A familiar coverage nickname is not a substitute for the issued Ontario wording. Ask what policy and section the speaker actually means.
“Garage liability” can mean different things
Some people use garage liability broadly for the liability program of an automotive business. Others mean automobile third-party liability under a garage policy, or non-automobile liability under commercial general liability. Those are not identical. A useful quote or certificate comparison identifies the exact policy and coverage section rather than relying on the label alone.
“Garagekeepers” usually points to customer vehicles
Garagekeepers is common industry shorthand for protection involving customer vehicles in a garage’s care, custody or control. Ontario’s approved policy is OAP 4, and Section 6 is titled “Liability for Damage to a Customer’s Automobile While in the Care, Custody or Control of the Insured.” The certificate and selected coverage still control.
Third-party liability is a different question
If a shop employee negligently operates an automobile and injures someone or damages third-party property, the analysis can involve automobile third-party liability. Damage to the customer automobile itself is a separate question. A visitor slipping in the shop can involve commercial general liability instead. One incident can raise more than one coverage issue.
Ask for the certificate details
When comparing terms, request the policy form, applicable section, limit, deductible, valuation basis and endorsements. Confirm which locations, operations, drivers and vehicle values were accepted. This turns a vague promise of “garagekeepers” into an actual coverage discussion.
- Exact policy form and section
- Customer-automobile limit and deductible
- Collision, specified perils or other selected coverage
- Maximum vehicle values and locations
- Important exclusions and endorsements
A hypothetical shop example
A customer can trip over an air hose while dropping off a vehicle; later, a technician can damage that vehicle while moving it. The first event and the second event do not present the same exposure. A coordinated program considers premises liability, automobile liability and customer-automobile damage separately, then checks how the issued policies interact.
Common questions
Is garagekeepers a separate Ontario policy?
The term is commonly used, but Ontario’s approved garage automobile policy is OAP 4. Customer-automobile coverage should be confirmed from the issued certificate, Section 6 and endorsements.
Does commercial general liability cover customer vehicles?
Do not assume it does. General liability and customer-automobile damage are different coverage questions. Review the exclusions and the OAP 4 arrangement with a licensed broker.
Does garagekeepers cover faulty workmanship?
That cannot be answered from the nickname. The cause of loss, policy section, exclusions, endorsements and circumstances all matter. Ask for a policy-specific explanation.
What limit should a shop choose?
The limit should be informed by realistic maximum vehicle values and concentrations, contractual requirements, risk tolerance and available insurer terms. There is no universal number for every shop.
Primary sources
Use the current official wording and your own certificate when making a coverage decision.