Auto Dealership Insurance for Ohio Used Car Dealers

If you operate a car dealership in Ohio — especially a used car lot — having the right insurance isn’t optional. It’s required by the state, expected by your lender, and essential for protecting your vehicles, your employees, and your business.

At Catanzaro Insurance, we specialize in auto dealership insurance that meets BMV licensing and floor plan compliance — and we do it with speed, simplicity, and service.

✅ What Coverage Do Ohio Auto Dealers Need?

Garage Liability Insurance

Protects against injuries or property damage related to your dealership operations — including test drives, customer visits, and accidents involving dealer plates.

Pro Tip:
A garage liability policy is not one-size-fits-all. Make sure yours is written for auto dealers, not repair shops or general garages — the difference matters when there’s a claim.

Garagekeepers Legal Liability

Covers damage to customer vehicles left in your care — during appraisals, detailing, or consignment.

Common risks covered include:

• Fire or weather damage

• Theft or vandalism

• Lot incidents involving customer vehicles

Dealer Open Lot (DOL) / Inventory Insurance

Protects your for-sale vehicles from:

• Hail and wind

• Fire and vandalism

• Theft from your lot

• Accidental damage during demos or delivery

Ask us about False Pretense coverage — it protects against scam buyers and title fraud, which are on the rise in Ohio.

Auto Dealer Bond (Surety Bond)

Required by the Ohio BMV for your dealer license.
If you have good credit, most dealer bonds cost around $250 per year.

Workers’ Compensation (BWC)

If you have employees, Ohio law requires you to carry workers’ comp through the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
We can guide you through BWC registration and help you avoid costly misclassifications.

Errors & Omissions (E&O) + Cyber Coverage

Optional — but smart. These cover:

• Paperwork or title errors

• Misrepresentation or legal disputes

• Data breaches or stolen customer information

Coverage starts at just a few hundred dollars per year and can be bundled for simplicity.