Key Takeaways
- General liability insurance protects against injuries on your property and lawsuits from accidents
- Property insurance covers damage to buildings, equipment and loss of business income
- Commercial auto insures business vehicles and their use
- Workers’ comp covers medical costs and lost wages for employee injuries
- Umbrella liability provides additional protection above primary policies
- Cyber insurance protects against costs of data breaches and cyber attacks
- Business interruption insurance covers loss of income during temporary closures from events like fires or floods
Introduction
Gas station businesses face unique risks associated with storing and dispensing flammable fuels. This makes protecting the operation with adequate insurance critical. The top types of insurance gasoline station owners should consider include general liability, property, commercial auto, workers’ compensation, business interruption insurance protects revenue during forced closures and additional coverages like commercial umbrella and cyber liability policies.
General Liability Insurance
General liability insurance provides important protection for businesses in the gasoline stations industry. It covers costs from accidental injuries, property damage, and legal fees that may occur on the business’s premises or during fueling services.
The top benefits of general liability insurance for gasoline stations includes coverage for lawsuits from slip-and-fall accidents, vehicle accidents at gas pumps, faulty or contaminated gas products, pollution from spills, and medical payments for injuries regardless of fault.
Common risks gasoline stations face that general liability insurance protects against include slip and fall accidents, vehicle fueling issues, parking lot accidents, fuel pump collisions, and food poisoning from convenience store purchases.
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Based on industry data, the estimated average annual pricing for general liability insurance for a business in the gasoline stations industry with NAICS code 4571 is around $5,000 per year. This price was derived from considering risk factors such as large fuel storage tanks, fuel pumps and dispensers, driveways and parking lots with moving vehicles. It also takes into account the average revenue and number of employees of businesses in this industry.
Estimated Pricing: $5,000
Property Insurance
Property insurance is vital for gasoline station businesses given the risks associated with storing and selling combustible fuels on site. It covers physical property, business personal property and loss of business income from covered cause of losses. Key protection includes fire damage, natural disasters, equipment damage or failure, theft of fuels or supplies, and liability from accidents on the property. Business interruption insurance helps maintain payroll and overhead if repairs require temporary closure. Property insurance is essential for gas stations due to inherent risks and provides protection for buildings, fuel tanks, pumps, facilities and loss of income from covered damages requiring station shutdown.
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Based on industry data, the average annual property insurance premium for gasoline stations is around $3,000 – $5,000 per location. This pricing is derived from considering factors like class code, construction type, protection class, square footage, average insured values, losses in the industry, etc. Gasoline stations generally fall under a higher risk class due to the flammable liquids stored on site.
Estimated Pricing: $4,000
Commercial Auto Insurance
Commercial auto insurance is an essential coverage for businesses in the gasoline stations industry. It provides liability protection and physical damage coverage for business vehicles like delivery trucks, cash transport vehicles, tow trucks and service vehicles used in gas station operations. Estimated average annual pricing for commercial auto insurance for gasoline stations is around $3,500 per vehicle. Key benefits include coverage for medical expenses, legal fees, lost income from disabled vehicles, and repair or replacement of damaged vehicles. Top use cases involve covering liabilities from accidents involving delivery, cash transport, tow trucks and employee vehicles used for work.
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Based on industry research and data, the estimated average annual pricing for commercial auto insurance for businesses in the gasoline stations industry with NAICS code 4571 is around $3,500 per vehicle. This pricing takes into account the average rates charged by top insurance carriers for this hazardous industry, as well as factors like the type of vehicles operated, number of vehicles, safety record, and other underwriting considerations.
Estimated Pricing: $3,500
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
“Workers’ compensation insurance is extremely important for businesses in the gasoline stations industry. It provides coverage for on-the-job injuries and medical costs to help protect the business. Common risks in this industry include slip and fall accidents, injuries from handling equipment, and accidents involving moving vehicles. The average estimated pricing is around $2.50 per $100 of payroll based on industry data and risk factors specific to gasoline station businesses.”
