Vehicle Transporter Insurance
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Vehicle Transporter Insurance
If your business involves collecting, transporting or delivering vehicles, having the right insurance in place is essential. Whether you operate as a self-employed car transporter, work as a car jockey, provide vehicle delivery services or manage a fleet of transporters, you need cover that reflects the way your business operates.
Vehicle transporter insurance, also known as car transporter insurance or car jockey insurance, is designed for businesses involved in moving vehicles from one location to another. It can provide protection for your transporter, vehicles being carried, drivers and your wider business activities, depending on the cover selected.
At 1st Choice Insurance, we help businesses arrange commercial motor and motor trade insurance tailored to their individual requirements. Our team can discuss how you operate, the vehicles you transport and the risks involved, then help you identify suitable cover options.
Get a Vehicle Transporter Insurance Quote
Every vehicle transport business operates differently, so your insurance should reflect your particular circumstances. Whether you operate a single transporter or have several vehicles and drivers, we can help you understand the cover available.
Call 03301 081615 or complete our quote form below.
What Is Vehicle Transporter Insurance?
Vehicle transporter insurance is a type of commercial motor or motor trade insurance designed for businesses that transport vehicles as part of their work.
Unlike standard commercial vehicle insurance, transporter insurance needs to take into account the particular risks associated with carrying vehicles. This can include travelling between dealerships, auctions, repair centres, customers and other locations, as well as loading, securing and unloading vehicles.
Depending on the policy and your business activities, cover can be arranged for areas such as:
- Your vehicle transporter or transporters
- Vehicles being transported, where appropriate cover is arranged
- Road risks associated with your business
- Loading and unloading activities
- Third-party injury or property damage
- Tools and equipment used as part of your work
- Public and employers’ liability
The exact cover available will depend on your business, vehicles, drivers, operating area and the requirements of the insurer.
Who Needs Vehicle Transporter Insurance?
Vehicle transporter insurance can be suitable for a range of businesses and individuals involved in vehicle transportation, including:
- Vehicle delivery companies transporting cars between dealerships, auction sites and customers
- Car jockeys collecting and delivering vehicles on behalf of dealerships, garages and other businesses
- Vehicle recovery operators transporting damaged or non-running vehicles
- Car dealerships providing vehicle collection and delivery services
- Fleet operators moving vehicles between locations
- Motor trade businesses transporting vehicles as part of their wider operations
- Specialist vehicle transporters moving classic, prestige or other higher-value vehicles
- Self-employed contractors providing vehicle transportation services to other businesses
If moving vehicles forms part of your business, it is important to make sure your insurance accurately reflects what you do. Using a policy that does not cover your actual business activities could leave you without the protection you need if something goes wrong.
Why Do You Need Car Transporter or Car Jockey Insurance?
Transporting vehicles involves several stages where accidents or damage can occur. A vehicle could be damaged while being loaded, securing equipment could fail, or an incident could happen while travelling on the road.
There can also be significant financial consequences if a transporter is damaged and taken off the road, particularly where your business relies on that vehicle to generate income.
Having suitable insurance in place can help protect against risks such as:
- Damage to your transporter following an accident
- Theft or fire
- Damage arising during loading or unloading, where covered
- Claims for third-party injury or property damage
- Loss or damage involving vehicles in your care, custody or control, where appropriate cover is included
- Legal expenses following an insured incident, where selected
- Vehicle breakdown and recovery, where included
The precise protection available will depend on the policy you choose and the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits that apply.
What Does Vehicle Transporter Insurance Cover?
There is no single policy that is suitable for every vehicle transport business. Cover can be structured around your particular operation, with different options available depending on your requirements.
Road Risks Cover
Road risks cover can protect you when driving vehicles in connection with your motor trade or vehicle transportation activities. The level of cover available can range from Third Party Only through to Comprehensive, subject to insurer terms.
Transporter Vehicle Cover
Your transporter is a key business asset. Commercial motor insurance can provide cover for the transporter itself against risks such as accidental damage, fire or theft, depending on the level of cover selected.
Vehicles in Transit
If you are responsible for vehicles belonging to customers or other businesses, specific cover may be available for vehicles while they are being transported or are otherwise in your care, custody or control.
This is an important area to discuss with your broker or insurer because standard goods-in-transit insurance does not necessarily provide the same protection as specialist cover for vehicles.
Loading and Unloading
Loading and unloading presents its own risks, particularly when using ramps, winches, straps and other specialist equipment. Appropriate cover can be arranged for certain incidents occurring while vehicles are being loaded or unloaded, subject to the policy terms.
Public Liability Insurance
Public liability insurance can provide protection against claims from members of the public arising from your business activities. This can be particularly relevant when collecting or delivering vehicles at customers’ premises, dealerships, auction sites or other locations.
