Halloween is upon us and if car dealers and mechanics want to avoid any unwanted scares this year, they must make sure they have the right motor trade insurance policy in place.
Tomorrow, 31 October, will inevitably see mischievous children getting up to no good once again. And while the vast majority of this will involve little more than harmless fun, there is always the risk that things can go too far and businesses must be prepared.
Whether you work as a part-time mechanic or car dealer, or own a dealership or garage, having the right type of business insurance is key. After all, nobody wants to create their own Halloween horror story by not having proper cover in place in case something goes wrong.
First and foremost, motor traders that have to drive a range of cars on a day-to-day basis - whether that is customers' cars or vehicles being sold - will need to obtain a road risks insurance policy.
For those trading from a set business premises, meanwhile, they will require a combined motor trade insurance policy. This protects the building and the valuable contents inside it, as well as cars stored on the forecourt, against the risk of fire damage, flooding, vandalism, theft and more.
As we know, Trick or Treat is not just about children donning their fancy dress costumes and getting as many sweets as they can physically carry; it can also be about playing pranks. This makes it as good a time as any for dealerships and garages to check that they have the correct insurance cover.
Furthermore, with the long nights drawing in, crime rates are likely to rise. Indeed, figures show that theft claims surge by 38 per cent in the five months after the clocks go back - which they did on 25 October - as the criminals become more brazen under the cover of darkness. This is one more reason for motor traders to take the time to evaluate their motor trade insurance policies.
