Compare Motor Trade Insurance Quotes
Whether you run a garage, body shop, or vehicle dealership, compare specialist motor trade insurance quotes by completing one short form.
How It Works
Complete one short form
Provide details about your motor trade business, including trade type, premises, and vehicles.
Specialist providers get in touch
Motor trade insurance providers review your details and contact you with tailored quotes.
Compare and choose
Review the quotes you receive and select the policy that suits your business needs.
If you run a garage, body shop, MOT station, or vehicle dealership, your standard car insurance won't cover you for driving customers' vehicles or moving stock. Motor trade insurance is the specialist policy that fills that gap, covering road risks, premises, tools, stock, and the liability that comes with working on other people's cars and vans.
We have partnered with Quotezone.co.uk to help established motor trade businesses compare quotes from specialist UK providers. If you're aged 25 or over with at least a year of motor trade no-claims bonus, you're in the bracket that insurers are keenest to quote for.
What Is Motor Trade Insurance?
Motor trade insurance covers the specific risks of running an automotive business in the UK. At its core, it gives you the legal right to drive vehicles that aren't yours, customers' cars in for repair, stock vehicles being moved between locations, or trade plates on unregistered vehicles.
Most policies combine road risk cover with premises liability, and where applicable, protection for tools, equipment, and stock. The exact shape of your policy depends on what type of motor trade work you do and whether you operate from fixed premises.
The trades covered by motor trade insurance include mechanical repair garages, body and paint shops, MOT prep and testing stations, vehicle sales and demonstrations, tyre and exhaust fitting, windscreen repair, vehicle electricians, accessory fitting, car detailing and valeting, breakdown and recovery operators, vehicle collection and delivery services, and import/export businesses.
It's worth noting that some activities fall outside what most motor trade insurers will cover, specifically scrap metal dealing and car jockeying. If your primary trade involves either of these, you'd need to discuss specialist arrangements directly with an insurer.
Road Risk vs Combined Motor Trade Insurance
There are two main types of motor trade insurance, and the right one depends on whether you work from fixed premises:
- Road risk only: covers you to drive vehicles connected with your trade on public roads. This is the minimum level of cover and suits mobile mechanics, part-time traders, or anyone who doesn't have a fixed workshop or showroom.
- Combined motor trade insurance: includes road risk plus cover for your premises, tools, equipment, stock, public liability, and employer's liability. This is what most established garages, body shops, and dealerships use.
If you operate from a workshop, showroom, or forecourt, a combined policy is the standard choice. The premises element covers the building itself and its contents, from vehicle lifts and diagnostic equipment to the vans and cars you hold for sale or repair.
Who Needs Motor Trade Insurance?
Motor trade insurance is used across the full range of legitimate automotive businesses in the UK. The trades that attract the most competitive quotes include:
- Mechanical repair and vehicle servicing garages
- Body repair, paint, and panel shops
- MOT preparation and testing stations
- Vehicle sales, new and used car/van dealers
- Vehicle demonstrations and test drive facilities
- Tyre and exhaust fitting centres
- Windscreen repair and replacement
- Vehicle electricians and auto electrical specialists
- Accessory fitting and vehicle customisation
- Car detailing, valeting, and vehicle preparation
- Vehicle collection and delivery services
- Breakdown and recovery operators
- Vehicle import and export businesses
The traders who get the strongest quotes are typically aged 25 or over, with at least one year of motor trade no-claims bonus and five or more years of private car insurance no-claims bonus. If you're running a fleet of recovery or delivery vehicles alongside your motor trade, you may also want to consider fleet cover for those vehicles.
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What Does Motor Trade Insurance Cover?
A comprehensive motor trade policy can include a range of cover tailored to your business:
- Road risk: cover to drive customers' vehicles and your own stock on public roads
- Premises cover: protection for your workshop, showroom, and business property
- Tools and equipment: cover for specialist tools, lifts, and diagnostic equipment
- Stock cover: protection for vehicles held for sale or awaiting repair
- Public liability: covers claims from customers or visitors injured at your premises
- Employer's liability: legally required if you employ staff, covering workplace injuries
Types of Cover Available
Road Risk
Cover to drive customers' vehicles and stock vehicles on public roads in connection with your trade.
Premises Cover
Protection for your workshop, showroom, and business property against fire, flood, theft, and damage.
Tools & Equipment
Cover for specialist tools, diagnostic equipment, lifts, and machinery used in your trade.
Public Liability
Protects against claims from customers or visitors injured at your premises or by your work.
Employer's Liability
Legally required if you employ staff. Covers claims from employees injured at work.
Stock Cover
Protects vehicles held for sale or awaiting repair against damage, theft, and fire at your premises.
What Affects the Cost?
Trade Type
Mechanical repair, body work, MOT testing, and vehicle sales each carry different risk profiles affecting premiums.
Experience & NCB
Traders with 1+ years motor trade NCB and 5+ years private car NCB typically get better rates. Age 25+ preferred.
Premises Type
The size, location, and security of your workshop or showroom affect the premium for combined policies.
Number of Employees
More staff means higher employer's liability risk. The number and experience of drivers also matters.
Stock Value
The value of vehicles held for sale or repair at your premises affects the stock cover element of your premium.
Claims History
A clean claims record demonstrates lower risk and helps secure more competitive quotes from insurers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need motor trade insurance if I only buy and sell a few cars?
What's the difference between road risk and combined cover?
Is employer's liability insurance compulsory?
Can I drive any vehicle on a motor trade policy?
Does motor trade insurance cover test drives?
How can I reduce my motor trade insurance costs?
Can part-time traders get motor trade insurance?
What information do I need for a motor trade insurance quote?
Are scrap dealers and car jockeys covered?
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Complete one short form and let specialist providers get in touch with competitive quotes tailored to your needs.
T T Branding Ltd (trading as MySupermarket Compare) is an Introducer Appointed Representative (IAR) of Seopa Ltd. Seopa Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA FRN: 313860). Quotezone is a trading style of Seopa Ltd. Seopa Ltd is located at Floor 4, Blackstaff Studios, 8-10 Amelia Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT2 7GS. The insurance quote system is independently owned and operated by Seopa Ltd. TT Branding Ltd do not offer financial advice and receives a commission for any policies purchased, at no cost to you.