End of the agricultural season
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Garages and auto repair shops
Insurance for garages and auto repair shops in Quebec
Contact us for a quote
Information to have on hand
To help us prepare your garage insurance quote efficiently, here is the information that is useful to have ready. The exact details needed may vary depending on your activities, premises, client vehicles, employees, equipment, towing operations, vehicle sales, insurer requirements, and the coverages requested.
For all types of insurance
- The desired effective date
- The name of your current insurer, if you are already insured.
- Your banking information, if you opt for pre-authorized payments
Your business
- Your specific activities, such as general mechanical repair, diagnostics, inspections, maintenance, tire installation and storage, body work, paint work, detailing, rustproofing, glass replacement, aftermarket accessory installation, performance upgrades, towing, storage, vehicle sales, or consignment
- Your annual revenue
- The number of years of experience in your field
- The number of vehicles on your premises at any one time
- The value of the most expensive vehicle you work on
- The highest total value of client vehicles usually on site at the same time, including vehicles waiting for repair, storage, sale, delivery, or pickup
- The availability of courtesy vehicles provided to your clients
- Your premises details, including whether you own or rent the building, shop size, number of bays, lifts, compressors, diagnostic equipment, security measures, alarms, cameras, sprinklers, and outdoor storage areas
Your garage operations and risk controls
- How client vehicles are received, stored, moved, road-tested, secured, released, and documented
- Whether employees perform road tests, pickup and delivery, shuttle service, valet service, or mobile repairs
- Whether work includes electric or hybrid vehicles, high-value vehicles, modified vehicles, imported vehicles, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, or heavy vehicles
If applicable
- The presence of a paint booth or mixing room on the premises
- The use of a work pit in your shop
- The presence of flammable liquids or soiled rags on the premises
- The number of tow trucks and their maximum load capacity
- Vehicles for sale, demonstration vehicles, dealer plates, consignment vehicles, customer storage, impound storage, or vehicles waiting for pickup or delivery on your premises
Also note any towing territories, maximum towing radius, vehicle storage practices, test drive procedures, courtesy vehicle use, subcontracted work, mobile service work, installations or enhancements performed, insurer program requirements, or safety procedures that apply to your operations.
The more information we know, the more our brokers can help position your garage insurance file clearly with insurers and review options based on your business reality in Quebec.
Our partner programs for garage insurance
Insurance for garages and auto repair shops, built around your business
Garages and auto repair shops share a common reality: client vehicles are on the premises at all times. Every job engages your business’s liability, whether in the shop, on the road, or during a test drive.
Types of businesses covered
- General auto repair shop
- Body and collision shop
- Towing service
- New and used vehicle dealership
Realities common to this sector
- Client vehicles are always on site
- Operations involve flammable liquids and combustible materials
- Buildings, equipment, and tools represent significant assets
- Some activities carry additional risks: test drives, towing, and vehicles on consignment
A La Turquoise broker can review your activities, premises, client vehicle exposure, equipment, employees, towing operations, test drive practices, and insurer requirements to help you compare garage insurance options suited to your business reality in Quebec.
Contact us for a quote
Insurance coverage for garages and auto repair shops in Quebec
These coverage categories may apply to garages, body shops, towing services, and vehicle dealerships in Quebec. This will depend on the nature of the operations, premises, vehicles in care, insurer eligibility, limits, exclusions, deductibles, and policy wording.
Commercial property
Your building, contents, tools, equipment, and leasehold improvements can be essential to daily operations. Property coverage may apply when insured property is damaged by a covered loss. Such losses include fire, water damage, theft, vandalism, or another insured peril, depending on the coverage form selected and the policy wording.
- A fire damages your shop and the equipment inside
- Water damage affects your commercial contents
- Vandalism causes damage to your premises outside business hours
General liability
General liability may respond when a claim alleges bodily injury, property damage, or certain other covered harm. This could result from your garage operations, premises, completed work, or business activities, including defence costs where covered and subject to the policy wording.
- A client is injured while walking through your parking lot
- A courtesy vehicle causes damage to a third party
- A third-party files a claim following work performed by your team.
Business interruption
Business interruption insurance may help replace a portion of lost income and cover certain extra expenses if a covered loss forces your garage to slow down or close temporarily. This is subject to the waiting period, limits, indemnity period, coverage form, and policy wording.