Employers’ Liability Insurance
If you employ staff, employers’ liability insurance is generally a legal requirement. It provides cover for certain claims relating to employees becoming injured or ill as a result of their work.
Breakdown and Recovery
A breakdown can result in delays and lost working time. Breakdown and recovery cover can provide assistance when a transporter becomes disabled, depending on the level of cover selected.
Legal Expenses
Legal expenses cover may be available to help with certain legal costs following an insured event or dispute, subject to the policy terms and conditions.
Tools and Equipment
If you carry specialist equipment, tools or accessories used as part of your vehicle transportation business, additional cover may be available to protect these items against specified risks.
Benefits of Vehicle Transporter Insurance
Choosing appropriate insurance can help protect both your physical assets and the wider operation of your business.
Protect Your Business Assets
Your transporter may be one of your most important business assets. Appropriate commercial motor cover can help protect it against risks such as accidental damage, fire and theft.
Protection When Transporting Customer Vehicles
When you are responsible for somebody else’s vehicle, an incident could result in a significant claim. Specialist cover can be arranged to provide protection for vehicles in your care, custody or control where available and appropriate to your business.
Cover That Reflects Your Business
A vehicle transporter working for dealerships may have different requirements from a recovery operator or a self-employed car jockey. Your policy can be structured around your actual activities, vehicles, drivers and operating arrangements.
Support for Business Continuity
An accident or breakdown can prevent you from completing deliveries and accepting further work. Optional breakdown, recovery or replacement vehicle solutions may help reduce disruption following an insured incident.
Protection for Your Drivers and Employees
If you employ drivers or other staff, appropriate liability cover can help protect your business against certain claims arising from workplace accidents or injuries.
Professional Approach to Risk
Having suitable insurance in place demonstrates that you take your responsibilities towards customers, employees and other road users seriously. It can also provide reassurance when working with dealerships, businesses and other organisations.
Vehicle Transporter Insurance for Different Types of Vehicles
Vehicle transportation businesses can operate a wide variety of vehicles, from smaller commercial transporters to larger multi-car carriers.
Depending on insurer appetite and your individual circumstances, cover may be available for:
- Car transporters
- Multi-car transporters
- Vehicle recovery trucks
- Trailer-based vehicle transport operations
- Light commercial vehicle transporters
- HGV vehicle transporters
- Specialist vehicle carriers
- Classic and prestige vehicle transporters
The type, size, value and specification of your transporter will all be relevant when arranging cover.
If you transport particularly high-value, specialist or modified vehicles, make sure this is disclosed to your insurer so that the appropriate cover can be considered.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vehicle Transporter Insurance
What is vehicle transporter insurance?
Vehicle transporter insurance is designed for businesses and individuals involved in transporting vehicles as part of their work. It can provide cover for the transporter itself, road risks and, where specifically arranged, vehicles being transported or held in your care, custody or control.
Is vehicle transporter insurance the same as car jockey insurance?
Car jockey insurance is commonly used to describe insurance for individuals or businesses involved in collecting and delivering vehicles. The exact cover required will depend on how you operate, so it is important to explain your activities to your broker or insurer.
Who needs vehicle transporter insurance?
Businesses and individuals involved in vehicle transportation may need this type of insurance. This can include car jockeys, vehicle delivery companies, dealerships, recovery operators, fleet businesses and specialist vehicle transporters.
Does vehicle transporter insurance cover customer vehicles?
It can, but this should not be assumed. If you are responsible for customer vehicles, you should make sure your policy specifically provides the appropriate cover for vehicles in your care, custody or control. The policy wording, exclusions, limits and conditions will apply.
Does vehicle transporter insurance cover loading and unloading?
Cover for loading and unloading may be available, depending on the policy. Because damage can occur while vehicles are being loaded, secured or unloaded, it is important to discuss these activities when arranging your insurance.
Can I insure more than one transporter?
Businesses operating multiple transporters may be able to arrange fleet insurance, depending on the insurer and the vehicles involved. Fleet arrangements can help simplify the administration of multiple commercial vehicles.
Can I transport high-value or prestige vehicles?
If you transport high-value, classic, prestige or specialist vehicles, this should be disclosed when arranging your insurance. Additional terms, conditions or cover requirements may apply depending on the insurer.
Do I need public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance is not the same as your motor insurance and may be appropriate if your business carries out activities that could result in injury to members of the public or damage to their property. Whether you need it will depend on your business activities and contractual requirements.
Do I need employers’ liability insurance?
If you employ people, employers’ liability insurance is generally a legal requirement in the UK. Your responsibilities will depend on your working arrangements, so it is important to obtain appropriate advice.
Can I add or remove vehicles from my policy?
This may be possible, particularly under fleet arrangements, but changes will be subject to your policy terms and insurer approval. Always contact your broker or insurer before making changes to your vehicles or business activities.
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