Running a car wash or auto detailing business involves more than just soap, water, and elbow grease. You’re trusted with people’s vehicles, often their second-largest investment after their home. Whether you own a tunnel car wash, operate a mobile detailing business, or manage an upscale hand-wash studio, one mistake, spill, or slip can cost you thousands. That’s where car wash insurance steps in. In this complete 2025 guide, we break down the coverages you need, what it costs, who the top insurers are, and how to protect your business from unexpected surprises.
Key Takeaways
- Car wash and detailing insurance protects against lawsuits, property damage, worker injuries, and vehicle damage claims.
- The average cost for a small car wash policy starts around $95/month.
- Core policies include general liability, garagekeepers, workers’ compensation, and property insurance.
- Mobile detailers often need inland marine coverage for tools in transit.
- Reddit users and industry experts agree: insurance is essential for credibility, contracts, and staying operational.
What is car wash insurance and auto detailing business insurance?
Car wash insurance is a suite of policies designed to protect detailing shops, automatic or tunnel washes, mobile detailers, and self-service locations. These businesses deal with water, chemicals, machinery, and expensive customer property, all of which carry substantial liability. Auto detailing business insurance not only safeguards your bottom line when something goes wrong, it often helps you land commercial contracts, lease property, or operate legally in certain states.
Types of Insurance for Car Washes and Auto Detailers
General Liability Insurance
This is the foundational policy for detailing or washing business needs. It covers third-party bodily injuries, property damage, and legal costs. For example, if a customer slips on a wet floor or if a high-pressure hose damages their car’s paint, this coverage kicks in.
Sometimes, you may find general liability and public liability offered as two separate policies. Look for the general liability policy that encompasses all that public liability covers.
Garagekeepers Legal Liability
Essential for full-service or express car washes, this covers vehicles left in your care. If your equipment scratches a car, a buffer overheats a paint job, or a fire breaks out overnight, garagekeepers will pay for the customer’s repair or replacement.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
If you employ anyone, even part-time, you likely need workers’ comp. The threshold for your state can change, but whether it is with one part-time employee or six, you will eventually need this policy. It covers job-related injuries, medical bills, and lost wages. Power tools, slippery bays, and chemical exposure make this non-negotiable.
Commercial Property Insurance
This covers your building (if owned), signage, computers, and equipment. Whether it’s a fire, storm, vandalism, or theft, property insurance helps you replace what you need to get back up and running.
Inland Marine Insurance
Mobile detailers often move buffers, steamers, vacuums, and water tanks between jobs. Inland marine covers those tools in transit or off-site. Without it, most property policies won’t apply once the equipment leaves your base of operations.
Commercial Auto Insurance
If you use a van, truck, or trailer for business purposes (especially to transport gear or water tanks), you’ll need a commercial policy. Personal auto won’t cover business use.
Pollution Liability
Detailers and car washes work with degreasers, solvents, and runoff that can contaminate drains or soil. Some states now mandate pollution coverage, especially for businesses operating near water sources.
What Does Car Wash Insurance Cost in 2025?
Here’s what you can expect to pay depending on the size and type of your business:
| Coverage Type | Avg. Monthly Cost | Avg. Annual Cost |
| General Liability | $50–$85 | $600–$1,000 |
| Garagekeepers Liability | $75–$150 | $900–$1,800 |
| Workers’ Compensation | $95–$200 | $1,140–$2,400 |
| Property Insurance | $60–$125 | $720–$1,500 |
| Inland Marine | $30–$70 | $360–$840 |
| Commercial Auto | $90–$180 | $1,080–$2,160 |
Note: Costs vary based on location, claims history, services offered, and payroll.
What Affects Your Insurance Rate?
- Location and crime rate
- Type of car wash or detailing (mobile vs. fixed site)
- Annual revenue and payroll
- Number of employees
- Past claims or OSHA violations
- Value of equipment or customer vehicles handled
How Reddit and Industry Pros Talk About Car Wash Insurance
On Reddit threads across r/smallbusiness, r/autodetailing, and r/insurance, small business owners regularly emphasize the importance of having both liability and garagekeepers coverage. Many shared stories of damaged Teslas, disputes over paint finishes, and cracked windshields: all resolved or mitigated thanks to insurance. Industry pros on detailing forums and LinkedIn agree: not carrying insurance can kill a business fast, especially if your clientele includes dealerships or luxury vehicle owners.
One recurring theme? Those with insurance often land better contracts and maintain client trust, while those without it run cash-only, under-the-table operations that stall out when anything goes wrong.
