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Why Public Liability Insurance Is Crucial for Car Forecourt Traders
As a car forecourt trader, youโre not just selling vehicles; youโre inviting potential buyers onto your premises, where they interact with yourโฆ

What is forecourt trader insurance?
Forecourt trader insurance is a motor trade policy for dealers selling vehicles from a forecourt, pitch or yard. It can be road risk only, which covers driving your stock on the road, or a combined policy that also covers stock on display against theft, fire and damage and adds public liability, premises and employersโ liability cover.
Stock parked on an open pitch is exposed to theft, vandalism and weather, road risk alone wonโt cover it.
Your forecourt insurance depends on:
Forecourt cover suits anyone selling vehicles from a pitch, yard or forecourt, where stock sits outside and customers visit the site.
Forecourt cover suits anyone selling vehicles from a pitch, yard or forecourt, where stock sits outside and customers visit the site.
Stock on display
Vehicles parked outside on a pitch, forecourt or yard.
Customer visits
Buyers walking around your site and taking test drives.
Staff on site
Sales, prep or valeting staff working at your forecourt.
Buildings and offices
A sales office, portacabin or workshop on your site.
Higher stock values
Tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds parked outside.
One policy
Prefer stock, road risk and liability on a single renewal.
A five-car pitch and a fifty-car forecourt need the same core covers at very different limits. Start with your site size.
Forecourt policies only cover the drivers listed on your certificate. Choose the option that matches your team.
What does a forecourt trader need to cover?
What does a forecourt trader need to cover?
Road risk is required by law to drive stock, and employersโ liability is often required once you have staff. Demonstration cover is a legal requirement if customers drive your vehicles on a public road. You can hold road risk only, or choose a combined policy that adds stock on display, premises and liability cover.
Road risk is required by law to drive stock, and employersโ liability is often required once you have staff. Demonstration cover is a legal requirement if customers drive your vehicles on a public road. You can hold road risk only, or choose a combined policy that adds stock on display, premises and liability cover.
| Cover | What it covers | Legal? | Why you need it | Small pitch | Mid-size | Large site | With staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock on display | Vehicles parked on your pitch | No | Theft, fire and weather damage | ||||
| Road risk | Driving stock and part-exchanges | Yes | Collections, deliveries, test drives | ||||
| Demonstration cover | Customer test drives of stock | If customers drive on public roads | Forecourts offering test drives | ||||
| Public liability | Injury to customers on site | No | Any site customers visit | ||||
| Employersโ liability | Injury claims from your staff | Often, if staff | Sites with sales or prep staff | ||||
| Premises and contents | Sales office, portacabin and fixtures | No | Sites with buildings on them |
Still unsure what your forecourt needs?
0330 808 1117Stock parked outside is a target. Insurers will ask about your security, and good security helps avoid claims in the first place.
Forecourt security checklist

Weโll guide you through a forecourt claim, from the first call to getting your stock back on sale.
How much is forecourt trader insurance?
How much is forecourt trader insurance?
Forecourt insurance has no set price. It depends on the value of stock parked on your site, your security, how many staff and drivers you have, whether you offer test drives, your premises and your claims history.
Where your site is matters. Postcode is one of the biggest rating factors on a motor trade policy, and it affects more than the price. It can decide whether an insurer will quote at all.
Forecourt insurance has no set price. It depends on the value of stock parked on your site, your security, how many staff and drivers you have, whether you offer test drives, your premises and your claims history.
Where your site is matters. Postcode is one of the biggest rating factors on a motor trade policy, and it affects more than the price. It can decide whether an insurer will quote at all.
Stock value on site
Insurers look at the total value of vehicles parked on your pitch.
Worth knowing:
Stock cover has a value limit
Site security
CCTV, fencing, lighting and secure key storage all reduce the risk of theft.
Worth knowing:
Insurers will ask what security you have
Staff and test drives
Employing staff and offering test drives adds drivers and exposure to the policy.
Worth knowing:
Name everyone who will drive
Claims history
Insurers will ask about any theft or damage claims you have made.
Worth knowing:
Have your claims history ready

How to insure your forecourt
How to insure your forecourt
Tell us about your site, stock and staff, and weโll compare specialist motor trade insurers for you.
Tell us about your site, stock and staff, and weโll compare specialist motor trade insurers for you.
Tell us about your forecourt
Site size, stock on display and the vehicles you sell.
Confirm stock, security and staff
Your typical stock value, site security and who drives.
We compare insurers
We search specialist motor trade insurers for forecourt cover.
Get covered and selling
Choose your policy and receive your documents quickly.
Trusted by forecourt traders and car dealers across the UK
Trusted by forecourt traders and car dealers across the UK
From small used car pitches to busy forecourts with sales and prep teams, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to get the right cover and expert support when it matters.
From small used car pitches to busy forecourts with sales and prep teams, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to get the right cover and expert support when it matters.
Forecourt trader guides
Forecourt trader guides
Practical advice on cover, security and claims for used car forecourts.
Practical advice on cover, security and claims for used car forecourts.
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Forecourt trader insurance FAQs
Forecourt trader insurance FAQs
Straight answers on stock, road risk and liability cover for forecourts.
Straight answers on stock, road risk and liability cover for forecourts.
Forecourt trader insurance is motor trade cover for dealers selling vehicles from a pitch, forecourt or yard. It can be road risk only, for driving those vehicles, or a combined policy that also covers stock on display, your premises and liability.