INSURANCE GUIDE
Mobile Mechanic Insurance UK
Motor trade liability, public liability and road risk cover for UK mobile mechanics and roadside repair technicians.
TL;DR
- Mobile mechanics need motor trade insurance, not standard public liability - working on customers vehicles creates specific liability.
- Road risk insurance covers you to drive customers vehicles during test drives and repairs.
- Goods in transit cover protects parts and tools carried in your van.
- Premises liability is replaced by mobile risk cover for mechanics working at customer locations.
Why Mobile Mechanics Need Motor Trade Insurance
Standard public liability insurance is not designed for motor trade work. When you work on a customer's vehicle, you take on liability for the vehicle itself - if your repair causes a subsequent failure, accident, or injury, the claim is made under motor trade liability rather than standard public liability. Mobile mechanics need a motor trade policy that covers garage liability (work carried out on customers' vehicles) without the need for fixed premises.
Road Risks Insurance
Road risks insurance covers you to drive customers' vehicles. Mobile mechanics frequently need to road test vehicles after repair, reposition them at the customer's location, or drive them short distances. Driving a customer's vehicle under your own standard vehicle insurance is not covered - a road risks section within your motor trade policy provides this cover.
Motor Trade Liability
Motor trade liability (also called garage liability) covers claims arising from work carried out on customers' vehicles. If your repair fails and causes an accident, injury, or damage, the claim is handled under motor trade liability. It also covers damage to the customer's vehicle while it is in your care, custody, or control - including while it is parked at the customer's address during or after the repair.
Tools and Equipment
Mobile mechanics carry significant tool inventories - diagnostic equipment, hand tools, power tools, and consumables. Tools are not covered under motor trade liability. A separate tool insurance policy or a combined motor trade and tools policy covers theft, loss, and damage to your own equipment.
Goods in Transit
Parts, fluids, and equipment carried in your van during transit are not covered by van insurance or tool insurance. Goods in transit cover protects items carried in your vehicle while they are being transported to or from job sites.
Related Guides
Disclaimer
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute financial or insurance advice. Kaeltripton.com is not regulated by the FCA. Always read policy documents in full before purchasing cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a mobile mechanic use standard public liability insurance?
Standard public liability is not appropriate for motor trade work. It does not cover damage to or arising from customers vehicles, and most standard policies explicitly exclude motor trade activities. A motor trade policy that includes garage liability and road risks is the correct product for a mobile mechanic.
Does mobile mechanic insurance cover MOT work?
MOT testing requires an Authorised Testing Facility (ATF) designated by the DVSA - this is a fixed premises requirement that mobile mechanics cannot meet. Mobile mechanics cannot legally carry out MOT tests at customer locations. A mobile mechanic policy does not need to cover MOT testing activities.
What if a customer's car is damaged while I am working on it?
Damage to a customer's vehicle while it is in your care, custody, or control is covered under the motor trade liability section of a motor trade policy. This is sometimes called care, custody and control cover. It covers accidental damage caused to the vehicle during the repair process - a dropped panel, a scratch during work, or damage from a tool. Confirm that this cover is included in your motor trade policy.
