Bus sales and repair operations carry specialized exposures that standard commercial programs often don’t address. Colonial General Insurance Agency, Inc. offers a Bus Sales and Repair Shop Insurance program through its Garage department that combines targeted garage liability, garage keepers, and physical damage options with underwriting expertise for sellers, converters, and repairers of buses and motorcoaches. The program is designed so you can place complex garage risks with confidence across sales, conversions, towing and repair operations.
Ideal Accounts and Appetite
This program works well for accounts involved in:
- Bus sales (new and used dealerships)
- Bus repair, maintenance, and full-service shops
- Bus conversions and remodels (RV or specialty conversions)
- Remodeling, retrofitting, and specialty upfitting of buses
Accounts that include limited towing or in-transit exposures can also be considered. Colonial General is set up to handle both straightforward dealer risks and more complex garage operations where multiple exposures—sales, repair, storage, and transit—need to be combined on a single program.
Coverage Highlights and Advantages
Colonial General offers a focused suite of garage coverages and endorsements tailored for bus-related operations, including:
- $3,000,000 liability aggregate
- $5,000 medical payments
- Broadened coverage endorsements to expand standard garage forms
- Dealers Physical Damage (for inventory and owned units)
- False Pretense coverage to address misrepresentation/exposure on sales
- Fire Legal Liability for premises exposures
- Garage Keepers coverage on a primary basis (with specified causes of loss)
- Garage Liability limits up to $1,000,000 per accident
- In-transit coverage for towing and delivery operations
- Optional property coverage for shop and contents
These elements let you package liability, customer vehicle protection, and physical damage under one coordinated policy—helpful when clients both sell and service buses or perform conversions.
Underwriting Notes and Minimum Premiums
Colonial General underwrites accounts on a case-by-case basis and places business with a panel of admitted and surplus markets to find the best fit. While specific minimum premiums are not published, well-prepared submissions move faster: include detailed descriptions of operations, schedules of vehicles, recent loss runs, and any safety or shop control procedures.
Preferred risks show clear operations, organized inventory controls, documented conversion procedures, and a reasonable loss history. Higher-exposure accounts (extensive heavy towing, large fleets with frequent interstate transit, or unlicensed conversion operations) may require enhanced terms or referral.
Example: You might have a mid-size bus dealer that also offers repair and occasional towing. This program can combine garage liability, garage keepers, and dealers physical damage to cover sales inventory and customer buses while in the shop or during transit.
Territories and Availability
Available in select Western states: AZ, CA, CO, ID, NV, NM, UT, and WY. Some elements may be placed on an admitted basis where markets are available; other coverages may be written non-admitted depending on the state and risk characteristics. Colonial General will evaluate placement options at submission.
Why Work With Colonial General?
As a Managing General Agency and Excess & Surplus Lines Broker, Colonial General provides specialized garage underwriting and access to multiple markets for admitted and E&S placements. Their Garage department focuses on garage-specific exposures, which helps you secure tailored coverage forms and endorsements for bus dealerships, conversion shops, and repair facilities. Working with Colonial General gives you responsive underwriting, flexible program structure, and market access for complex or niche garage risks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of accounts are a good fit for this program?
Bus dealerships, repair shops, towing operations, and businesses that convert or remodel buses for RV or specialty use are the primary targets for this program.
Is Garage Keepers Coverage included?
Yes. Garage Keepers Coverage is available on a primary basis with specified causes of loss to protect customers’ buses while in your client’s care, custody, or control.
Are bus conversion operations eligible?
Yes. Accounts that perform conversions or retrofits for RV, specialty, or commercial use are eligible, provided conversions are documented and the operations meet underwriting criteria.
In which states is the program available?
The program is available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
What limits are available under Garage Liability?
Garage Liability limits are available up to $1,000,000 per accident, with aggregate options up to $3,000,000 depending on the risk and placement.
Need help placing an account? Connect with a market specialist.