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.

Category List
Benefits
  • Covers legal costs if a customer is injured on your property
  • Covers lawsuits from slip-and-fall accidents or other injuries
  • Protects against litigation from vehicle accidents like gas pump collisions
  • Covers costs of defending your business if sued for damages
  • Protects against claims of faulty or defective products like contaminated gas
  • Covers pollution liability for accidental spills or contamination
  • Provides coverage for medical payments regardless of fault for injuries on premises
Use Cases
  • Slip and fall accidents on property
  • Damage or injury caused by vehicle fueling or mechanical issues
  • Spills and leaks causing property damage
  • Car accidents on property
  • Injuries from vehicle or equipment collisions during fueling
  • Food poisoning from items purchased in convenience stores

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.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protection against fire damage
  • Protection against theft and vandalism
  • Protection against natural disasters like hurricanes, floods and earthquakes
  • Reimbursement for equipment repairs or replacement after covered damages
  • Business interruption coverage to continue paying employees if the station must close for repairs
  • Coverage for loss of income if the station needs to close temporarily for repairs
Use Cases
  • Protection against fire damage to the gas station building and facilities
  • Protection against damage from natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes
  • Protection against theft or damage of gasoline inventory and equipment
  • Protection against liability from accidents and injuries occurring on the property
  • Protection for outdoor signage, canopies and lighting fixtures

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.

Category List
Benefits
  • Liability protection in case of an accident on business property
  • Physical damage coverage to repair or replace business vehicles if damaged
  • Covers medical expenses if someone is injured by a business vehicle
  • Covers legal fees if the business is sued for damages in an accident
  • Reimburses for lost income or expenses if a vehicle is disabled in an accident
Use Cases
  • Cover liabilities from accidents involving delivery vehicles transporting gasoline to gas stations
  • Cover liabilities from accidents involving cash transport vehicles carrying money to and from gas stations
  • Cover liabilities from accidents involving service vehicles like tow trucks operating from gas stations
  • Cover liabilities from accidents involving employee vehicles if business requires employees to use personal vehicles for work purposes

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.”

Category List
Benefits
  • Provides coverage for workplace injury claims and related medical costs
  • Protects the business from lawsuits if an employee is injured on the job
  • Required by law in all states for businesses with employees
  • Pays lost wages if an employee cannot work due to a work-related injury or illness
  • Covers costs of rehabilitating injured employees to help them return to work
  • Reduces potential operating costs from workplace accidents like training new employees
Use Cases
  • Slip and fall accidents such as slipping on gas or oil spills on the ground
  • Injuries from handling heavy equipment like gas pumps or repair tools
  • Accidents involving moving vehicles like being hit by a car while pumping gas
  • Chemical burns or injuries from handling hazardous materials like gasoline

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.

Category List
Benefits
  • Provides additional liability protection above the limits of the underlying commercial general liability, auto liability and employers liability policies
  • Protects personal assets from lawsuits and judgments
  • Covers liability from slip and fall accidents on property
  • Covers liability if a customer is injured from exposure to gasoline or chemicals
  • Covers liability if a customer accidently drives into the gas pumps or structure on property
  • Provides crisis management services in the event of incidents involving property damage or injuries
  • Covers pollution and environmental liability if a fuel spill occurs
Use Cases
  • Protect against lawsuits from slip and falls at gas stations or car washes
  • Provide coverage if an auto accident occurs on the station’s property
  • Cover liability if a fuel delivery causes damage off-site
  • Cover liability if faulty or contaminated fuel is sold
  • Protect against lawsuits from injuries or accidents involving fuel pumps or equipment

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.

Category List
Benefits
  • Increases liability protection beyond standard business insurance limits
  • Covers legal costs if sued for amounts above the primary insurance
  • Protects personal assets if business is sued
  • Covers certain risks not included on standard policies like pollution liability
  • Provides coverage for slipped and fell accidents on premises
  • Covers liability for accidents involving fuel pumps and storage tanks
  • Coverage for goods and services provided on site like repairs, car washes etc.
Use Cases
  • Protection from large liability claims that exceed the limits of the underlying commercial general liability (CGL) policy
  • Coverage for legal defense costs associated with liability claims against the business that are not covered by the underlying policies
  • Additional coverage for certain types of risks not covered by standard business policies like cyber liability or pollution liability
  • Protection against losses from slips and falls or vehicular accidents on business property that result in serious injuries

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.

Category List
Benefits
  • Covers costs of investigating and responding to cyber attacks or data breaches
  • Provides liability coverage if a cyber incident results in a lawsuit
  • Covers costs of notifying customers and providing credit monitoring if personal data is compromised
  • Covers business interruption losses if systems are down due to a cyber attack
  • Pays for forensic investigations, public relations assistance and legal fees after an incident
  • Covers defense costs and penalties if regulators initiate an investigation or enforcement action
  • Reimburses costs to recover or replace lost, stolen or damaged data
  • Provides access to risk management experts for prevention best practices
Use Cases
  • Data breach or cyber attack leading to loss of customer payment card data
  • Ransomware attack encrypting business systems and point-of-sale terminals
  • Loss of business equipment like cash registers, card readers or security cameras due to theft or damage
  • Business interruption if POS systems or payment networks go down
  • Liability if a third party accesses customer data due to negligence

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.

Category List
Benefits
  • Provides revenue if business shuts down due to events like fire, flooding or weather
  • Covers operating expenses like payroll and rent if business is temporarily closed
  • Reimburses for additional expenses to help restart business after disaster
  • Helps maintain cash flow when unable to generate income
  • Covers loss of profits and helps pay ongoing costs during recovery period
  • Protects investment and helps ensure business can continue operating after disruption
  • Peace of mind knowing the business is protected from financial losses due to unforeseen disruptions
Use Cases
  • Loss of income from a fire that destroys the building
  • Loss of income from a natural disaster like a hurricane or flood that damages the property
  • Loss of income if the gas pumps are damaged and cannot be used
  • Loss of income if a pipeline is damaged and gas cannot be delivered
  • Loss of income during a power outage that prevents the pumps from operating
  • Loss of income due to civil unrest, riots or vandalism that damages the property or pumps
  • Loss of income if hackers launch a ransomware attack that shuts down the pump systems

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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