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Based on industry data and risk factors, the estimated average pricing for workers’ compensation insurance for businesses in the gasoline stations industry (NAICS Code:4571) is around $2.50 per $100 of payroll. This rate was derived based on injury rates and claims in this industry which involve risks like slips/trips/falls as well as risks involving moving vehicle parts and flammable materials. Claims in this industry tend to be more costly on average due to the nature of injuries.
Estimated Pricing: $2.50/100 of payroll
Commercial Umbrella Insurance
Commercial umbrella insurance provides excess liability protection above the limits of primary commercial general liability and other underlying policies. It is especially beneficial for businesses such as gasoline stations that face risks from storing and selling fuel as well as servicing vehicles. Some key benefits of commercial umbrella insurance for gasoline stations include providing additional liability coverage for slip and fall accidents, auto accidents on property, fuel spills, injuries from fuel pumps or contaminated fuel, and crisis management assistance for incidents. Typical pricing for commercial umbrella insurance for gasoline stations is $1,000-2,000 per year, with an average policy for a station with 1-2 locations, 10 employees and $3M annual sales costing around $1,500.
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Based on typical pricing models, commercial umbrella insurance for gasoline stations usually starts around $1,000-$2,000 per year. Factors like number of locations, number of employees, loss history, and annual sales are used to determine the final price. For an average gasoline station with 1-2 locations, 10 employees and $3M in annual sales, the estimated annual commercial umbrella insurance price would be around $1,500.
Estimated Pricing: $1,500
Commercial Umbrella Insurance
Commercial umbrella insurance provides additional liability protection beyond standard business insurance policies for higher risk businesses like gasoline stations that deal with fuel storage and dispensing. It protects these businesses from large claims that exceed primary policy limits and covers certain risks not covered by standard policies.
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Based on the average risks and claims for gasoline station businesses, umbrella insurance pricing is typically $2-4 per $1,000 of covered liability above the primary general liability limit, which is often $1 million. For a typical gasoline station with $2 million in total coverage, the estimated annual premium would be $4,000-$8,000.
Estimated Pricing: $4,000-$8,000
Cyber Security/Technology Insurance
Gasoline stations that accept credit cards and electronic payments face risks from cyber attacks and system failures. Cyber security and technology insurance can help protect these businesses from financial losses related to data breaches, ransomware, equipment damage or theft, network outages, and liability lawsuits if customer data is compromised. It estimates an average annual premium of $2,500 for this type of policy and provides top benefits, use cases and pricing details tailored for small to medium sized gasoline station businesses.
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Based on typical pricing models for small to medium sized businesses in high risk industries, the estimated average annual premium for cyber security/technology insurance for gasoline stations would be around $2,500. Factors considered include number of employees, total annual revenue, IT security protocols and practices, and loss history. This price was derived from typical quotes available from several top insurance carriers for this industry and business size.
Estimated Pricing: $2,500
Business Interruption Insurance
Business interruption insurance provides crucial financial protection for gasoline stations and convenience stores by covering key ongoing costs and loss of profits during recovery from events like fires, floods and other disasters that cause temporary closures. It helps maintain business stability and survival after interruptions to normal operations.
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Based on typical ratings factors for the gasoline station industry such as average sales, property values, and location, the estimated annual premium for basic business interruption insurance would be around $3,500. This covers lost income for 12 months if the station was out of operation due to a covered cause of loss like fire, wind or hail. Additional coverage may be purchased for lawyers fees and brand valuation loss during reconstruction.
Estimated Pricing: $3,500
Conclusion
Choosing the right mix of insurance tailored to your specific business needs helps safeguard your gas station assets, operations and employees from financial losses due to risks inherent to the industry. Working with a knowledgeable insurance agent can help determine the optimal insurance portfolio to ensure business continuity and financial protection for your gas station.