Automotive Services, Garages & Mechanics

Built for the shops that keep rural America moving

Republic Insurance Group provides specialized insurance and risk management solutions for automotive service businesses—designed for hands-on operations where vehicles, equipment, employees, and customer property are part of daily risk.

Coverage for light-duty, heavy-duty, diesel, and specialty repair
Garage liability and garagekeepers structured correctly
Claims advocacy when accidents, fires, or disputes arise

We work with independent, owner-operated, and multi-location shops across rural and regional markets, including:

Auto repair and general mechanic shops
Tire sales, service, and roadside shops
Performance and aftermarket modification shops
Diesel and performance diesel repair facilities
Heavy truck and 18-wheeler repair shops
Farm, fleet, and commercial vehicle service operations
Marine and boat mechanics
Trailer, RV, and specialty vehicle repair
Tint, wrap, audio, accessories, and customization shops
Welding, fabrication, and equipment repair businesses

If customers leave their vehicles—or equipment—in your care, your insurance must be built around that responsibility.

Core Coverages

Garage Liability

Bodily injury and property damage arising from operations
Coverage for road testing and completed work
Customer slip-and-fall and premises exposure
Coordination with professional/workmanship allegations

Garagekeepers Legal Liability

Customer vehicles in your care, custody, or control
Coverage for fire, theft, vandalism, and collision
Structured for inside, outside, and test-drive exposure
Options for legal liability vs. direct primary coverage

Commercial Property

Shop buildings and tenant improvements
Tools, lifts, diagnostic equipment, and machinery
Inventory, parts, tires, and accessories
Loss of income following a covered loss

Commercial Auto

Service trucks and tow vehicles (when applicable)
Parts runners and pickup vehicles
Hired and non-owned auto exposure

Workers’ Compensation

Mechanics, technicians, welders, and support staff
Injury prevention and job classification guidance
Employer liability coordination

Umbrella & Excess Liability

Added protection over garage liability, auto, and employers' liability
Often critical for shops working on high-value or heavy vehicles

Specialty Coverages

Depending on services offered, we may recommend:

Equipment Breakdown – lifts, compressors, and diagnostic systems
Tools & Installation Coverage – high-value mechanic-owned tools
Pollution / Environmental Liability – oils, fuels, fluids, disposal exposure
Crime Coverage – theft of cash, parts, or tools
Cyber Liability – invoicing systems, payment processing, ransomware
Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) – employee-related allegations
Bailee Coverage Extensions – for non-owned property beyond vehicles

Core Risks in Automotive Services

Automotive service businesses face high-frequency, high-severity risks, including:

Fire or explosion during repair
Damage to customer vehicles in your care
Theft or vandalism of vehicles or tools
Employee injuries involving lifts, tools, and machinery
Road test accidents
Environmental exposure (fluids, spills, disposal)
Disputes over workmanship or vehicle condition
Equipment failure and shop downtime

We focus on how your shop operates, not just what kind of shop you are.

Why Republic Insurance Group

How we approach automotive service insurance

Our process:

1. Shop operations review
We look at services performed, vehicle values, storage practices, and workflow.

2. Coverage alignment
We coordinate garage liability, garagekeepers, property, auto, and workers’ comp to avoid gaps.

3. Risk management & risk control support
Guidance on waivers, work orders, keys, fire prevention, and customer vehicle handling.

4. Claims advocacy

When something goes wrong, we help manage the claim—not just submit it.

What shop owners value most:

Straight answers without insurance jargon
Coverage that stands up during claims
Fast response when issues arise

Coverage tailored by operation

We routinely insure:

Tire Shops – sales, mounting, balancing, roadside exposure
Diesel & Performance Diesel Shops – tuning, emissions, heavy equipment
18-Wheeler & Fleet Repair – tractors, trailers, DOT exposure
Marine & Boat Mechanics – inboard/outboard service, transport risk
Tint, Wrap & Custom Shops – non-mechanical vehicle alterations
Welding & Fabrication Shops – structural and modification exposure
Farm & Ranch Equipment Repair – ag-adjacent mechanical work

Each service type introduces different underwriting and claims considerations—we build for that.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) What’s the difference between garage liability and garagekeepers coverage?
Garage liability covers your operations. Garagekeepers addresses damage to customer vehicles in your care.

2) Are customer vehicles automatically covered if something happens overnight?
Not always. Storage location, coverage form, and limits matter.

3) Does this cover road testing?
Road testing may be covered when structured correctly. This should be reviewed carefully.

4) Are mechanic-owned tools covered?
They can be, but often require specific limits or endorsements.

5) Do diesel and heavy truck shops need different coverage?
Yes. Vehicle size, values, and exposures change underwriting and limits.

6) What about marine or boat mechanics?
Coverage can be structured, but transport, storage, and water exposure must be addressed.

7) Is pollution coverage really necessary?
Shops handling oils, fuels, or fluids often have unrecognized environmental exposure.

8) How often should coverage be reviewed?
At least annually—or anytime you add services, employees, or equipment.

Insurance that works as hard as your shop does

From tire shops and diesel mechanics to marine and specialty auto services, Republic Insurance Group helps protect the businesses rural America depends on.