Contractors Insurance
As a contractor, while you get the job done, you face a lot of risks while doing it and having the right Contractors Insurance policy in place can increase profits. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that about 4% of all workers in the industry suffer injuries or illnesses—and the resulting costs add up. This is compounded by the many other problems that can occur at a given work site. Due to the many risk factors contractors routinely face in their work, good insurance policies become essential to any successful contractor’s operation.
Contractor’s insurance covers problems typically associated with the risks of construction and renovation projects, including risks to your employees, your work site, and anyone or any equipment involved. Most of these policies are a combination of other policies, often including:
- Business Owners Policy Insurance
- Commercial General Liability Insurance
- Contractor Equipment Insurance
- Worker’s Compensation
- Commercial Vehicle Insurance
The coverage that’s needed depends on the work that you do. Contractors in different industries often have different insurance needs (and occasionally different requirements, depending on local legislation). Lions & Coventry Insurance Services can help you determine which forms of insurance are required for your company and ensure that you’re never left exposed.
Equipment Coverage
You know the importance of having the right tools for the job and if tools are inoperable, or stolen, it will quickly cut into profits and the job might not get done. Whether you operate large pieces of equipment (bulldozers, etc.), or chose to protect your expensive tools, Contractors Equipment Insurance will provide you the coverage that standard policies will not.
Lions & Coventry Insurance Services’ goal is to mitigate your risks as much as possible, and the more we know about your equipment, the better the policy we can offer. On request, we can let you know about how certain pieces of equipment are classified, the associated level of risk, and what kind of reimbursements you can expect if something goes wrong. Contact us today and we will put together the right Contractor equipment insurance policy that fits your needs and your budget.
Need a contractors insurance quote? Call (916) 967-7715 or use our contact form. Lions & Coventry license #0G22084 — brokerage guidance only; no fake premiums or rankings.
Contractors insurance FAQ
These answers are brokerage guidance for California contractors shopping a package of liability, workers compensation, tools/equipment, and related coverages — not legal advice. Limits, endorsements, and pricing depend on trade, payroll, jobs, and carrier appetite. We do not invent a premium or claim a ranking before review. For the wider program, see our construction insurance hub.
What does contractors insurance typically cover?
Contractors insurance is usually a package, not a single form. Common pieces include commercial general liability (third-party bodily injury and property damage from your operations), workers compensation when you have employees or the job requires it, commercial auto for vehicles used in the business, and contractors equipment / inland marine for tools and mobile equipment. Many owners also ask for additional-insured and waiver wording on certificates. Exact coverages follow the policy forms and schedule — not a brochure list. Pair the program with job-specific requests using our California contractors COI & additional-insured checklist.
What is commonly excluded or outside a contractors policy?
Standard CGL often limits or excludes workmanship / your work, professional design errors (those may need professional liability), pollution and asbestos unless endorsed, employee injuries (workers compensation territory), and autos (commercial auto). Tools and equipment may need a separate inland marine or equipment floater. Bonds (CSLB license, performance / payment) are not insurance and do not replace liability. Always read the specimen forms and endorsements for your trade before assuming a claim is covered.
Who typically needs contractors insurance in California?
Licensed contractors, specialty trades, and GCs commonly need GL and, when they have employees or the contract requires it, workers compensation. Owners, GCs, and lenders often require evidence of insurance, additional insured status, and sometimes higher limits or umbrella before you mobilize. Subcontractors may also need commercial auto and equipment coverage for trucks and tools on site. Requirements vary by CSLB classification, contract, and job location — brokerage review beats guessing from a blog post.
What documents help get a contractors insurance quote?
Helpful items include: legal entity name and FEIN, CSLB license number and classifications, years in business and ownership details, description of trades and typical job sizes, payroll and employee count (or 1099 mix), prior loss runs when available, vehicle list and drivers for commercial auto, equipment schedule and values, and any sample contract insurance requirements or COI wording the owner wants. Accurate entity names and trade descriptions speed underwriting; wrong class codes slow it down. We review submissions as brokerage guidance only and do not invent premiums on this page.
How do I start a contractors insurance quote with Lions & Coventry?
Call (916) 967-7715 or send details through our contact form. Tell us your trade and CSLB classifications, payroll and revenue range, typical job size, vehicles and equipment, and any certificate or additional-insured wording the GC or owner requires. We can map GL, WC, auto, and equipment next to your construction insurance program so certificates stay aligned. Lions & Coventry license #0G22084 — brokerage guidance only, not legal advice.
How to get a contractors insurance quote in California
Educational steps for California contractors preparing a package quote covering the trades and job types you actually perform. This is brokerage guidance from Lions & Coventry Insurance Services — not legal advice, not a premium quote, and not a ranking claim.
- List your trades, CSLB classifications, and typical jobs — note active CSLB license number and classifications, the trades you self-perform vs. subcontract, and the job types you bid most often (residential remodel, tenant improvement, public works, new construction). Clear scope beats a vague “general contractor” label when underwriters review the submission.
- Map GL, WC, commercial auto, inland marine, and builders risk to the work — commercial general liability for third-party bodily injury and property damage; workers compensation when you have employees or need a waiver; commercial auto for owned or hired vehicles; inland marine / contractors equipment for tools and gear off-premises; builders risk when a job requires project property coverage. Align the mix with your construction insurance program. We do not invent premiums on this page.
- Gather entity, payroll, receipts, losses, and certificate needs — legal entity and FEIN, ownership and years in business, payroll by class, receipts or revenue by trade, prior losses / claims, current or expiring policies, and any certificate of insurance or additional-insured wording GC or owners already require. Incomplete facts delay quotes.
- Align COI, additional insured, and primary-noncontributory asks with job contracts — match certificate and endorsement requests (additional insured, primary and noncontributory, waiver of subrogation) to the insurance exhibits in your contracts before you bid or mobilize. Use the California contractors COI & Additional Insured checklist so requests stay consistent across jobs.
- Call or contact to start the quote — reach Lions & Coventry at (916) 967-7715 or the contact form with trades / CSLB facts, payroll and receipts, job types, and any COI or AI wording so we can map the package. License #0G22084.
Related: construction insurance · COI & Additional Insured checklist · workers compensation · builders risk. Next step: call (916) 967-7715 or use /contact/. License #0G22084 — Citrus Heights, CA.