For groomers: insurance

Mobile dog grooming insurance: what to ask before you get quotes

A grooming van needs more than one kind of insurance. Here is what each kind covers, in plain words. This is not advice. Talk to a licensed agent before you buy.

General liability.

This pays if a client gets hurt because of your work. It also pays if you break their things. Say someone trips on your hose in the driveway. That is a job for general liability.

The pets in your care.

Groomers often miss this one. A plain liability plan leaves out things in your “care, custody, and control.” In most states, a pet counts as a thing. So if a dog gets hurt on your table, a plain plan may not pay. Ask for animal bailee coverage. Some call it pet protection. Ask how much it pays for each pet and for the year.

Mistakes in your work.

Some plans pay if a client loses money from a mistake you made. This is called professional liability. Some groomer plans add it for free. Ask if yours does.

Your van.

Your own car plan may not cover a van your business owns. It may not cover work trips at all. A grooming van is a work van. It needs a business auto plan, called commercial auto.

Your tools and gear.

Clippers, dryers, the tub, and a trailer can be lost or broken. Most shop plans cover one fixed place, not a van on the move. Ask for tools and gear coverage. It is also called inland marine, and it goes where your gear goes.

Workers’ comp.

The rules are set by each state. California needs it once you hire one person. Florida needs it at four workers for most jobs. In Texas, most bosses can choose. Check your state before you hire.

What it costs.

Pet Care Insurance (PCI) lists a mobile groomer plan from $26.37 a month. That is $295.40 a year. Insureon lists typical prices for mobile groomers. They are $65 a month for general liability, $80 for a business owner’s plan, and $245 for a van. Your price depends on your state, your van, and past claims.

Who sells it.

Some companies sell plans just for groomers, like PCI and NEXT. Insureon shows quotes from many companies at once. Progressive and local agents also sell groomer and van plans. Get a few quotes. Compare what each one covers, not just the price.

Where these facts come from.

We read each company’s own page on October 7, 2026. Prices change, so check before you buy.

• Pet Care Insurance: mobile groomer insurance
• Pet Care Insurance: care, custody, and control
• Insureon: mobile pet groomer insurance cost
• Insurance Information Institute: business vehicle insurance
• Insurance Information Institute: inland marine insurance
• California: workers’ comp for employers
• Florida: workers’ comp requirements
• Texas: workers’ comp for employers
• NEXT: pet grooming insurance
• Progressive: pet groomer insurance