Painting Contractors Insurance

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Quick answer: Painting contractors usually need general liability, workers' compensation, commercial auto and coverage for tools and spray equipment. Exterior, high-rise, industrial and lead-paint work change how carriers underwrite you, and many commercial jobs also ask for additional insured and waiver of subrogation endorsements.

Lions & Coventry Insurance Services, established in 2009 and licensed in all 50 states (CA Lic. #0G22084), places painting contractors insurance nationwide. We write residential repaint companies, commercial and new-construction painters, and specialty coating contractors.

Coverages painting contractors usually need

General liability for overspray on cars and neighboring buildings, paint spilled on a client's flooring, and injuries to people on the job site.
Workers' compensation for falls from ladders and scaffolding, chemical exposure and repetitive strain. Most states require it once you have employees, and general contractors usually ask for it on the certificate.
Commercial auto for vans and trucks that carry ladders, drop cloths and paint to each job.
Tools and equipment (inland marine) for airless sprayers, pressure washers, lifts and ladders, whether they are on a job, in a truck or in storage.
Contractors pollution liability where lead paint, solvents or coatings runoff are part of the work, since many general liability policies exclude pollution.

Underwriting details that matter for painters

Carriers want to know how much of your work is interior versus exterior, the tallest building you work on, whether you use swing stages or lifts, and whether you spray, sandblast or apply specialty coatings such as epoxy floors. Work on pre-1978 homes can fall under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, and carriers often ask whether your firm is certified. Industrial painting on bridges, tanks or towers is underwritten very differently from residential repaints, so describe your real mix of work up front.

Certificates painters get asked for

Commercial and new-construction painters are often asked for ongoing and completed operations additional insured endorsements, primary and noncontributory wording and a waiver of subrogation. Homeowners and property managers may ask for a simple certificate before you start.

Need a certificate for a painting contract? See same-day certificates and additional insured endorsements.

What drives your premium

We don't publish prices because every quote depends on underwriting. These are the main factors carriers weigh:

Interior versus exterior work and the height you work at
Residential, commercial, industrial or new-construction jobs
Spray, sandblasting or specialty coating work
Payroll, subcontractor costs and revenue
Claims history and contract requirements such as additional insured or waiver of subrogation

We quote nationwide. Request a quote or call (916) 967-7715.

How to get a painting contractors insurance quote

Five steps to prepare a painting contractor insurance submission for work anywhere in the U.S. This is brokerage guidance from Lions & Coventry Insurance Services, not legal advice and not a premium quote.

Describe your mix of painting work — Estimate how much of your work is interior versus exterior and residential, commercial, new construction or industrial, and note the tallest building you work on and the states where you work. These answers decide which carriers will look at the account.
List your methods and materials — Say whether you spray, pressure wash, sandblast or apply specialty coatings such as epoxy floors, and whether you use lifts or swing stages. If you work on pre-1978 homes, have your firm’s lead-safe certification under the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule ready, since carriers often ask for it.
Gather payroll, subcontract and equipment figures — Have annual payroll, subcontractor costs and revenue estimates ready, plus a list of vans and trucks and the sprayers, lifts and ladders you want insured. Workers compensation and general liability are often rated on these figures.
Pull loss runs and contract requirements — Request loss runs from your current or prior carriers and collect the insurance requirements from your contracts. Commercial and new-construction clients often ask for additional insured endorsements, primary and noncontributory wording and a waiver of subrogation.
Send the submission to a licensed broker — Share the facts above with us. We compare available markets, explain whether a placement is admitted or surplus lines, and tell you whether pollution coverage should be added for lead paint or coatings work. We do not quote a premium before underwriting reviews the risk.

Related pages: general liability, workers compensation and certificates of insurance. Ready to start? Request a quote or call (916) 967-7715.

Painting Contractors insurance FAQ

Do painting contractors need general liability insurance?

General contractors, property managers and commercial clients commonly require it before you start. It covers claims that your work damaged someone else's property or injured someone, such as overspray on a parked car or a slip on a drop cloth.

Does general liability cover lead paint claims?

Often not. Many general liability policies exclude pollution, and lead can fall under that exclusion. If you work on older buildings, ask about contractors pollution liability and confirm how your policy treats lead before you take the job.

Is my spray equipment covered by general liability?

No. General liability covers damage you cause to others. Your own sprayers, ladders, lifts and tools need tools and equipment coverage, usually written as an inland marine policy, which can follow them from job to job.

Do I need workers' compensation if I only use subcontractors?

Rules vary by state. In many states a painting contractor can become responsible for an uninsured subcontractor's injured workers, and your workers' compensation audit may charge for uninsured subcontractors. Collect certificates from every subcontractor and keep them on file.

How much does painting contractor insurance cost?

We don't publish prices, because every painting contractor quote depends on underwriting. Carriers look at whether you do interior or exterior work, residential or commercial, spray or brush and roll, how high you work, your payroll and subcontractor costs, your claims history, the limits and endorsements your contracts require, and the states where you work. Request a quote or call (916) 967-7715 and a licensed producer will review your operations and shop the market.

Brokerage guidance, not legal advice. Coverage depends on the policy form, underwriting and carrier availability, and licensing and insurance rules vary by state.

Request a quote

Tell us about your operations, locations, payroll or revenue, and the coverage or certificates you need. Lions & Coventry has placed commercial insurance since 2009 and is licensed in all 50 states (CA Lic. #0G22084).