As a general contractor in the construction industry, it's important to invest in general liability insurance to shield yourself against property damage or bodily injury claims that can impact your finances.

Securing your finances doesn’t have to be expensive. MoneyGeek examined a range of providers to find the cheapest general liability insurance for contractors. We analyzed insurers based on affordability, customer satisfaction, financial stability and the online quote process for LLCs and sole proprietors.

Why Trust MoneyGeek?
We collected 1,229 general liability insurance quotes and analyzed cost information alongside customer satisfaction and financial stability reports to determine the cheapest general liability insurance for contractors.

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Coverage costs and company information was last updated in 2023.

Cheapest Overall General Liability Insurance for Contractors

For contractors in the construction industry, The Hartford provides the cheapest general liability insurance. LLCs pay an average of $922 per month, while sole proprietors pay only $90 monthly. The Hartford also has a high complaint score and AM Best rating, indicating that customers are satisfied and the company can meet its financial obligations.

How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

The Hartford100$90$922
Nationwide90$221$2,158
Thimble87$126$4,507
Hiscox85$85No Data
biBERK84$100No Data
Next75$504$4,130

MoneyGeek’s Pick: The Hartford

The Hartford

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Affordable for both LLCs and sole proprietors

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High AM Best rating

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High customer satisfaction

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Slower quote time compared to other providers

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May not offer general liability insurance to contractors in all states

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

The Hartford is a well-established insurer with a solid financial standing, great customer service and affordable premiums. At The Hartford, LLCs pay an average of $11,059 per year, while sole proprietors pay an average of $1,081 annually.

However, The Hartford’s general liability insurance may not be available online for contractors nationwide. In addition, requesting a quote may take longer than other providers since you must contact an agent.

Cheapest General Liability Insurance for Contractors by State

In most states, The Hartford offers the cheapest general liability insurance for contractors. However, your business location plays a critical role in the cost of your policy. For instance, businesses in areas with higher risk factors, such as flood or earthquake-prone zones, may pay higher insurance premiums. This is because businesses are more likely to make claims in such regions, which is a higher risk for the insurer.

To find the cheapest general liability insurance for contractors by state, MoneyGeek collected quotes from Zip codes with the highest population density in each state.

How did MoneyGeek rank these companies?

AlabamaThe Hartford$75$492
AlaskaThimble$49$1,746
AlaskaNext$87$1,028
ArizonaThe Hartford$85$723
ArkansasThe Hartford$76$577
CaliforniaNext$257$3,072
CaliforniaThimble$110$3,936
ColoradoThe Hartford$80$540
ConnecticutThe Hartford$91$873
DelawareThe Hartford$99$808
FloridaThimble$135$4,856
GeorgiaNationwide$121$1,399
HawaiiNext$138$1,193
IdahoThe Hartford$83$579
IllinoisThe Hartford$115$1,051
IndianaThe Hartford$85$618
IowaThe Hartford$78$510
KansasThe Hartford$76$526
KentuckyThe Hartford$94$696
LouisianaThimble$261$9,352
MaineThe Hartford$92$719
MarylandThe Hartford$90$679
MassachusettsThe Hartford$98$808
MichiganThe Hartford$71$404
MinnesotaThe Hartford$63$286
MississippiThe Hartford$75$462
MissouriThe Hartford$81$556
MontanaThe Hartford$90$1,027
NebraskaThe Hartford$79$521
NevadaThe Hartford$117$1,079
New HampshireThe Hartford$91$696
New JerseyThe Hartford$175$1,921
New MexicoThe Hartford$80$543
New YorkbiBERK$0No Data
North CarolinaThe Hartford$65$284
North DakotaThe Hartford$90$630
OhioThe Hartford$67$327
OklahomaThe Hartford$71$356
OregonThe Hartford$88$653
PennsylvaniaThe Hartford$180$3,329
Rhode IslandThe Hartford$98$799
South CarolinaNationwide$189$2,605
South DakotaThe Hartford$98$606
TennesseeThe Hartford$80$591
TexasThe Hartford$91$697
UtahThe Hartford$86$630
VermontNationwide$202$1,349
VirginiaThe Hartford$76$473
WashingtonNationwide$90$2,128
West VirginiaThe Hartford$85$613
WisconsinThe Hartford$89$664
WyomingNationwide$71$899

Cheapest General Liability Insurance for Sole Proprietor Contractors

The cheapest contractor insurance for sole proprietors is from Hiscox, with rates averaging $1,134 per year or $85 per month. Aside from being affordable, Hiscox also offers a good balance between financial stability, customer satisfaction and the time to get a quote.

