Nationwide emerged as the top contender for Virginia’s best general liability insurance in MoneyGeek’s analysis with a score of 93 out of 100. However, NEXT, Hiscox, The Hartford, and Thimble are also great options for general liability policies.
Best General Liability Insurance in Virginia
Updated: June 20, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Overall, the best general liability insurance company in Virginia is Nationwide, which has a great balance of affordable rates for LLCs and good customer service.
The cheapest general liability insurance for sole proprietors in Virginia is offered by Thimble at $24 per month. For LLCs, NEXT is the most affordable option at $27 a month.
General liability insurance costs in Virginia depend on your industry, and we found they can range from $29 to $1,381 per month on average.
Best Cheap General Liability Insurance in Virginia
| Nationwide | 93 | $36 | $36 |
| NEXT | 90 | $27 | $27 |
| Hiscox | 86 | $32 | $47 |
| The Hartford | 86 | $33 | $51 |
| Thimble | 81 | $24 | $61 |
*Rates were based on a $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate limit for a software development company.
Nationwide: Best Overall
pros
Low rates for LLC businesses
Large coverage selection
Low customer claims frequency
cons
Higher rates for sole proprietors
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
We recommend Nationwide as Virginia's leading general liability insurer due to its blend of competitive costs and customer service scores. The company matches the lowest NAIC claims ratio available and earns 2nd place for LLC affordability with standard rates averaging $432 per year.
NEXT: Cheapest Overall
pros
Easy fast buying process
Very cheap rates overall, regardless of business size
Business-insurance-only focus
cons
Higher customer complaint frequency
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
NEXT wins our designation for Virginia's lowest-priced general liability coverage. Whether you operate as a sole proprietor or LLC, monthly premiums remain at $27. While the insurer's claims performance trails other companies in our Virginia analysis, they excel in purchase simplicity and offer same-day insurance verification.
How Much Is General Liability Insurance in Virginia?
An average general liability insurance policy in Virginia typically costs around $29 per month for sole proprietors and $44 per month for LLCs. However, this only represents software development companies and the costs can vary widely by industry.
| Cleaning | $983 | $44 |
| General Contractor | $1,381 | $89 |
| Software Development | $44 | $29 |
*Rates are based on a $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate coverage policy for general liability.
Factors That Impact General Liability Insurance Costs in Virginia
General liability insurance costs can fluctuate based on a number of different factors in Virginia. In the list below, you can see these factors and their impacts on your coverage costs.
Policy limits
Coverage limits can greatly influence insurance premiums. Opting for higher limits leads to increased costs, whereas choosing lower limits often results in more affordable premiums.
Number of employees and payroll costs
Firms with a large workforce and high payroll expenses often see a rise in general liability insurance costs. Our study of LLCs and sole proprietorships supports this connection.
Business location
The location of your business significantly affects insurance costs. Remember, state-level average rates can differ from one city to another, so take these variations into account when assessing your coverage needs.
Claims history
A history of multiple claims can make a business appear riskier to insurers, leading to higher premiums.
Industry
Industries with higher risks, like construction, usually face higher general liability insurance costs.
Virginia General Liability Insurance: Buyer's Guide
Business insurance is a complicated industry and can be difficult to navigate. So, to simplify your understanding of general liability insurance, we've created a short guide detailing how to get the best coverage, defining what it covers, listing requirements in Virginia, and explaining how much coverage you should consider getting.
How to Find the Best General Liability Insurance Company
To help ensure that you get the best small business insurance regardless of your industry, we've created a step-by-step guide to simplify your coverage search.
- 1
Define your coverage needs
Determine your liability risk by considering your industry, services, customer types, business size and market impact. Assess the frequency and costs of common claims in your industry to evaluate coverage options better.
- 2
Research average costs for your business
To understand how good of a deal you're getting from business insurance companies, you need to research average costs for your particular business. Knowing average expenses will give you a way to judge whether a company is saving you money.
- 3
Consult similar businesses
Your business community is your greatest resource, and personal experience is often more valuable than online resources. You'll likely get better recommendations for your specific needs and an understanding of what claims are common within your industry.
- 4
Compare multiple options through different means
You can judge which insurance option suits you best by comparing multiple companies. You can also choose multiple ways to compare, like online comparisons or using brokers. This can provide a comprehensive view of pricing.
What Does General Liability Insurance Cover and How Does It Work?
General liability insurance coverage consists of two parts: per occurrence and aggregate limits. Per occurrence refers to the maximum a single claim can go up to, while the aggregate limit is the total coverage you can get per year. In terms of covered items, this type of policy includes the following:
Bodily injuries or property damage on business property
Legal fees for bodily injury or property damage that your company may be responsible for
Damages to leased or rented business property
Bodily injury or property damage caused by your product or service
Libel, slander, or reputational harm legal defense
Legal fees for copyright infringement accusations
Is General Liability Insurance Required in Virginia?
General liability insurance isn't expressly required by state law and instead varies by your industry. However, if you are looking to apply for a professional license, sign a contract with a larger company, or sign an office lease, some form of general liability insurance may be required. While not an exhaustive list, the following industries tend to fall into these categories:
- Medical
- Accounting
- Real estate
- Insurance
- Contracting
- Engineering
- Marketing
- Law
- Consulting
- Media/Communications
How Much General Liability Insurance Do I Need?
Most small businesses need a standard policy with $1 million of protection per occurrence and a $2 million limit per year. This typically covers most damages over a year. However, industry risks and business size may require more coverage.
WHO MAY NEED MORE COVERAGE
Protecting your business is important. Companies in fields like health services, building, or selling goods, or for those that serve food and drinks often see the biggest insurance claims. So, if your business is part of these groups, consider more coverage. This is also true for small businesses that have lots of workers or sell products far and wide.
Best General Liability Insurance in Virginia: Bottom Line
Overall the best general liability insurance companies in Virginia are Nationwide, NEXT and Hiscox. However, we recommend comparing around yourself and getting plenty of quotes to ensure you get the best deal possible.
General Liability Insurance in Virginia: FAQ
Below, we address frequently asked questions regarding general liability insurance in Virginia:
Which company has the best general liability insurance in Virginia?
MoneyGeek's top choice for general liability insurance in Virginia is Nationwide, which earned an overall score of 93 out of 100. However, the ideal insurance for you depends on various details, including your business size, number of employees, and specific coverage requirements..
Which company has the cheapest general liability insurance in Virginia?
For sole proprietors, Thimble offers the most affordable rates at $288 annually. For LLCs, NEXT provides the cheapest coverage at $324 per year.
Does Virginia require businesses to have general liability insurance?
Virginia does not mandate general liability insurance for businesses, but acquiring it is a prudent step to protect against financial losses from third-party claims.
How We Chose the Best General Liability Insurance Providers in Virginia
We broke down our scores into these categories and weights:
- LLC cost (55% of score)
- Sole proprietor cost (5% of score)
- Customer satisfaction (25% of score)
- Financial strength (10% of score)
- Quote process time (5% of score)
For all business insurance companies, we assumed software development industry LLCs with 20 employees. We based customer satisfaction and financial strength scores on NAIC and AM Best ratings. Quote process scores came from our MoneyGeek experts' personal experiences.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.