Electrician insurance questions, answered

Usually not the cost of fixing your own work. It's built for the damage that work causes to other people's property and for injuries to others. If a bad splice starts a fire, the fire damage may be covered while the rewiring is on you, depending on your policy wording.

It's the part of general liability that responds to damage or injuries showing up after you've finished a job. For electricians, it's the coverage behind a fire traced back to your work months later. It usually has its own aggregate limit.

Generally no. Commercial auto covers the vehicle; tools, meters and wire stock usually need an inland marine policy, often called contractor's equipment or tools coverage. Ask whether yours sets conditions on theft from a vehicle, such as requiring it to be locked.

Not always a separate policy, but you need to disclose that work. Some contractor policies limit roof work or exclude certain specialty installs, and design responsibilities can call for E&O. See our solar, EV and low-voltage page.

Payroll by class code, revenue, your mix of residential, commercial and industrial work, roof and high-voltage exposure, claims history and the limits you buy. What you pay depends on your payroll and class codes, revenue, loss history, the type of electrical work you do and the limits you pick.

Comp is priced on estimated payroll, then the carrier checks the real numbers at the end of the term. Higher payroll, payroll placed in a pricier class, or uninsured subcontractors can all add premium. Our class codes and audits guide explains how to prepare.

Often, for smaller shops that qualify. A BOP bundles liability, property and business income. Larger contractors or those doing higher-risk work may not be eligible, and a BOP doesn't include auto or workers' comp.

Many do. Requirements range from proof of general liability to license bonds and proof of workers' comp, and a few states leave licensing to local governments. Check your state page for what we found, then confirm with your licensing board.

Calling someone a 1099 contractor doesn't settle the question. An uninsured sub's payroll can land on your own audit, and state law may treat them as your employee. Our 1099 guide covers what to collect. For classification questions, check with a CPA or attorney.

Additional insured status extends parts of your liability policy to the GC for claims arising from your work. A waiver of subrogation stops your carrier from recovering a paid claim from the GC. Both are added by endorsement. Our certificates guide breaks them down.

Our agency holds insurance licenses in 28 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

If you're already a client, we issue certificates for your current coverage on the day you ask. If a contract needs a new endorsement, such as additional insured wording, the carrier has to approve it first, which can take longer.

You can start one online. The form takes about a minute, and then a licensed agent reviews your answers and talks with you before we shop carriers. That conversation is what makes the quote accurate. Get a quote for your electrical business →

We're a brand of The Allen Thomas Group. That agency is based in Akron, Ohio, and has been independent since 2003. Our NPN is 7642818.