A mobile mechanic is working in your driveway when something goes wrong. Maybe they drop a component that cracks your engine block. Maybe a fuel line they were working on leaks and ignites. Maybe they test-drive your car and get into an accident.
If that mechanic has liability insurance, you make a claim and get made whole. If they don't, you're on your own — chasing an individual who may have no assets, no business address, and no particular incentive to respond to your calls.
This is not a hypothetical. It happens. And it's entirely preventable if you ask one question before any work begins: Can you show me proof of insurance?
What Kind of Insurance a Mobile Mechanic Should Carry
General liability insurance is the baseline. This covers property damage — if the mechanic damages your vehicle, your driveway, or anything else while doing the job, general liability pays for it. A solo mobile mechanic should carry at least $500,000 in general liability coverage; $1 million is the professional standard.
Garage keepers liability is specifically designed for mechanics who take custody of customer vehicles. It covers damage to your car while it's in their care — including during test drives. Not every mobile mechanic will carry this (it's more common at shops), but established mobile mechanic businesses should.
Commercial auto insurance covers the mechanic's work vehicle, but also matters to you: if their work truck causes an accident on the way to your location, their personal auto policy likely won't cover it. A mechanic using a personal vehicle for commercial work is often uninsured for that purpose.
Workers' compensation matters if they bring an assistant. If an employee gets injured in your driveway, without workers' comp, they could potentially come after your homeowner's insurance — or you personally.
How to Verify Insurance Before Work Starts
Asking "are you insured?" is not enough. Anyone can say yes.
Ask for a certificate of insurance (COI). This is a one-page document issued by their insurance provider that lists the policy number, coverage types, coverage amounts, the insurer's name, and the policy expiration date. A legitimate mechanic either has this on file or can get it from their insurer in minutes.
Check the expiration date. A COI from 2022 doesn't help you today. Make sure the policy is current.
Verify with the insurer directly. The COI will have the insurance company's name and contact information. You can call and confirm the policy is active. It takes five minutes and is the only way to be certain.
Look up their business license. In states that require mobile mechanics to be licensed, the license record sometimes includes insurance verification. Search your state's contractor or automotive licensing database.
Red Flags to Watch For
- "I'm insured, don't worry about it" with no ability to produce documentation
- A COI that lists a different business name than who you're dealing with
- Coverage amounts that are suspiciously low ($25,000 in liability is not adequate for automotive work)
- A policy that covers "handyman services" or other generic categories — not automotive repair specifically
- Any resistance or annoyance when you ask. Professionals expect this question.
This Is Non-Negotiable
A cheap oil change is not cheap if an uninsured mechanic strips your drain plug, causes a leak, and destroys your engine two weeks later. The cost you should be thinking about isn't the service fee — it's the exposure if something goes wrong.
Legitimate mobile mechanics carry insurance because they're running a real business and they understand risk. Fly-by-night operators skip it because it costs money and they're not planning to be around when things go sideways.
Requiring proof of insurance is how you tell one from the other.
Find insured, vetted mobile mechanics in your area at /find-a-mechanic/.