Insurance for tyre service, tyre shops and tyre storage in Germany
Twice a year customers queue up, wheels are changed every few minutes and the store holds thousands of customers' tyres. A wheel nut not tightened, a fire in the tyre store or a scratched alloy rim: in tyre service and tyre shops, claims happen fast. This page explains which insurance you need, where the gap in tyre storage lies and what it costs in Germany.
Only if third party property is expressly included in your contents insurance, with a sum for a full store. Public liability usually excludes items in your care. A store fire with a thousand wheel sets quickly reaches six figures.
What goes wrong in this trade
01
Wheel comes off
Wheel nuts not torqued correctly: the wheel comes off on the motorway and causes an accident.
02
Tyre store fire
Tyres burn hot and long. A fire destroys the store, the workshop and customers' tyres.
03
Rims and sensors
The tyre changer scratches alloy rims and pressure sensors snap off.
04
Customers' cars in the workshop
A car slips off the lift or is damaged while being moved.
05
Theft
Complete wheels and new tyres are easy to sell on.
06
Peak season
If the lift or tyre changer fails during changeover season, you lose the revenue that carries the year.
Six claims tyre businesses really see in changeover season, all on one day. Click through and see who pays.
Damage so far€223,300
A customer reports that a wheel fitted yesterday came off on a country road. Two vehicles are damaged and one person slightly injured.
€22,000 · Paid by: Business liability
The tyre changer scratches four expensive alloy rims and a pressure sensor snaps.
€2,600 · Paid by: Business liability
A customer's car slips off the lift; sills and underbody are damaged.
€6,500 · Paid by: Fleet insurance
The balancer breaks down in the middle of the season.
€3,200 · Paid by: Machinery breakdown
The wheel alignment system is destroyed by a power surge.
€9,000 · Paid by: Electronic equipment
Fire breaks out in the tyre store. New stock and 300 customers' wheel sets burn.
€180,000 · Paid by: Business contents
Which package would you have had?
Paid by insurance: €0
Out of your own pocket: €223,300
Illustrative amounts before any excess.
What is paid depends on the policy terms.
Practical tips from your broker
Have customers' stored tyres written into your contents policy as third party property, with a sum for a full store in autumn.
Agree the motor trade liability extension; it pays for consequential damage from faulty fitting.
Record torque settings and remind customers in writing to have wheel nuts retightened.
Keep the tyre store separate from workshop and heating, and agree fire protection with the insurer.
Check whether customers' cars in your workshop are covered under motor trade insurance.
Base business interruption cover on peak season revenue, not the monthly average.
Why NAMMERT for your business
We know the storage gap
Customers' stored tyres often fall between liability and contents cover. As an insurance broker, Norman Nammert compares several insurers and closes this gap.
Vehicle damage is our daily work
In boat insurance we handle claims ourselves, including trailers and wheels.
One contact person
Workshop, store, trade plates and private provision are handled together.
Family run since 1989
Our advice is free for you; the insurer pays our commission.
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers
What insurance does a tyre service need?
Public liability with motor trade extension,
contents insurance including customers' stored tyres and,
with trade plates or customers' cars in the workshop, motor trade insurance.
Who pays if a wheel comes off after a tyre change?
Public liability with motor trade extension pays for damage to other vehicles and people.
Damage to the customer's own car is only covered if agreed.
Are stored tyres covered in a fire?
Only if third party property is included in your contents insurance and the sum is high enough.
Do I need a master craftsman qualification?
Tyre and vulcanising mechanic is a licensed craft under Annex A of the German Crafts Code,
so fitting and repair generally require a master qualification or an equivalent;
pure retail does not.
What does insurance for a tyre service cost?
From our quoting work, public liability starts at about €400 a year.
With storage, machines and garage risk, a business with tyre storage usually pays €3,000 to €7,000.
Are my employees covered for accidents at work?
Yes, employees are insured by law through the Berufsgenossenschaft.
As the owner you can join voluntarily.
NAMMERT insurance broker
Request quotes for Tyre service
The recommended covers are ticked.
Change what does not fit; we compare quotes, in English.
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We will be in touch within one working day. If it is urgent: +49 3375 29 12 77.
