Car Jockey Insurance
Car Jockey Insurance Quotes
Cover for driving, parking and storing other people’s vehicles.
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What Is Car Jockey Insurance?
Car jockey insurance is a specialist form of motor trade cover that protects people who move, park or store vehicles belonging to other people as part of their work.
It covers the legal and financial risks that come with driving cars you do not own. Airport parking attendants, hotel valets, dealership delivery drivers and vehicle collection services all fall under this category.
The policy sits within the wider motor trade insurance family and typically bundles road risk cover with liability protection tailored to vehicle-moving businesses.
How To Compare Car Jockey Insurance Quotes
Comparing quotes takes a few minutes and can save you hundreds of pounds a year on premiums.
Enter your business details
Provide your name, business address and the type of car jockey work you carry out. Include how many vehicles you typically move each day.
Choose your cover level
Select whether you need third-party only, third-party fire and theft, or comprehensive road risk cover. Add any optional extras such as public liability or business premises protection.
Compare results side by side
Review quotes from multiple FCA-regulated insurers on one screen. Check excess levels, indemnity limits and what each policy includes before choosing.
Buy your policy online
Once you find the right deal, you can purchase directly and receive your documents by email the same day.
Why Do You Need Car Jockey Insurance?
Anyone who drives vehicles belonging to other people for work needs the correct insurance in place by law.
Volume of Vehicles Multiplies the Risk
A busy car jockey operation may move 20 to 50 vehicles a day. Each handover is an opportunity for a scratch, a kerb strike or a minor collision in a tight car park.
Even a single claim a month can push your combined repair costs past £10,000 a year. Insurance spreads that financial risk across a fixed premium you can budget for.
Legal Requirement to Drive Other People's Cars
Under Section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, it is illegal to drive a motor vehicle on a public road without at least third-party insurance. Your personal car policy does not extend to vehicles you drive for work.
Driving without cover can result in a fixed penalty of £300, six points on your licence and seizure of the vehicle. If the case goes to court, fines are unlimited.
Who Needs Car Jockey Insurance?
Airport and ferry port parking attendants, hotel and restaurant valets, dealership delivery drivers and vehicle collection services all need this cover. Casino and event parking staff fall into the same category.
If you only move vehicles occasionally, a part-time motor trade policy may offer a more affordable option while still meeting the legal minimum.
Financial Protection for Your Business
A single scratch on a customer's car can lead to a claim worth thousands of pounds. Without insurance, you would have to cover the repair bill yourself.
Liability claims from injuries to members of the public can run into six figures. The right policy shields your business from costs that could otherwise force it to close.
Prestige vehicles are particularly risky. Bumper repairs on a Range Rover or Mercedes can cost £1,000 to £3,000, and bodywork damage on supercars can exceed £5,000.
What Does Car Jockey Insurance Cover?
A standard car jockey policy combines road risk cover with liability protection designed for vehicle-moving businesses.
Road Risk Cover
This is the core of any car jockey policy. Road risk insurance lets you legally drive customers' vehicles on public roads.
You choose from three tiers: third-party only (TPO), third-party fire and theft (TPFT) or fully comprehensive. TPO is the legal minimum, while comprehensive covers accidental damage to the vehicles in your care.
Employers' Liability
If you employ staff, employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement. The minimum cover is £5 million, though most insurers provide £10 million as standard.
Failure to hold a valid policy can result in fines of up to £2,500 per day. This applies even if your staff are part-time, casual or paid by the hour.
Public Liability
Public liability insurance covers compensation claims from members of the public injured or whose property is damaged during your work. Most car jockey businesses carry £1 million to £5 million of cover.
Which Covers Are Required By Law?
Two of these covers are a legal requirement and the rest are optional, so the table below sets out what each one protects.
| Cover Type | What It Protects | Legal Requirement? |
| Road risk (TPO) | Third-party injury and property damage | Yes |
| Road risk (TPFT) | TPO plus fire and theft of customer vehicles | No (optional upgrade) |
| Road risk (comprehensive) | TPFT plus accidental damage to vehicles in your care | No (optional upgrade) |
| Employers' liability | Staff injuries and illness arising from work | Yes (if you employ staff) |
| Public liability | Claims from members of the public | No (strongly recommended) |
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What Is Not Covered By Car Jockey Insurance?
Every policy has exclusions, so check the small print before you buy to avoid surprises at claim time.
Normal Wear and Tear
Gradual deterioration of a vehicle in your care is not covered. Insurers expect you to return cars in the same condition you received them.
Damage Caused by Intoxication
Any incident where the driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs will void the claim. Prescription medication that impairs driving ability carries the same risk.
Uninsured Drivers
Only named or authorised drivers listed on the policy are covered. If an unlisted employee drives a customer's car and causes damage, the insurer will reject the claim.
