Contractor insurance coverage types
Each type of coverage pays for a different kind of loss. These guides explain what each one covers, when a client or contract requires it, and what affects the price, so you can decide what to carry before you ask for quotes.
Liability coverage
General, professional and pollution liability, and what completed operations covers.
What general liability insurance covers for contractors, what it excludes, what contracts require, and how carriers price the policy.
Completed operations coverage pays for third-party injury or property damage caused by your finished work — not the cost to redo bad work. Learn what it covers, what contracts require, and how to compare GL quotes that include it.
Contractor liability insurance covers third-party bodily injury, property damage, and completed operations for construction businesses, with premiums based on trade class, payroll, and loss history.
Contractors pollution liability (CPL) covers cleanup costs, bodily injury, property damage, and legal defense from pollution events excluded by general liability. Compare quotes from carriers that insure your work.
Contractor professional liability insurance covers design errors, coordination failures, and negligent professional services that general liability excludes. Learn when contracts require it and how to compare quotes.
Workers' compensation
Workers' compensation cost, requirements, audits and independent contractors.
What workers compensation insurance covers, when contractors are required to carry it, how carriers price the policy, and how to compare quotes from carriers that write your trade.
Contractor workers comp requirements depend on state, employee count, entity type, and contracts. Learn how carriers price the policy and what general contractor certificates require.
Workers compensation requirements for independent contractors depend on state rules, business structure, employees, and contract language. Learn when coverage is required and how to compare quotes.
Workers compensation requirements depend on your state, industry, employee count, and contract terms. Learn who needs coverage, what happens without it, and how to get quotes.
A workers comp audit compares your estimated payroll to actual payroll during the policy term. Learn why the audit produced a surprise bill, how to dispute errors, and how to prevent it next year.
Vehicles, tools & property
Commercial auto, tools and equipment, and builders risk.
What commercial auto insurance covers for contractors, what it costs (Progressive cites $272/month average for contractor autos), and how to compare quotes from carriers that insure your vehicles and trade.
Builders risk insurance covers the structure, materials, and supplies during construction. Learn what it costs, who buys it, common exclusions, and how to compare quotes.
Whether you need commercial auto insurance to drive for Uber depends on your driver category. Standard rideshare drivers rely on personal insurance plus Uber's platform coverage, while commercially licensed drivers must carry their own commercial auto policy.
Tools and equipment insurance is inland marine coverage for mobile contractor property. Learn what it covers, how carriers price it, common gaps, and how to compare quotes from carriers that insure your trade.
Louisiana requires at least 15/30/25 liability on commercial vehicles, but vehicle weight, cargo, federal authority, and contract terms can raise the minimum. Here is what contractors need to know before requesting a quote.
Umbrella, endorsements & certificates
Umbrella limits, additional insured endorsements and certificates of insurance.
Commercial umbrella insurance adds liability limits above your general liability, commercial auto, and employer's liability policies. Learn what it covers, how contracts determine your limit, and how to compare quotes matched to your trade.
What an additional insured endorsement adds to your GL policy, how CG 20 10 and CG 20 37 differ, and how to confirm your policy meets the contract requirement before you send a certificate.
A contractor certificate of insurance proves coverage exists but cannot change the policy. Learn what the COI shows, what endorsements contracts actually require, and how to get compliant coverage fast.
What a commercial auto additional insured endorsement does, how it differs from a certificate of insurance, and how to get the right documents to satisfy your contract requirement.
Cost & surety bonds
What contractor insurance costs, and how contractor surety bonds work.
Contractor insurance costs vary widely by coverage line — from $14/month for tools to $318/month for workers comp. See median costs for GL, workers comp, auto, tools, and umbrella, then compare quotes from 400+ carriers.
A contractor surety bond is a three-party guarantee that protects project owners, licensing boards, and subcontractors. Premiums run 1%–10% of the bond amount depending on credit, financials, and bond type. Learn which bond you need and how to get one.