Insurance for general contractors.

General liability, builder’s risk, workers’ comp, commercial auto, and umbrella, for residential and commercial GCs. Coverage that still holds up when a sub’s coverage does not.

What general contractors usually carry

General liability, $1M / $2M
Builder’s risk
Workers’ comp
Commercial auto
Umbrella
Tools and equipment

Watch for these in a general contractor’s policy

Subcontractor requirementsMost GC policies require certificates, additional insured status, and matching limits from every sub. A sub without them gets charged to you at audit.
Residential exclusionsMany specialty policies exclude new residential construction, condos, or tract homes. Check before you bid a housing job.
Wrap-up projectsOn a project with its own wrap-up policy, your own policy may exclude that work. Know which one answers before you start.
Action overSome policies exclude injury claims by your subs’ employees that come back to you. It matters on every job with subs.

What GCs and owners ask general contractors for

Additional insuredOwners and lenders, for ongoing and completed operations.
Per-project aggregateCG 25 03, so each project has its own limit.
Waiver of subrogationOn general liability, workers’ comp, and auto.
Builder’s riskNaming the owner and the lender, for the full completed value.

Questions general contractors ask