Contractor Insurance by Trade
General Contractor Insurance
GCs carry the broadest exposure of any contractor. You’re liable for your own work and your subs. Get a policy structured to handle both — with the limits commercial clients and developers actually require.
- ✓GL structured to cover your work and your subcontractors’ operations
- ✓Umbrella coverage to hit $5M+ limits for commercial contracts
- ✓Builder’s risk coverage for projects under construction
- ✓Additional insured management so your subs are compliant
✓ 20+ Years Experience
✓ Same-Day COI
✓ Licensed All 50 States
Or call (234) 231-8427 — Mon–Fri, 9 AM–5 PM EST
Sound Familiar?
Insurance Problems General Contractors Face
“A sub caused damage and the owner is suing me, not them.”
GCs are routinely held liable for subcontractor work under general liability theory. Your policy needs to explicitly address subcontractor liability and we make sure it does.
“The developer requires $5M in limits and my umbrella only goes to $2M.”
We can layer excess coverage over your umbrella to reach $5M, $10M, or more on commercial contracts.
“My sub didn’t have coverage and I got stuck with the claim.”
Subcontractor management — requiring COIs and additional insured status before work starts — is the only real protection against this. We help clients build systems to stay compliant.
“My builder’s risk lapsed mid-project and we had a theft.”
Builder’s risk needs to be active from groundbreaking to certificate of occupancy. We manage renewal timing on long projects to prevent gaps.
Why GC Insurance Is Different from Trade Contractor Coverage
General contractors take on a fundamentally different risk profile than trade contractors. A roofer is responsible for their own work. A GC is responsible for the entire project — their own work, their subs’ work, project coordination failures, and the site itself during construction. This broader exposure requires a more comprehensive insurance program.
The most important coverage feature for GCs is how subcontractor work is handled in your GL policy. Some policies restrict or exclude coverage for claims arising from subcontractor operations. Others require that each sub carries their own GL and names you as additional insured before you get coverage for their work. We structure GC policies that provide the right combination of your own coverage and subcontractor liability management.
Builder’s risk is the other coverage that’s unique to GCs. It protects the project under construction — materials, labor value, and the structure itself — from fire, theft, vandalism, and weather events before the owner accepts the building. On larger commercial projects, lenders require it as a condition of the construction loan.
GC Coverage Components
General liability for GCs should be at least $1M/$2M, but commercial contracts regularly require $2M/$4M with a $5M umbrella on top. Workers comp is required for your own employees. Builder’s risk should be placed for every significant project with replacement cost coverage from start to completion.
Additional insured management — requiring COIs from every sub before they start — is a coverage practice, not an insurance product, but it directly affects your own exposure. GCs who don’t enforce subcontractor insurance requirements end up absorbing claims that should have gone to a sub’s policy.
GC Insurance Costs
GC insurance costs scale with project size and annual revenue. A residential GC doing $1M in annual work might pay $3,000–$8,000/year for GL. A commercial GC doing $10M+ pays $15,000–$50,000+ depending on project types and claims history. Workers comp for a GC crew adds significantly depending on payroll and the trades your employees perform.
Why Trade Safe
Why Contractors Choose Trade Safe Insurance
We Know Your Trade
We’ve spent 20+ years placing coverage for contractors across every trade. We understand your risks, your licensing requirements, and which carriers will actually pay your claims.
Hard-to-Place Welcome
We’ve placed contractors that five other agencies turned down. Our access to specialty and E&S markets means we can find coverage when standard carriers won’t write your trade.
Same-Day COI
You call, we issue. Certificates go out the same day so you never lose a job waiting on paperwork. We know contractors live and die on getting to the job site.
Independent Agency
We shop dozens of carriers on your behalf. We don’t represent one company — we represent you. That means you get the best available rate for your actual trade and risk profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What insurance does a general contractor need? +
GL, workers comp, commercial auto, umbrella, and builder’s risk for projects under construction. The specific limits depend on your project types and GC/owner requirements.
Does my GL cover my subcontractors? +
It depends on your policy. Some policies cover claims from sub operations with certain conditions; others restrict it. We review this specifically for every GC policy we write.
What is builder’s risk insurance? +
Builder’s risk covers the project under construction — the structure, materials, and work value — from fire, theft, vandalism, and other perils before the owner takes possession.
How much umbrella does a GC need? +
It depends on your projects. Residential GCs typically need $1M–$2M. Commercial and industrial GCs often need $5M–$10M to satisfy developer and lender requirements.
Can a GC use one policy to cover all their subs? +
Technically possible but not advisable. The better approach is requiring each sub to carry their own coverage and name you as additional insured. This is more protective and more practical.
What additional insured status means for GCs? +
When you’re listed as additional insured on a sub’s policy, their carrier provides coverage to you for claims arising from the sub’s work. It’s essential protection for GCs.
How much does GC insurance cost? +
It scales with revenue. A $1M residential GC might pay $3,000–$8,000/year for GL. A $10M commercial GC can pay $20,000–$60,000+ across all lines.
Does GC insurance cover design errors? +
Standard GL doesn’t cover professional/design errors. If you’re taking on design-build work, you need a separate professional liability or contractor’s errors and omissions policy.
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Get the Right General Contractor Insurance — Not a Generic Policy
We match your exact trade to the right carrier. Same-day quotes. Same-day COI. Hard-to-place risks welcome.