How to Lower Car Wash Insurance Costs
- Bundle policies through a BOP (Business Owner’s Policy) for a 10-20% discount
- Install cameras and lighting to reduce theft risk
- Invest in slip-resistant flooring and employee safety training
- Hire experienced staff with clean driving records
- Raise your deductible (only if you have the cash buffer)
Mobile Detailing Insurance and Mobile Car Wash Insurance
Mobile auto detailing insurance policies include commercial auto insurance, general liability insurance, and professional liability insurance for starters.
You don’t need public liability coverage included in mobile car wash detailing insurance since there’s general liability coverage already.
Get car wash and auto detailing insurance coverage starting from $12/mo now.
Mobile Car Valeting Insurance
Many mobile car valeting services also provide car washing or detailing services while the driver is occupied. Since valets will usually be driving the cars, there is an increased risk associated with the business.
Not only will you risk damaging the exterior or interior of the car, but you’ll also be exposing it to the risk of a crash on the road or even theft.
Mobile car valeting insurance typically includes professional, public, property damage, and general liability policies.
Car Detailing Insurance Cost
Small car detailing businesses can expect to pay between $30 and $40 per month or $360 and $480 per year for a standard general liability insurance policy having $1 million – $2 million coverage.
Keep in mind that these are just average rates. The amount you’ll pay depends on various factors such as;
- The business size
- States
- Cities where your business operates
- Gross revenues
- How many employees do you have
- Your years of experience in business
- What type of cars do you detail.
How to Get Insured in Under an Hour
If you’re ready to purchase insurance for your car washing business, here are some simple steps to make the next move in the buying insurance journey.
- Gather basic business info (EIN, location, number of employees)
- Use an online provider like Next
- Choose your policy types and limits
- Buy and download your COI (Certificate of Insurance)
Best Mobile Auto Detailing Insurance Companies
CoverWallet
CoverWallet isn’t an insurance company. It’s an insurance broker that sells the car wash and auto detailing insurance quotes of its partners. CoverWallet also has ready-made insurance plans that feature the coverages of its partners.
These plans are as follows: general liability insurance for detailing business and car wash business with products and completed operations coverage.
Average cost: $61 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Pros
- Cancel a policy anytime
- Stable rates
- Pay premiums online
- Has online live insurance agents
Cons
- Not an insurance company but an insurance broker
- Doesn’t offer tailored hand car wash insurance
Thimble
Thimble car wash and car detailing insurance only offers general liability insurance. This company allows you to buy the policy as a short-term insurance that only lasts for hours, weeks, days, or months.
Other separate insurances you can get for more protection are workers’ compensation insurance and tools and equipment insurance. Inland marine insurance is available if you’re a mobile detailer.
Average cost: $63 per month
Our rating: 9/10
Pros
- Get covered online
- Choose to have a zero deductible
- Decide to only have coverage for hours, weeks, days, or months
Cons
- Takes time to process claims
NEXT
NEXT offers general liability insurance, commercial property insurance, and garage keepers insurance in its insurance tailored for car wash businesses. The amount of insurance money depends on what kind of insurance plan you decide to get.
Average cost: $67 per month
Our rating: 8/10
Pros
- Get an instant live certificate of insurance
- Has a specialized faulty-work coverage that’s different from professional liability insurance
- Garage keepers’ liability insurance offers up to $100,000 in coverage
Cons
- The insurance process is very digitized
State Farm Insurance
State Farm doesn’t have an insurance product specially underwritten for your auto detailing business or car wash business.
Instead, you can get coverage through the company’s insurance for auto service businesses that’s available to alarm installers, towing businesses, car wash businesses, auto detailing businesses, and more.
Average cost: $68 per month
Our rating: 7/10
Pros
- Has numerous contact channels and quickly resolves issues with customers
- File and track a claim online
- Has an online agent finder so that you can immediately get in touch with a State Farm agent
- 19,000+ agents all over the US
Cons
- Provides online quotes, but you have to purchase insurance through a State Farm agent
Progressive
Progressive’s tailored insurance for auto detailing small business insurance only includes general liability insurance and commercial auto insurance. The company also offers a business owner’s policy and workers’ compensation insurance for auto detailing businesses.
Average cost: $76 per month
Our rating: 6/10
Pros
- Has a business insurance program that streamlines the insurance process and gives a up to 15% discount on commercial auto insurance quotes
- File a claim online or via phone
Cons
- Customer reviews from Progressive don’t favor the company much
- Doesn’t have tailored car detailing insurance
Protect Your Shine
Whether you operate a five-bay wash or a mobile van on weekends, car wash insurance is the safety net that keeps your business clean and financially sound. Don’t wait until a customer’s bumper gets scraped or an employee slips on a wet floor. Invest in the right coverage now, and shine with confidence.
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