- A fire forces your shop to close for several weeks
- Significant damage renders your equipment unusable
- Extended repair work delays the resumption of your operations
Garage owner’s coverage (QEF 4)
Garage owner’s coverage, also known as QEF 4, may respond when a client vehicle in your care, custody, or control is damaged in situations covered by the endorsement. It can apply on your premises, during certain trips, or during a test drive, depending on the sections purchased, limits, deductibles, exclusions, and policy wording.
- A vehicle falls off the lift during a repair
- A fire in your building damages your clients’ vehicles
- A collision occurs during a test drive of a vehicle under repair
Environmental liability
Garages handle used oil, fuel, paint, solvents, parts cleaners, and other contaminants. Environmental liability may help respond to certain cleanup costs, third-party claims, or related expenses following an insured pollution incident. This depends on whether the event, activity, and pollution conditions are covered by the policy.
- A used oil spill contaminates the soil in your yard
- A flammable liquid leak reaches a nearby waterway
- A loss results in decontamination costs on your property
Directors’ and officers’ liability
Directors’ and officers’ liability may help protect directors and officers against certain claims alleging wrongful acts in the management of the organization. Coverage can vary depending on the type of claim, insured status, exclusions, limits, and policy wording.
- A dismissed employee contests a management decision
- A supplier files a claim following a breach of contract
- A business partner initiates legal proceedings against a company officer.
Additional coverage for garages and auto repair shops
Additional coverage may be available depending on your activities, premises, vehicles in care, digital tools, employees, towing operations, customer property, and insurer eligibility. A La Turquoise broker can help you review which options may be relevant to your situation.
Faulty workmanship liability
Faulty workmanship or completed operations coverage may respond when completed work is alleged to have caused bodily injury or property damage. The coverage purchased and the policy wording determine this. The cost to repair or redo the defective work itself may be limited or excluded.
- A client loses a wheel after a repair is carried out in your shop.
- Paint that was improperly applied deteriorates after the vehicle is delivered
- An undetected mechanical issue causes an accident following your intervention
Cyber risk
Garages that use management software, billing systems, diagnostic tools, online appointment platforms, or payment systems can be exposed to cyberattacks, privacy breaches, ransomware, and system outages. Cyber insurance may help with eligible costs related to a covered security breach, system restoration, business interruption, notification, and data-related claims. The coverage selected determines which costs are eligible.
Learn more about cyber insurance- A cyberattack compromises your client’s data
- Ransomware blocks access to your management system
- A breach results in the loss of billing data and client records
Crime and theft
Garages can be exposed to theft involving vehicles, parts, tools, keys, equipment, money, or employee dishonesty. Crime and theft coverage can help cover losses, depending on the type of property, security measures, exclusions, limits, deductibles and policy wording.
- Spare parts are stolen from your shop overnight
- A vehicle on consignment disappears from your outdoor lot
- A break-in results in significant equipment losses
Goods in transit and tools in the field
Tools, parts, and equipment may move between your shop, suppliers, roadside service calls, and off-site jobs. Goods in transit or tools coverage may help protect eligible property during transport or while used away from your premises. The coverage applies depending on the property type, ownership, limits, exclusions, and policy wording.
- Tools are stolen from your work vehicle during an off-site job.
- Equipment is damaged during transport to another location
- Material is lost during a towing intervention away from your premises
Partner associations and programs
La Turquoise works with several associations, professional groups, and organizations to offer benefits to their members. Browse the list to see the associations and programs currently available.
Affinity programs and discounts
- Anges Québec (réseau d’investisseurs privés)
- Arboriculteurs (Société internationale d’arboriculture Québec – SIAQ)
- Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA)
- Association des éducatrices et éducateurs spécialisés du Québec (AEESQ)
- Association des hôteliers du Québec
- Association des propriétaires de salons de quilles du Québec (APSQQ)
- Quebec Professional Home Builders Association (APCHQ)
- Association pour entrepreneurs en construction au Québec (ACQ)
- Association professionnelle des ergonomes du Québec (APEQ)
- Cabinets et services financiers
- Corporation des zoothérapeutes du Québec (CZQ)
- Courtiers et cabinets en courtage hypothécaire
- Fédération des producteurs forestiers du Québec
- NAPA Autopro
- Harnois (essence), Détaillant carburant
- Mécanique Services Web (MSW), cybersécurité
- Médecines alternatives
- Professionnels de l’esthétique et soins de beauté (APESEQ)
- Regroupement québécois des résidences pour aînés (RQRA)
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Your questions about insurance for garages and auto repair shops in Quebec
Garage insurance often raises questions about QEF 4, client vehicles, property, liability, towing, body work, business interruption, and when to speak with a broker. These general answers can help business owners in Quebec better understand common coverage issues and prepare for a quote discussion.
