Contractor insurance in Dallas
Contractors carry risk long after a job ends. Your finished work, your subcontractors and the tools in your truck all raise different insurance questions.
General contractors and property owners often ask to see proof of coverage before work starts. Knowing what they ask for makes a quote request faster.
What sets this work apart
Your finished work can lead to claims
General liability can apply to harm caused by work you already finished. But TDI explains that damage to your own work is generally excluded. There is an exception when a subcontractor did the damaged part.
Source: Texas Department of Insurance: Commercial general liability insurance
Contracts shape what you need
Contracts may ask you to cover other parties or carry set limits. TDI notes that liability you take on only because of a contract is excluded, with exceptions. Bring the contract to the conversation.
Source: Texas Department of Insurance: Commercial general liability insurance
Tools move from site to site
Equipment that leaves your shop may not fit a standard property policy. TDI lists contractor equipment and property in transit under inland marine coverage.
Source: Texas Department of Insurance: Commercial property insurance guide
Coverage to talk through
- General liability
- Injury and damage claims from job sites and finished work.
- Commercial auto
- Work trucks, trailers and crew vehicles.
- Workers’ compensation
- A choice in most cases, but some contracts ask for it.
- Commercial umbrella
- When a contract asks for higher limits.
What an insurer may ask you
- Your trades and the share of work in each.
- Whether you hire subcontractors, and their certificates.
- Sample contracts with insurance requirements.
- Yearly payroll and sales estimates.
- A list of tools, equipment and vehicles.
Questions owners ask
Why does a general contractor want my certificate before I start?
They want proof you carry the coverage their contract asks for. Ask them for the exact requirements in writing and share them with a licensed agent.
Are pollution claims covered for contractors?
Most general liability policies exclude pollution, with some narrow exceptions. TDI notes that businesses with real pollution exposure may need a separate pollution policy.
Source: Texas Department of Insurance: Commercial general liability insurance
Do I need professional liability as a trade contractor?
Some trades do. TDI says HVAC installers and plumbers must carry professional liability insurance to get a license.
Source: Texas Department of Insurance: FAQ on professional liability insurance
Policy terms, exclusions and eligibility control what is covered. Talk through your needs with a licensed agent before you rely on any policy.