Permits, Insurance & Risk Management 101

Permits and insurance aren't the fun part of a car show, but they force you to answer some important questions: Who controls the property? What happens if somebody gets hurt? Who has the authority to stop an unsafe activity?

Don't confuse a certificate of insurance with a safety plan. Walk the site with the venue and your key people. Check fire lanes, traffic, cables, tents, weather shelter, and emergency access while you still have time to change something.

Turn safety concerns into assignments

Walk the site from the perspective of a moving vehicle, pedestrian, child, mobility-device user, vendor, and emergency responder. Record the hazard, prevention, person responsible, and event-day response. Cover traffic separation, fire lanes, weather, electrical cables, temporary structures, first aid, lost children, and communication—not just paperwork. Reviewed and updated August 2026.