Class Code 8391
Auto Or Truck Dealers
Class Code 8391 covers businesses whose primary operation is retailing new or used automobiles or trucks — the dealership showroom, lot operations, parts counters, sales and administrative staff. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium rate for California is $2.253 per $100 of payroll, a baseline insurers use to price exposure for these operations.
What Class Code 8391 Covers
This classification applies to dealers whose main business is selling or leasing cars and trucks and the routine activities that support those sales. Typical covered operations include the sales floor and finance office, parts counter sales and parts inventory handling, lot attendants who move and stage vehicles, vehicle preparation/detailing and customer delivery drivers. Routine clerical and administrative employees who work in billing, customer service, and reception are also included. Important: heavy mechanical repair, body and paint work or extensive service-bay operations are commonly classified under separate WCIRB codes; if a dealership operates a full service or collision center, those employees may need different classifications.
Who It Applies To
- New and used automobile dealership owners
- Truck and commercial vehicle dealerships
- Salespeople, finance managers, and showroom staff
- Lot attendants, valets, and vehicle preparers/detailers
- Parts counter staff and parts warehouse attendants
- Delivery drivers, shuttle drivers, and sales drivers (non-mechanics)
Common Job Duties
- Greeting customers, demonstrating vehicles, and conducting test drives
- Preparing sales contracts, financing paperwork, and title processing
- Managing parts inventory, filling parts orders, and counter sales
- Moving, staging, parking and cleaning vehicles on the lot
- Detailing and prepping vehicles for sale or customer delivery
- Driving vehicles to customers, auctions, or other dealerships
- Clerical tasks: phone support, scheduling service appointments, and bookkeeping
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $2.253 Rate
The pure premium rate of $2.253 per $100 of payroll is the insurer's base cost to expect future claims for employees in this classification. To calculate the employer's pure premium multiply total payroll for class 8391 by the rate divided by 100 (payroll/100 × 2.253). Final premiums also reflect your experience modification (loss history), insurer expense loads, policy fees, and any credits or discounts — plus correct payroll allocation by job function can materially affect cost.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Dealership employers in California must maintain a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and comply with Cal/OSHA standards such as Hazard Communication (GHS safety data sheets for cleaners and chemicals) and respirator or PPE programs where required. Powered industrial truck (forklift) operator training, traffic controls for lot operations, vehicle-handling policies for test drives, and lockout/tagout procedures for battery work or electrical servicing are common compliance items. Keep injury records, provide required training, and post/calendared safety meetings to meet California requirements.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 8391
A PEO like Key HR helps dealers by ensuring accurate payroll classification and reporting, administering claims and return-to-work programs, and deploying loss-control resources tailored to dealership hazards (driver policies, lot traffic plans, parts handling ergonomics). We can centralize OSHA-required programs and training, negotiate workers' comp placement with carriers, and use pooled buying power to potentially lower premiums while improving compliance and reducing claim frequency.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Are service technicians and mechanics included in 8391?
Not usually. Dealers that operate full service or collision shops typically have service technicians classified under mechanic/repair or body/paint WCIRB codes. Service advisors, parts counter clerks and non-mechanic drivers generally remain in 8391. Accurate payroll coding is essential to avoid audits and mispriced premiums.
How do I calculate the pure premium for my dealership payroll?
Divide the payroll for employees in class 8391 by 100, then multiply by $2.253. Example: $500,000 payroll → (500,000 / 100) = 5,000; 5,000 × $2.253 = $11,265 pure premium before experience modification and insurer fees.
What practical safety steps reduce claims and premiums for dealers?
Implement a formal IIPP, enforce driver and keys policies for test drives, train forklift and lot equipment operators, use slip-resistant lot treatments and clear signage, provide ergonomics training for parts handling and detailing, and maintain prompt light-duty return-to-work options. A documented safety program and early claims management typically lower loss costs over time.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 8391
- Classification
- Auto Or Truck Dealers
- Pure Premium Rate
- $2.253 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
Key HR provides pay-as-you-go workers' comp for California employers — no large deposits, no audits, better rates.
Get a Quoteor call (800) 922-4133Ready to Simplify Workers' Comp for Class Code 8391?
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