Do you have insurance

J

JC Daniel

Promoted Users
I have been talking to somebody near me that says that you need special insurance to do body and paint work at your house? I do a few jobs a year and he said if somebody comes to your house to get work done and get hurt while there you can be sued? I told him that I have home owners insurance and that should cover anything like that, he said it would not and you have to carry a different policy for that. Any of you guys know anything about this?
 
It depends on the state in which you live. Many insurance underwriters would if indeed your dwelling/property/buildings are/is considered a "living domicile" and not zoned commercial use. Some cities, counties care--others don't. That may be the ability or inability to insurance coverage beyond living in your house.

What's a hobby? What's more? Home based income things--even part-time pocket- money or supplemental income businesses can be problematic to get insurance (casualty, liability, umbrella) if you don't have a "conducting trade license" of some sort and a tax id number. The best money I ever spend is talking with an attorney once or twice a year about potential problems. Everything tends to work fine until it doesn't. One thing that really helped me was getting some good JAMCO fire cabinets with self-closing doors. That made my insurance agent pleased about the hobby thing and all these flammable containers. Recognizing your air compressor receiver tank is a potential bomb is another concern. Yes, they can rupture--seen a few disasters. I do an internal inspection and thickness test the shell and heads every three years for peace of mind.
 
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If you're doing the job for free and he slips on sandpaper in the garage because he is a friend or relative covered. The car he leaves is not covered if it burns up or is stolen.

For hire is excluded under most, and I know no exception for car and person.
That is why moms that babysit a couple of kids have an endorsement added for liability
With most companies.

Your insurance man is who you need to ask, dont listen to the other guy or me; also, it varies by state and the ins company you are with.
 
Speaking of insurance, it's noteworthy that geico is increasing their rates for Texas residents by 42%....yeah I called them about my 1400 dollar increase for car insurance even thought I've never had a single claim in my life. Conversation didn't go well and I told them cancel me....
 
Speaking of insurance, which seems to be increasing big time all the time, FWIW for old cars, I have Grundy on a few C3 Corvettes. No mileage limit and agreed to value. No drivers under 25 and must be stored in a closed garage or space. All limits I can live with and very cheap compared to what I pay for my 2018 daily driver truck. Worth checking into, IMO.

Great educational thread about "for hire" insurance. Thanks for the reminder!
 
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RosharonRooster said:
Speaking of insurance, it's noteworthy that geico is increasing their rates for Texas residents by 42%....yeah I called them about my 1400 dollar increase for car insurance even thought I've never had a single claim in my life. Conversation didn't go well and I told them cancel me....
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Texas state insurance board is supposed to approve rates. I don’t see how they approved that. Allstate tried the same stunt years ago and was forced to give refunds.

Don
 
I don't think doing body & paint at home for money is insurable at all, unless the property is zoned for it. It all has to be on the up and up, then you might be able to get a regular garage keeper's policy.

Re GEICO, they are a bad company. The advice I give my customers is that if you see a commercial for them on TV, stay far away. Companies that take care of their insureds don't need TV commercials to drum up new victims. Ask a local body shop who is good for cars, or ask a contractor who is good for homes.
 
As others have already stated, if you’re conducting commerce from your personal residence and it doesn’t have a commercial policy then they can and will deny the claim, and possibly even boot you as well.

The other thing to consider is how do you pay for a customer’s car if it is a loss at your place?

My property is insured under a commercial ag policy because I farm and sell hay. This also covers me with liability should I lose some hay on the road or my hay burns a customer’s barn down (which it never has nor never will). I also have a million dollar liability umbrella for extra coverage.
 
Many places require their customers to sign a waiver stating that they are aware there is no coverage provided for any type of loss and that they (customer)have full coverage for the vehicle. Like others have stated, unless you go about setting up your Shop as a business (zoning, license etc.) you are not going to get coverage.
 
I upped the "contents" protection on my home and garage. Told the agent about my classic car that was being slowly restored and tools in the garage that needed coverage. He said, that since my classic car was not currently licensed, that it would be protected by the "contents" coverage I had. If it was licensed then it would fall under auto insurance.

The DMV has it registered in my name but listed as inoperable pending repairs or wording to that effect.

I am not doing this for a living and maybe get 40 hours a month into a vehicle, so I am not considered a business per se.
 
Yes you are right. You would need to show that the car belonged to you and you weee not doing it as a business if you needed to make a claim
 
Most insurance co's will work hard for you HA HA rather work hard not to pay a claim. To OP if you spray paint at your home /shop they will drop you or refuse any claims.
 
'68 Coronet R/T said:
I upped the "contents" protection on my home and garage. Told the agent about my classic car that was being slowly restored and tools in the garage that needed coverage. He said, that since my classic car was not currently licensed, that it would be protected by the "contents" coverage I had. If it was licensed then it would fall under auto insurance.

The DMV has it registered in my name but listed as inoperable pending repairs or wording to that effect.

I am not doing this for a living and maybe get 40 hours a month into a vehicle, so I am not considered a business per se.
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I have never heard of any insurance company covering any personal auto under homeowner's content coverage.
If the agent did not put it in writing, I would call an adjuster at the company and ask.
Better safe than sorry.
 
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