Talk to Our Motor Trade Insurance Team
If you’re already exploring motor trade insurance and would like to speak directly to a specialist, you’re in the right place. Our dedicated Motor Trade team works with garages, mechanics, dealers, and mobile traders across Ireland to help them find the right cover quickly and clearly. For full details of our motor trade insurance cover, visit our main page here.
Whether you sell, service, repair, valet, recover, or restore vehicles, we’ll guide you through your options and help you get the right protection for your business.
Tailored Insurance Solutions for Every Motor Trade Professional
We cover a wide range of motor trade businesses, including:
- Vehicle Sales Dealers – showrooms, forecourts, compounds, or home-based sales
- Mechanical Repairs & Servicing – garages, mobile mechanics, and home workshops
- Panel Beaters & Crash Repair Specialists – workshop-based or mobile bodywork services
- Vehicle Valeting & Detailing – garage or mobile services
- Vehicle Recovery Operators – recovery trucks and roadside assistance
- Auto Electricians – diagnostics and vehicle electronics repair
- Windscreen Fitters – mobile and workshop services
- Tyre & Exhaust Fitters – garage or on-site fitting
- Vehicle Restoration Specialists – classic, custom, and high-performance vehicles
Our dedicated Motor Trade Team is here to help you choose the right cover quickly and easily, with clear guidance and straightforward support.
Need help or a quick quote? Contact Niall and the Motor Trade Team today.
Motor Trade Insurance FAQs
1. What is motor trade insurance?
Motor trade insurance is a specialised type of insurance designed for businesses involved in buying, selling, repairing, or transporting vehicles. It covers risks such as road testing customer vehicles, garage operations, liability, and damage to vehicles under your care.
2. Who needs motor trade insurance in Ireland?
Motor trade insurance is essential for: vehicle dealers, car garages, panel beaters, auto electricians, windscreen fitters, valeters, vehicle restoration specialists, mobile mechanics, tyre and exhaust fitters, and recovery operators. Essentially, any business handling vehicles professionally should have this cover.
3. What types of motor trade insurance are available?
The main types include:
- Road Risk Insurance: Covers driving, testing, collecting, or delivering vehicles.
- Garage/Composite Insurance: Covers buildings, stock, tools, machinery, public liability, and employees.
- Optional add-ons such as goods in transit, courtesy vehicles, or mobile work extensions are also available.
4. Does motor trade insurance cover test drives?
Yes. Road Risk Insurance allows you to legally drive or test customer vehicles for collection, delivery, or demonstration purposes. Policies can also cover accompanied and unaccompanied demonstration drives.
5. Can motor trade insurance cover mobile operations?
Absolutely. Many policies include extensions for mobile work, such as roadside repairs, on-site windscreen fitting, mobile valeting, or diagnostics away from your premises.
6. Is motor trade insurance required by law in Ireland?
If you drive customer or stock vehicles on public roads, Road Risk Insurance is legally required. Additionally, employers’ liability is mandatory if you have staff, and public liability cover is highly recommended to protect against third-party claims.
7. Can I insure modified, classic, or high-performance vehicles?
Yes. Specialist motor trade insurance can include coverage for modified vehicles, classic cars, or high-performance vehicles with no restrictions on vehicle value or policy tonnage.
8. Does it cover employee and customer vehicles on-site?
Yes. Garage or composite insurance protects vehicles stored on your premises, in secure compounds, or at your home (subject to insurer approval). Optional goods in transit cover can protect vehicles while moving between locations.
9. Can I get cover for recovery trucks or motorcycles?
Yes. Recovery vehicles and motorcycles, including customer motorcycles, can be included in your motor trade insurance package.
10. What additional protections are available?
Additional optional covers include: business interruption, money cover, engineering inspection policies, service indemnity/defective workmanship, and mobile work extensions.
11. Are monthly payments available for motor trade insurance?
Many insurers offer flexible monthly payment plans to help manage cash flow for small and medium-sized motor trade businesses.
12. How can I get the right motor trade insurance for my business?
The best approach is to speak with a specialist motor trade insurance provider. They can tailor your policy to your specific trade, whether it’s vehicle sales, repairs, recovery, valeting, or mobile services.
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