Care, Custody or Control

What You Need to Know

If you operate a coat check, store customer belongings, or temporarily hold customer property, damage to those items usually isn't covered by your standard policy.

Standard general liability excludes damage to:

• Property you're storing or transporting for customers
• Property in your care, even temporarily
• Property under your custody or control while providing a service

Common care, custody or control situations in restaurants:

• Coat check — a stolen or damaged coat typically runs $200-$2,000 per item
• Valet parking — a damaged or stolen customer vehicle can run $5,000-$50,000+
• Customer belongings left at tables — laptops, purses, or phones, typically $500-$3,000 per item
• Off-site catering — transporting customer-owned equipment or decorations

Why It Matters for Restaurant Owners

Customers will hold you responsible if their coat is stolen from your coat check or their laptop disappears from their table. Without a special endorsement, you'll pay out-of-pocket for these losses.

Coverage solutions:

• Bailee coverage — specifically covers customer property in your care, typically $25,000-$100,000 in limits for $300-$1,500 annually
• Inland marine coverage — broader coverage for property in transit or storage, including off-premises catering scenarios

If you offer coat check, valet parking, or similar services, specifically ask your agent for bailee or inland marine coverage. The cost is minimal compared to the liability exposure — a single busy-night coat check theft alone could cost $1,500-$8,000 out-of-pocket without it.