Contractor Insurance

Insurance Built for Contractors Who Get the Job Done.

Contractors face risks at the shop, on the road and at every job site. Briteline can compare available commercial insurance markets for general liability, workers compensation, commercial auto, tools and equipment, property and more.

Get a Contractor Quote Talk to an Agent

Core Insurance for Contractors

Contractor insurance is usually a combination of coverages designed around the work you perform, your employees, vehicles, equipment and contractual requirements.

General Liability

Helps protect against certain covered third-party bodily injury and property damage claims arising from your business operations and completed work.

Workers Compensation

Can provide benefits for qualifying work-related employee injuries and illnesses while helping address certain employer liability exposures.

Commercial Auto

Helps protect qualifying business-owned vehicles and the liability exposure created when those vehicles are used for business operations.

Tools & Equipment

Inland marine coverage can help protect qualifying tools and equipment that travel between your shop, vehicles and job sites.

Your Tools Don't Stay in One Place.

Contractors regularly move tools and equipment between their shop, trucks, trailers and job sites. Standard commercial property coverage may not be designed to follow that equipment everywhere it goes.

Contractors equipment or inland marine coverage can help protect qualifying portable tools and equipment while away from the primary business location, subject to policy terms.

Don't Overlook

Tools Left in Trucks & Trailers.

Don't assume commercial auto insurance automatically covers tools, materials or equipment stolen from a vehicle or trailer. Those items may require separate inland marine or property coverage.

Contractor Coverages Worth Reviewing

Contracts and job-site exposures can create insurance needs that go beyond basic general liability.

Additional Insured

General contractors, property owners and customers may require additional insured status under applicable liability coverage.

Waiver of Subrogation

Contracts may require waiver-of-subrogation endorsements on workers compensation, general liability or other policies.

Primary & Noncontributory

Certain contracts require specific wording regarding how your insurance responds in relation to another party's coverage.

Installation Floater

Coverage may be available for qualifying materials and property awaiting installation or being installed at a job site.

Hired & Non-Owned Auto

Can address certain business liability exposures involving rented vehicles or employee-owned vehicles used for qualifying business purposes.

Umbrella / Excess

Additional liability limits may be available over qualifying general liability, commercial auto and employers liability policies.

Builders Risk

Construction projects may require builders risk coverage for qualifying structures, materials and property during construction.

Commercial Property

Contractors who own or lease shops, offices or warehouses may need coverage for buildings, contents and business personal property.

Professional Liability

Contractors providing design, consulting or other professional services may have errors-and-omissions exposures beyond standard general liability.

Your Contract May Dictate Your Insurance.

Before beginning a project, review the insurance requirements. Limits, additional insured wording, waivers and certificate requirements can all affect how the policy needs to be structured.

Certificates of Insurance

Customers and general contractors commonly request proof of required insurance before work begins.

Required Endorsements

A certificate alone does not create coverage. Contractually required endorsements may need to be added to the actual policy.

Liability Limits

Contracts may require minimum general liability, auto, workers compensation and umbrella limits.

Insurance for Many Types of Contractors

Carrier appetite varies by trade, payroll, subcontracted work, project size and the exact services being performed.

General Contractors

General contractors can face subcontractor, completed-operations, contractual and job-site exposures requiring careful review.

Electricians

Electrical contractors need coverage structured around field operations, employees, vehicles, tools and completed work.

Plumbers

Plumbing operations can create significant property damage and completed-operations exposures.

HVAC Contractors

HVAC businesses may need protection for employees, service vehicles, equipment, installation work and completed operations.

Landscapers

Vehicles, trailers, equipment, employees and work at customer properties create multiple insurance exposures.

Remodeling Contractors

Interior and exterior remodeling can involve existing structures, subcontractors, tools, materials and completed-work liability.

Painters

Painting contractors may have property damage, ladder, employee, vehicle and equipment exposures depending on their operations.

Flooring Contractors

Installation operations, tools, materials and completed work should be reflected accurately in the insurance program.

Handyman Services

The range of services performed matters. Clearly describing actual operations helps determine carrier eligibility and coverage.

Why Contractors Work With Briteline

Contractor insurance can vary substantially between carriers, especially when subcontractors, higher-hazard work or specialized operations are involved.

Multiple Commercial Markets

Briteline can compare available commercial insurance carriers instead of limiting your business to one company's rates and underwriting appetite.

Contract Support

We can help review insurance requirements and applicable certificate or endorsement requests based on your policy and carrier.

Cover the Whole Business

General liability, workers compensation, commercial auto, equipment, property and umbrella coverage can be coordinated around your operation.

Contractor Insurance FAQ

What insurance does a contractor need?

Needs vary by trade, but contractors commonly review general liability, workers compensation, commercial auto and tools or equipment coverage. Property, umbrella, builders risk and other specialized coverages may also be appropriate.

Does general liability cover damage caused by my work?

General liability can cover certain qualifying property damage claims arising from operations or completed work, but exclusions can apply to your own work, defective work and other circumstances. Coverage depends on the facts and policy language.

Are my tools covered if they are stolen from my truck?

Do not assume commercial auto insurance covers tools or equipment stored inside the vehicle. Contractors commonly use inland marine or contractors equipment coverage for qualifying portable tools and equipment.

What is an additional insured?

Additional insured status can extend certain liability protection under your policy to another qualifying party, subject to the endorsement and policy terms. Contractors are frequently asked to provide additional insured status by customers, landlords and general contractors.

Do subcontractors need their own insurance?

Using uninsured subcontractors can create significant insurance and audit issues. Contractor policies often have specific requirements regarding subcontractors, certificates and underlying insurance.

Do I need workers compensation if I use subcontractors?

Subcontractor relationships do not automatically eliminate workers compensation exposure. Applicable law, worker status, subcontractor insurance and carrier audit rules all matter.

Can Briteline provide Certificates of Insurance?

For policies serviced through Briteline, our team can provide applicable Certificates of Insurance based on the actual policy and carrier procedures. Requested endorsements must exist on the policy when required; a certificate itself does not create coverage.

Can contractor insurance be packaged together?

Depending on eligibility, property and general liability may sometimes be packaged together, while workers compensation, commercial auto, umbrella and other coverage may be written separately and coordinated as part of the overall program.

Build Your Business. We'll Help Protect It.

Tell Briteline what work you perform, who works for you, what vehicles and equipment you use and what your contracts require. We'll compare available commercial insurance markets and help build coverage around your operation.