Insurance for Contractors in Washington
Contractors carry more certificate requirements than almost any other business. Washington registration through L&I requires proof of general liability and a bond, general contractors require additional insured endorsements before you step on site, and the tools in your truck are worth more than most policies assume.
What usually goes wrong
- Property damage and injuries on client job sites
- Completed operations claims that surface months or years after a job
- Tools and equipment stolen from vehicles and job sites
- Employees driving company trucks between jobs
- Subcontractors without their own insurance
The coverage we typically build
- General LiabilityInjury and property damage claims from customers, clients, and the public. The policy most contracts require.Details
- Commercial AutoVehicles your business owns, plus liability when employees drive their own cars for work.Details
- Workers Comp & Stop-Gap (WA)Washington workers comp runs through L&I. Stop-gap covers the lawsuits L&I does not.Details
- Commercial UmbrellaExtra liability limits above your GL, auto, and employers liability, usually at a lower cost per dollar.Details
- Commercial PropertyBuildings, equipment, inventory, and improvements, valued at what it would really cost to replace.Details
Tools and equipment that move between job sites belong on an inland marine (contractors equipment) policy, not a building-based property form.
The gap we see most
The most expensive contractor surprise is the premium audit. General liability for contractors is often rated on payroll or subcontracted cost, estimated at the start of the year and audited at the end. Pay an uninsured sub and the carrier may treat those costs as your own payroll. We collect certificates from your subs with you, before the audit does it for you.
Stories from contractors & trades
Illustrative stories: what each business came in for, and what the review found.
A Roofer's Umbrella Only Works if the Policies Underneath It Are Right
A roofing company needed a $5 million umbrella for commercial jobs. The review found that without stop-gap and the right GL form underneath, the umbrella would not have responded to the claims roofers actually face.
UmbrellaGLStop-gapConstructionA Spokane Painter Took a Job in Coeur d'Alene. Washington L&I Didn't Follow His Crew.
A commercial painting company based in Spokane began taking jobs across the Idaho line. The review found its crew wasn't clearly covered for injuries in Idaho, and its stop-gap and umbrella had gaps of their own.
Stop-gapGLUmbrellaConstructionAn Electrician Moved From Arizona and Asked Where to Buy Workers Comp
An electrical contractor relocated his company to Washington and asked a simple question: which carrier writes workers comp here? The answer surprised him, and the gap it revealed is one many Washington employers miss.
Stop-gapGLAutoConstructionAn HVAC Company's Technicians Took Their Vans Home. The Auto Policy Needed to Know.
A heating and cooling contractor with eleven service vans had a fleet policy that didn't match how the vans were actually used, and liability limits too thin for a fleet on the road every day.
AutoGLUmbrellaConstructionSix Trucks, Four Trailers, and a Landscaper's Auto Policy That Only Knew About Three
A growing landscaping company added trucks, trailers, and drivers faster than it updated its insurance. The review found undisclosed vehicles, an unlisted driver with a bad record, and equipment nobody had insured.
AutoGLStop-gapConstructionThe Remodeler Who Couldn't Start the Job Until His Certificate Matched the Contract
A kitchen and bath remodeler landed his biggest subcontract yet, then learned his general liability policy was missing three endorsements the contract required. Here is how the gap got closed before day one.
GLUmbrellaAutoConstructionTree Work Is One of the Riskiest Trades in Washington. The Insurance Has to Match.
A tree removal company with bucket trucks, chippers, and climbers had L&I and a basic liability policy. The review found missing stop-gap, heavy equipment on the wrong auto policy, and no umbrella over one of the highest-hazard jobs around.
Stop-gapAutoUmbrellaCommon questions
What insurance do I need to register as a contractor in Washington?
L&I contractor registration requires a surety bond and proof of general liability insurance at the minimums L&I sets for your registration type, plus an L&I workers comp account if you have employees. Your GL carrier files proof directly with L&I.
Why does my general contractor want to be an additional insured?
So your policy defends them if a claim arises from your work. It requires an endorsement on your policy, not just a certificate, and the wording has to match the contract.
Insurance for contractors & trades, reviewed line by line.
Send us what you have. We review it line by line against your leases and contracts, and tell you plainly what is missing. Free, and no obligation.