MoneyGeek’s Pick: Hiscox

Hiscox

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Highly affordable for sole proprietors

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Shorter time to get a quote compared to other providers

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5% rate reduction if you buy two or more Hiscox insurance products

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Does not offer coverage in Alaska

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Availability of business coverage varies by state

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Hiscox is the ideal option for sole proprietors looking for cheap general contractor insurance that delivers high-quality service. You can even get a 5% rate reduction if you get more than one Hiscox insurance product.

However, Hiscox does not offer its policies in all states, and coverage availability will depend on your state. If you want to supplement your general liability policy with other coverages, such as professional liability, your options may be limited.

Cheapest General Liability Insurance for Contractors With Employees

The Hartford offers the cheapest general liability insurance for contractors with an LLC, charging an average of $11,059 per year or $922 per month. Note that this is for a general contractor LLC with 20 employees, which means your costs may vary if you have more or fewer employees.

MoneyGeek’s Pick: The Hartford

The Hartford

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Highly affordable for employers at an average of $11,059 per year

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High rate of customer satisfaction

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Waiting time for a quote is longer than other insurers

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Does not offer insurance in all states

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

For LLCs, The Hartford offers the cheapest contractor insurance at an average of $11,059 per year. Having been in the business for over a century, The Hartford also boasts a great AM Best rating and a low average complaint score, indicating it’s a financially stable insurance provider with excellent customer service. The downsides are that The Hartford’s policies may not be available in all states and it may take a long time to get a quote.

Cheapest General Liability Insurance for Online Quotes for Contractors

If you're looking for a fast insurance quote, Thimble's rapid response time makes it an excellent choice over other providers. Taking an average of 34 seconds to get a quote online, contractors can quickly determine a ballpark figure for their insurance. However, it's important to note that while Thimble offers quick insurance quotes, its rates may not be the most affordable compared to other providers.

MoneyGeek’s Pick: Thimble

Thimble

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Affordable for sole proprietors at an average of $1,530 annually

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Offers quotes quickly

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High customer complaint volume compared to other insurers

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Costly option for LLCs (average of $54,109 per year)

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

As an online insurance provider, Thimble offers quick and accessible general liability insurance to both sole proprietors and LLCs. Available nationwide with a rapid quote time that surpasses other insurers, Thimble’s policies average $1,530 per year for sole proprietors and $54,109 per year for LLCs.

However, Thimble also has a high average number of customer complaints based on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index. This might be attributed to the company's reliance on online customer support.

How to Get the Cheapest General Liability Insurance for Contractors

How much general liability insurance costs for contractors can depend on several things, including business location, previous claims history, coverage amount and number of employees.

Businesses with more employees tend to have higher insurance premiums due to the potential for accidents and injury claims. Your claims history can also impact your insurance costs, as frequent or severe claims can lead to higher rates.

There are a few things you can do to find a policy with the cheapest premiums and coverage that meets your needs.

Consider Your Coverage Needs

Determine the appropriate level of general liability coverage you require to avoid overpaying for unnecessary coverage or being underinsured. Skimping on coverage to save on insurance costs can leave your business vulnerable to financial losses in the event of a claim.

The amount of coverage you need will depend on factors such as the services you provide or how many employees you have. By assessing your business's unique needs, you can ensure they have adequate coverage without overpaying for unnecessary protection.

Limit Your Liability Claims

Ensuring the work site is safe is a key way to reduce the likelihood of accidents. The costs of workplace accidents and injuries are numerous: medical bills or property damage for the injured employee or third party, increased insurance premiums and potential business losses.

By keeping your work site safe and minimizing accidents and injuries, you can keep your claims count low and your reputation clean—and keep your premiums lower.

Bundle Multiple Policies

Bundling insurance policies can be an effective way to save money on premiums. Many insurers offer bundling options that let you benefit from discounts. For instance, you can get general liability, commercial auto and business income insurance in one bundle, depending on the provider.

However, while bundling policies can save money, ensuring that your coverage is sufficient to protect the business from potential losses is essential. You also want to avoid getting unnecessary coverage.

Cheap General Liability Insurance for Contractors FAQs

Getting cheap general liability insurance is vital as a contractor to protect your assets and bottom line. Our answers to frequently asked questions provide more information about cheap general contractor insurance.

Which company has the cheapest general liability insurance for contractors?

How much is a general liability policy for contractors?

What impacts general liability insurance costs for contractors?

About Melissa Wylie


Melissa Wylie headshot

Melissa Wylie is the Content and SEO Manager at MoneyGeek, with nearly a decade of editorial experience and six years of work in financial content focused on small businesses. She previously held SEO positions at Bankrate and LendingTree, with bylines on ValuePenguin and MagnifyMoney.

Wylie has a journalism degree from the University of North Texas. Her strong foundation in journalism helps her craft content that simplifies complex financial topics to help everyone feel confident when making decisions with their money.