puts its yearly cost at a share of the bond amount:
| Bond amount | Estimated yearly cost |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | $25 to $500 |
| $10,000 | $50 to $1,000 |
| $50,000 | $250 to $5,000 |
Certificates of insurance
Dealerships and fleet clients ask for a certificate before you work on their vehicles. Keep a PDF on your phone so you can send it the day they ask.
Sources
- Insureon: Insurance cost for car detailing and car wash businesses, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: General liability insurance cost, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: Workers' compensation insurance cost, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: Surety bond cost, checked October 9, 2026
- SBA: Get business insurance, checked October 9, 2026
Last checked October 9, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and differ by state and city, so confirm with the agency named before you act.