June 6, 2016

The insured has an auto dealers coverage form with symbols 27 and 30 to describe covered autos. The customer's vehicle was vandalized while in the insured's care, custody, and control. In addition, items were stolen from the vehicle, and the loss included camping gear and a surfboard. Are these items covered under the garage form policy?

California Subscriber

The camping gear and the surfboard are not auto equipment so the auto dealers policy won't apply to that loss since the garagekeepers coverage in the policy applies to damages for loss to a customer's auto or customer's auto equipment left in the insured's care. So, this coverage does not apply to all of the personal property of the customer that may have been left in the auto; the coverage is for auto equipment, such as a jack or spare tire. The vandalism to the customer's car would be covered under the garagekeepers section of the policy. Of course, the insured would have to be legally responsible for the loss in order for coverage to apply unless the insured has purchased direct primary insurance.