Commercial Services
Contractors Insurance
Whether you're a general contractor, electrician, plumber, roofer, or any licensed trade, Knox Insurance provides the coverage you need to protect your business, your crew, and your projects. We shop multiple carriers to find the right package at competitive rates.
All Trades
Licensed & insured
Trades We Insure
Coverage for Every Contractor Classification
General Contractors
Electricians
Plumbers
HVAC
Roofers
Painters
Concrete & Masonry
Framers
Drywall & Insulation
Landscapers
Flooring
Handyman Services
Coverage Highlights
Essential Coverages for Contractors
Contractors face unique risks on every job. From liability at the work site to protecting your tools and equipment, here are the coverages every contractor should carry.
General Liability
The foundation of every contractor's insurance program. Covers third-party bodily injury, property damage, and completed operations claims. Required by most general contractors, property owners, and government projects before you can step on site.
Workers' Compensation
Required in most states for contractors with employees. Covers medical expenses and lost wages for workers injured on the job. Many GCs require subs to carry workers' comp even if the state doesn't mandate it for their headcount.
Tools & Equipment (Inland Marine)
Covers your tools, equipment, and materials — whether stored on the job site, in your shop, in a storage unit, or in transit between locations. Protects against theft, fire, vandalism, and accidental damage.
Builders' Risk
Coverage for structures under construction. Protects the building, materials, and fixtures against fire, weather, theft, and vandalism during the build process. Can be written per-project or as a blanket policy.
Commercial Auto
Coverage for your work trucks, vans, and service vehicles. Includes liability, collision, comprehensive, and hired/non-owned auto for rented or borrowed vehicles used on the job.
Contractor Bonds
License bonds, bid bonds, performance bonds, and payment bonds. We help you meet bonding requirements for state licensing, public works projects, and private contracts that require surety.
Umbrella & Excess Liability
Additional liability limits above your general liability and auto policies. Many GCs and project owners require $1M to $5M+ in umbrella coverage before allowing subs on the job.
Professional Liability (E&O)
Covers claims arising from design errors, project management mistakes, or failure to meet professional standards. Important for design-build contractors, engineers, and consultants who provide professional advice.
Pollution Liability
Covers cleanup costs and liability from pollution incidents at your job site — disturbing lead paint, asbestos, mold remediation, or accidental chemical releases during construction.
Installation Floater
Covers materials and equipment you're installing at a customer's property until the job is complete and accepted. Protects against damage or theft of the items you're putting in place.
Business Property
Coverage for your office, shop, warehouse, or yard — the building, contents, computers, and business personal property. Includes business income coverage if a loss shuts down your operations.
Cyber Insurance
Protects against data breaches, ransomware, and fraud targeting your business systems. Increasingly important for contractors who store customer payment info, project data, and employee records digitally.
What GCs & Project Owners Require
Before you can bid on or start most jobs, you'll need to provide certificates of insurance showing the right coverages and limits. Here's what's typically required:
General Liability — $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate is the standard minimum
Workers' Compensation — statutory limits required in most states, even for small crews
Commercial Auto — $1M combined single limit for work vehicles on and off site
Umbrella — $1M to $5M+ depending on the GC, project owner, or government entity
Additional Insured status — GCs and property owners listed on your policy as additional insureds
Waiver of Subrogation — prevents your carrier from pursuing the GC or owner after a claim
Without Proper Coverage, You Risk
Losing bids and contracts because you can't meet insurance requirements
Being removed from a job site mid-project for lapsed or insufficient coverage
Personal liability for employee injuries if you don't carry workers' comp
Paying out of pocket for property damage or injury claims at your job sites
License suspension or revocation — many states require proof of insurance to maintain your contractor license
Need a certificate fast? We issue COIs and additional insured endorsements quickly so you don't lose a job over paperwork.
Surety Bonds
Contractor Bonds & Surety
Many states require a contractor license bond before you can operate legally. Public works projects require bid bonds, performance bonds, and payment bonds. We help you get bonded so you can bid bigger and win more work.
License bonds — required by most states for contractor licensing
Bid bonds — guarantees you'll enter into a contract if you win the bid
Performance bonds — guarantees you'll complete the project per contract terms
Payment bonds — guarantees you'll pay subcontractors, laborers, and material suppliers
Maintenance bonds — covers defects in workmanship after project completion
45+
Years serving contractors
20+
Carrier & surety partners
15+
States covered
Fast
COI & bond turnaround
Why Knox for Contractors Insurance?
We've been insuring contractors since 1980. We understand the coverages, the certificates, and the bonding requirements that keep your license active and your projects moving.
All Trades Welcome
From general contractors and roofers to electricians and handyman services — we insure every licensed trade and find carriers that match your specific classification and risk profile.
Fast Certificates
Need a COI before you start a job? We issue certificates of insurance quickly with additional insured endorsements, waivers of subrogation, and primary/non-contributory status as needed.
Package Programs
We bundle general liability, workers' comp, commercial auto, tools coverage, and umbrella into one program for simplified management and often better pricing than standalone policies.
Multi-State Coverage
Working across state lines? We coordinate coverage and licensing requirements across 15+ states so you can take jobs wherever the work is.
Get Your Contractors Insurance Quote
Free quotes from multiple carriers. We'll build a package that covers your trade, your crew, and your projects.