Garage owner’s coverage, also known as QEF 4, is designed for businesses that have client vehicles in their care, custody, or control. It may apply to cars, trucks, or other eligible vehicles received for repair, maintenance, inspection, body work, towing, storage, road testing, or other covered garage operations, depending on the sections purchased and the policy wording.
Depending on the endorsement, QEF 4 may respond to certain damage to client vehicles. This may happen while they are on your premises, being moved by an authorized employee, or being test-driven. The applicable limits, deductibles, exclusions, vehicle values, and insurer requirements should be reviewed carefully.
A standard commercial property or liability policy is generally not designed to cover damage to vehicles in your care. QEF 4 is therefore an important coverage to review for garages, body shops, towing services, and businesses that handle client vehicles.
A La Turquoise broker can help you review which QEF 4 sections may be relevant to your activities. They can also help position your file with insurers based on your operations in Quebec.
Damage to client vehicles caused by a fire in your building may be covered under QEF 4 if the vehicles are in your care, custody, or control. The loss must also fall within the coverage purchased, limits, deductibles, exclusions, and policy wording.
Your commercial property insurance generally addresses damage to your building, equipment, contents, and leasehold improvements, subject to the policy wording. QEF 4 and property insurance complement each other because they address different assets and exposures.
It is important to verify that your QEF 4 limits and conditions reflect the number, type, and value of vehicles typically on your premises. A gap between your actual exposure and your policy can affect how a claim is handled.
Not necessarily. A separate policy is not always required, but your insurance must accurately reflect all of your declared operations. These include mechanical repair, body work, towing, storage, vehicle sales, consignment, road testing, or courtesy vehicles where applicable.
Body work can introduce risks related to flammable liquids, paint booths, mixing rooms, welding, hot work, and vehicle storage. Towing can create exposures on the road, during loading and unloading, and while vehicles are stored or transported. Installations, accessories, and performance enhancements can also affect liability and insurer underwriting.
If your policy does not reflect all activities performed by the business, exclusions, limits, or insurer conditions may create coverage issues. A broker can help you review your operations and identify where specific endorsements, limits, or insurer approvals may be needed.
An insurer offers its own products. A broker can help you compare available options from different insurers and understand which coverage approach may fit your garage operations, premises, client vehicle exposure, employees, towing activities, vehicle sales, and risk profile.
In the garage sector, needs vary considerably from one business to another. A general repair shop, a towing service, and a used vehicle dealership each present different risks. They also have different coverage requirements.
A specialized broker familiar with garage insurance can help identify potential coverage gaps and review insurer requirements. They can also prepare your file and support you through the claims process when a covered loss occurs. At La Turquoise, our commercial lines brokers can review your situation and help you make informed insurance decisions.
To request a quote, contact a broker by phone, email, or online form. Prepare key information about your garage. This includes your activities, annual revenue, years of experience, premises, employees, client vehicles in your care, highest-value vehicle handled, courtesy vehicles, test drive procedures, towing operations, and anybody’s shop, paint booth, vehicle sales, storage, installation, or enhancement activities.
If you have a current policy, have the name of your insurer, your renewal date, and a copy of your policy available. Submitting images of the property, safety precautions, outdoor storage facilities, and a detailed explanation of the vehicle reception, storage, transportation, and release procedures can assist the real estate agent in organizing your dossier.
A broker reviews your file and presents available options based on your operations, insurer eligibility, coverage needs, and budget. They help you understand the next steps for your garage insurance quote in Quebec.
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Insurance solutions designed for your everyday needs
Because every situation is different, La Turquoise offers insurance solutions adapted to your reality, whether it involves your vehicles, property, garage operations, liability exposures, or business activities.
