In the competitive world of Garage insurance, speed and completeness win the quote. According to Sarah Maguire, department manager and production underwriter at RPS, submitting a strong, detailed garage account not only increases your chances of binding but also significantly shortens the turnaround time.

"Everyone is looking for quick response times," says Maguire. "And usually, the first quote out is the one that binds."

To help agents and brokers navigate the process, the following are several key guidelines to follow when submitting a garage account.

1. Tell the Business's Story

Begin every submission with a brief narrative about the business. A few sentences in an email, along with the submission, will suffice. Explain the operation, the extent of the coverage the insured is shopping for and whether the account has been non-renewed or experienced a lapse in coverage.

"If there's a coverage lapse or the client is being non-renewed, we need to know why," Maguire emphasizes. "It can affect the rate, how we approach the submission or whether we need to dig deeper into the application."

It also helps to include a target premium. Even if clients just want "the best price," knowing what they're comparing you to can help avoid wasted time.

2. Use a Garage-Specific Application, Not an ACORD Form

Generic Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development (ACORD) forms and declarations pages are simply not suitable for garage risks.

"We see ACORD forms all the time, but they rarely give us enough information to rate an account," Maguire explains. Instead, submit a completed garage application. Most carrier-specific garage forms are acceptable.

This step ensures that underwriters can immediately start rating rather than requesting missing details, keeping the quote moving.

3. Accurately List Owners, Employees and Household Members

Garage Liability insurance is rated based on employees — and not just how many but also each employee's function and duties. Owners, clerical staff, salespeople and lot attendants all carry different rating factors. Whether someone is full time or part time also matters.

"If we don't have this information, we can't rate the policy," says Maguire. "And with dealers specifically, it's especially important to list household members, since they often drive dealership vehicles, even if they're not technically employees."

Omitting a household member who later causes an accident can lead to serious claims issues and potential cancellation. If a driver isn't to be rated, a personal auto policy is required, and driver exclusions must be filed in states where permitted.

4. Be Prepared to Submit Supplementals If Vehicles Aren't Standard

If the garage operation involves anything beyond private passenger vehicles — such as motorcycles, recreational vehicles, all-terrain vehicles or heavy trucks — supplemental questionnaires are typically required. Maguire advises agents to reach out early if the risk involves non-standard vehicle types: "Don't wait until you have everything else gathered. Contact us first so we can tell you exactly what we'll need."

5. Provide Clear Loss History and Explanations for Claims

If the business has had losses in the last three years, submit detailed explanations for any claim exceeding $10,000. Even if loss runs aren't yet available, subject-to-loss-run quotes can often be provided.

For frequent or severe losses, include any risk-mitigation measures the business has implemented to reduce the likelihood of recurrence. By doing so, you demonstrate to the underwriter that the business is proactive in mitigating potential risks.

6. Detailed Prior Experience Is a Must for New Ventures

For new garage ventures, underwriting heavily depends on an owner's prior experience.

"Especially for dealers, carriers want to know the owner has operated this kind of business before," says Maguire. "If they're brand new with no background, it's going to be much harder to quote."

Include as much detail as possible about the owner's relevant experience, certifications or previous roles in similar businesses.

7. Avoid Delays by Getting It Right the First Time

When all the above information is included up front, most clean risks can be quoted quickly. If details are missing and a significant amount of back-and-forth is required, the timeline can stretch to a week or more, especially if the submission needs to be made to the carrier.

Don't hesitate to contact RPS before submitting an account. A quick phone call or email can clarify what's needed and help tailor your submission for faster, more competitive quoting. As Maguire puts it, "If you get us everything on the list, most of the time we can give you a quote without needing anything else."

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