Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Liechtenstein
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
Australia
Fiji
Hong Kong
India
New Zealand
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Mexico
Peru
USA
Bahrain
Israel
UAE
Morocco
Oman
Saudi Arabia
Tanzania
Motor Trade Insurance
Comprehensive protection for your motor trade business.
About Motor Trade insurance in Ireland
Motor Trade insurance is a specialised insurance designed to suit businesses that work with vehicles. From car dealerships and mechanics to mobile technicians and full-service garages, Motor Trade insurance safeguards your business if the unexpected should happen.
Why Motor Trade insurance is important to your business
Whether you’re selling, servicing, repairing, or transporting vehicles, your business works with valuable assets and specialist equipment every day. You also deal closely with customers and the public. If something unexpected happens, like damage to a customer’s vehicle, a workplace accident, theft, or an incident on the road, it can create serious financial and operational problems.
Motor Trade insurance helps protect your business from these risks so you can keep trading with confidence.
How does motor trade insurance work?
Motor trade insurance works by protecting you when you drive, store, repair or handle vehicles as part of your business. Policies typically include road risk, premises cover, and liability protection, with optional add‑ons depending on the size and nature of your motor trade activity.
Here’s how it works in practice:
You choose the level of road risk cover needed for driving customers’ vehicles or stock vehicles.
You select protection for your workshop, tools, machinery and vehicles kept on-site.
You add liability cover to protect you if a customer, employee or member of the public is injured or their property is damaged.
If an insured event occurs, your policy helps cover repair costs, legal expenses, compensation claims or business interruption losses.
This ensures you can keep trading with confidence, even if the unexpected happens.
Motor Trade insurance cover
Road Risk cover
Cover for vehicles your business owns or controls, with options for named or any driver, SD&P use, directors’ vehicles and demo cover.
Premises Cover (all risks)
Protects your buildings, tools, machinery, stock and customer vehicles stored on site.
Employers’ liability
Covers compensation and legal costs if an employee is injured or becomes ill through their work.
Public/Products liability
Public liability insurance protects your business if customers or third parties suffer injury or property damage, including faulty workmanship.
Business interruption
Business interruption insurance covers lost income and extra costs if an insured event stops you trading.
Theft & Vandalism
Cover for theft or malicious damage to vehicles, stock, equipment or customer property.
Tools & Equipment protection
Cover for tools, machinery and diagnostic equipment if lost, damaged or stolen.
Customer vehicles in your care
Protects customer vehicles during repair, service or storage against damage, fire or theft.
Who needs Motor Trade insurance?
Motor trade insurance cover should be held by any business that works with vehicles they do not own. If your business involves handling customer vehicles, then you should have Motor Trade insurance.
- Vehicle sales and car traders
- Mechanics
- Service and repair businesses
- Valeting and detailing services
- Vehicle restoration and modification services
- Tyre fitters
Common FAQs
Yes. Customer vehicles in your custody or control – for repairs, servicing, or storage – can be covered against damage, fire, theft, or other insured events.
Yes. Motor trade insurance is considered compulsory by law for anyone operating within the motor trade industry in Ireland. Any businesses that buy, sell, repair, service, or handle vehicles are legally required to have appropriate motor trade cover
Yes.
You must be a genuine motor trader to qualify. To be eligible, you must be able to show that you actively work in the motor trade and have a financial investment in the business – such as tools, equipment, premises, or vehicle stock.
Road risk cover is essential if you drive customer or stock vehicles. Any business that needs to move, test-drive, driver, or work on vehicles must have road risk insurance to legally operate.
Yes – if you are a home-based trader or store stock/customer vehicles at home, they can be covered under a suitable policy.
Yes – with demonstration cover. You can choose accompanied or unaccompanied test-drive cover depending on your needs.
Yes – if you have loan & hire or courtesy car extensions on your policy, they can be used by customers while their vehicles is being repaired.