General Contractors Insurance

Coverage recommendations, carrier options, and cost estimates for insuring general contractors businesses. Built for independent agents quoting this class.

NAICS: 236220·Also known as: GC, general contractor, building contractor

Recommended Coverages

GL

essential

Third-party bodily injury, property damage, personal and advertising injury arising from business operations. For General Contractors businesses, key exposures include high bodily injury exposure on job sites. Common claims include worker injury on job site. Agent note: Subcontractor certificates of insurance are critical — require GL, WC, and auto from every sub

Typical Limits

$1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate

Premium Range

$400 - $3,000/year for small businesses; $3,000 - $15,000+ for contractors and higher-risk classes

Workers Comp

essential

Medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and death benefits for employees injured on the job. For General Contractors businesses, key exposures include high bodily injury exposure on job sites. Common claims include worker injury on job site.

Typical Limits

Statutory limits per state law; Employers Liability typically $500K/$500K/$500K

Premium Range

Based on payroll × class code rate × experience mod. Ranges from $0.50 to $30+ per $100 of payroll depending on classification

Commercial Auto

recommended

Liability, physical damage, medical payments, and uninsured motorist coverage for vehicles used in business operations. Agent note: Subcontractor certificates of insurance are critical — require GL, WC, and auto from every sub

Typical Limits

$1M combined single limit is standard; $500K minimum for most commercial operations

Premium Range

$1,200 - $5,000/year per vehicle for light commercial; $5,000 - $15,000+ per vehicle for heavy trucks

Inland Marine

recommended

Property in transit, property at temporary locations, mobile equipment, tools, and specialized movable property not adequately covered by standard commercial property policies. For General Contractors businesses, key exposures include equipment theft and damage. Common claims include property damage during construction.

Typical Limits

Based on scheduled equipment/property values. Ranges from $25K for small tool floaters to $1M+ for heavy equipment

Premium Range

$300 - $1,500/year for tool floaters; $1,500 - $10,000+ for heavy equipment schedules

Umbrella

situational

Additional liability limits above underlying GL, auto, and employers liability policies. For General Contractors businesses, key exposures include completed operations liability. Agent note: Umbrella limits of $2M-$5M are standard for GCs bidding on commercial projects

Typical Limits

$1M - $10M increments above underlying policies

Premium Range

$500 - $2,000/year for $1M umbrella on small business; $1,500 - $8,000+ for contractors and higher-risk classes

Builders Risk

situational

Physical damage to buildings, business personal property, equipment, inventory, and tenant improvements from covered perils (fire, wind, theft, vandalism). For General Contractors businesses, key exposures include equipment theft and damage.

Typical Limits

Based on replacement cost of building and contents. Business income limits typically 12 months of projected revenue.

Premium Range

$750 - $5,000/year for small businesses; varies widely based on property values, construction type, and location

Risk Profile

Physical Risk

high

Liability Risk

high

Professional Risk

low

Property Risk

high

Top Risks

  • High bodily injury exposure on job sites
  • Completed operations liability
  • Subcontractor risk transfer
  • Equipment theft and damage
  • Multi-state operations common

Carriers That Write General Contractors

One of the largest small commercial writers in the U.S. with broad class appetite. Competitive BOP pricing and a streamlined agent portal with fast online quoting.

GLWCUmbrella

Broad appetite across most commercial classes with competitive package pricing. Strong multi-line capabilities — agents can bundle GL, property, auto, and umbrella under one carrier.

GLWCCommercial AutoUmbrella

Known for competitive commercial auto rates and fast online quoting. Strong appetite for businesses with vehicle fleets and a growing BOP book.

GLCommercial AutoWC

Berkshire Hathaway-backed (AM Best A++) with competitive pricing for standard small business classes. Fully online quoting and binding process.

GLWCCommercial AutoUmbrella

Cost Estimate

$5,000 - $25,000+ for businesses with $1M - $10M revenue

Key Pricing Factors

  • Annual revenue ($1M - $10M is typical for this class)
  • Employee count (10-100 is typical)
  • Payroll by classification
  • Subcontractor usage percentage
  • Project types (residential vs commercial)
  • Safety program

See the Per-Coverage Cost Breakdown

For median GL, BOP, WC, and auto premiums sourced from Insureon, plus a worked quote example and the underwriting questions to expect, see our general contractors insurance cost page.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does General Contractors insurance cost?
Insurance costs for General Contractors businesses vary based on revenue ($1M - $10M), employee count (10-100), location, claims history, and coverage types needed. Key coverages include GL, Workers Comp, Commercial Auto. Get quotes from multiple carriers to find competitive pricing — premiums can vary 20-40% between carriers for the same account.
What insurance does a General Contractors business need?
Most General Contractors businesses need GL, Workers Comp, Commercial Auto at minimum. Subcontractor certificates of insurance are critical — require GL, WC, and auto from every sub The right coverage package depends on your revenue, employee count, and specific risk exposures.
What are the biggest insurance risks for General Contractors businesses?
The primary risks for General Contractors businesses include: High bodily injury exposure on job sites; Completed operations liability; Subcontractor risk transfer; Equipment theft and damage. Common claims include Worker injury on job site, Property damage during construction, Completed operations defect. Understanding these risks helps agents recommend appropriate coverage limits and endorsements.
What do carriers look at when underwriting General Contractors businesses?
Key underwriting factors for General Contractors include: Annual revenue, Payroll by classification, Subcontractor usage percentage, Project types (residential vs commercial), Safety program, Experience modification rate. Carriers use these factors to determine pricing and eligibility. Businesses with clean loss history and strong risk management practices typically qualify for better rates.
What should agents know when quoting General Contractors insurance?
Subcontractor certificates of insurance are critical — require GL, WC, and auto from every sub. Completed operations coverage must extend at least 2-3 years after project completion. Umbrella limits of $2M-$5M are standard for GCs bidding on commercial projects. Using a comparative rater to quote multiple carriers simultaneously helps agents find the best combination of coverage and pricing for each General Contractors account.

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