Personal Belongings Left in Vehicles
Customers' personal items left inside their cars are not covered under a standard car jockey policy. You should make this clear to customers at the point of handover.
Mechanical Breakdown
If a customer's vehicle breaks down while in your care, the repair cost is the owner's responsibility. Your policy covers damage you cause, not pre-existing faults.
Vehicles Driven Outside Policy Terms
Using a customer's car for personal errands or driving outside the geographic area listed on your policy will void any claim. Check your policy schedule for exact restrictions.
Documenting each vehicle's condition at handover with dated photos protects you against false claims from customers.
How Much Does Car Jockey Insurance Cost?
Car jockey insurance typically costs £40 to £70 per month for a sole operator with a clean record, though premiums vary depending on your cover level and the size of your business.
| Factor | Lower Premium | Higher Premium |
| Cover level | TPO only | Comprehensive |
| Business size | Sole operator, 1 premises | Multiple drivers, multiple sites |
| Driver age | 25–65 with clean licence | Under 25 or new licence holder |
| Claims history | No claims in last 5 years | Recent or multiple claims |
| Vehicle types | Standard cars only | High-value or prestige vehicles |
| Location | Rural or low-crime area | City centre or high-crime area |
Annual premiums for a small car jockey operation with comprehensive cover typically fall between £800 and £2,500. Larger teams handling prestige vehicles at airports or hotels may pay £3,000 to £5,000.
Paying annually rather than monthly can cut costs by 8–11%. Monthly instalments usually include an interest charge that adds up over the year.
Operators who handle prestige or high-value vehicles should expect higher premiums. Insurers price the risk based on the maximum value of cars in your care at any one time.
Businesses that also carry out valeting or detailing work often bundle both activities under a single motor trade policy for a lower combined premium.
How To Save Money On Car Jockey Insurance
Small changes to your setup and buying habits can reduce your premiums without cutting the cover you need.
Compare Quotes Every Year
Renewal prices often creep up automatically. Running a fresh comparison at least three weeks before your renewal date gives you time to switch to a cheaper provider.
Increase Your Voluntary Excess
Agreeing to pay a higher excess lowers your premium. Make sure you can afford the excess amount if you need to claim.
Improve Site Security
CCTV, perimeter fencing, floodlights and barrier entry systems all reduce risk in the eyes of insurers. Letting your provider know about security upgrades can trigger a discount.
Pay Annually Instead of Monthly
Spreading the cost over 12 monthly payments is convenient, but the interest markup typically adds 8–11% to your total bill. If cashflow allows, paying in one lump sum keeps more money in your business.
Hire Experienced Drivers
Drivers aged 25 and over with clean licences attract lower premiums than younger or newly qualified staff. Some insurers refuse to cover drivers under 21.
Train Staff on Damage Prevention
Fewer claims mean lower renewal premiums. Investing in parking awareness training and mirror-check procedures helps drivers avoid the low-speed scrapes that account for most car jockey claims.
Only Add Cover You Need
Optional extras push premiums up. If you do not need business interruption cover or tools insurance, leave them off and revisit at renewal.
Build a No-Claims History
A clean claims record lowers your premium year on year. Some providers offer no-claims discount protection as an add-on to lock in the saving.
Bundle with Other Motor Trade Cover
If you run a car dealership or vehicle transport service alongside your jockey work, combining policies under one motor trade package usually costs less than buying each separately.
Loyalty rarely pays in insurance. Getting at least three quotes gives you bargaining power to negotiate or switch to a cheaper provider.
Compounds with gated entry and 24-hour CCTV monitoring attract the lowest static-risk premiums. Ground anchors and wheel clamps for overnight storage help too.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, any driving of third-party vehicles on public roads requires at least third-party insurance by law. A part-time motor trade policy is usually the most affordable option.
No. Standard personal car insurance covers your own vehicle, not cars belonging to customers or your employer.
Third-party only (TPO) is the legal minimum. It covers damage to other people and their property but not the vehicle you are driving.
Yes, provided the damage occurs while you are driving or manoeuvring the vehicle. Static parking risks such as vandalism need a separate add-on.
Many motor trade policies cover an unlimited number of vehicles, though some cap the total. Check your policy schedule for exact limits.
Not if you work entirely alone with no employees. As soon as you hire anyone, even a casual or part-time worker, you must hold at least £5 million of employers' liability cover.
You face a fixed penalty of £300, six penalty points and possible vehicle seizure. At court, fines are unlimited and a driving ban is possible; see gov.uk for the full rules.
Yes, many insurers offer a social, domestic and pleasure extension. This lets you use vehicles covered under your motor trade policy for personal journeys outside work hours.
Road risk cover is the driving element of a car jockey policy. A full car jockey policy also includes liability cover and optional extras such as business premises protection and business interruption.
Most comparison services return quotes within minutes. Once you buy, many insurers issue cover immediately with policy documents sent by email the same day.
