General contractors carry the risk of every trade on the job. When a subcontractor's mistake damages a property or someone is hurt on site, the claim often lands on the GC. Underwriting commonly turns on how much you subcontract, whether you collect certificates from every sub, project sizes, and the residential vs. commercial mix. This guide explains the coverage general contractors typically carry and what to have ready before a call with a licensed DANESURE advisor.
Grouped by when most contractors need it. Your own list depends on your operations and each carrier’s underwriting.
Pays if your work damages someone's property or injures someone. Completed operations covers claims that show up after the job is finished, which is when many defect claims arrive. Most contracts ask for proof of it. For a GC, the policy's treatment of subcontracted work matters as much as the limit.
Pays medical bills and lost wages if an employee is hurt on the job. Most states require it once you have employees, full-time or part-time. Helpers paid as 1099s who can't show their own coverage can be counted as your employees at audit. Collect a current certificate from every sub before they start.
Covers trucks, vans and trailers used for the business. A personal auto policy often won't pay a claim that happens while the vehicle is being used for work.
Covers your tools and equipment, owned, leased or rented. General liability and auto don't cover your own tools and equipment.
Covers the structure itself while it is being built. Who buys it depends on the contract: you, the owner or the lender.
Extra limits on top of general liability and auto, often required once you take larger commercial jobs.
If you take on design responsibility, this covers mistakes in the design, which general liability usually excludes.
Bid, performance and payment bonds are surety products, not insurance. They're underwritten separately on your experience and financials.
Many general contractors, owners and property managers require additional insured status, primary & non-contributory wording and a waiver of subrogation. A certificate only shows coverage; those protections exist only if the policy is endorsed for them.
Tell us about your business and a licensed DANESURE advisor will call you at the time you choose.
This guide is general information to help you prepare. It isn't a coverage recommendation, a quote, or a promise of coverage — what you need depends on your operations and each carrier's underwriting. A licensed DANESURE advisor will review your situation with you.
DANESURE, Inc. · Arizona agency license #3004238332