Insurance for Contractors and Tradesmen in California
General Liability As Low As $59/month
Insurance for the Trades in California
You fix it, build it, wire it, plumb it or keep it green. One slip on a job can cost more than a year of work, and most customers, property managers and general contractors will not let you start without proof of insurance.
MIS Insurance Services has insured small mom-and-pop businesses since 2009. We work with dozens of insurance companies and shop them for you, so one call gets you every policy your trade needs. Use the quote form on this page or call (800) 726-0640.
General LiabilityCommercial AutoBusiness Owner’s PolicyWorkers’ Comp
The Four Policies Most Tradesmen Need
General liability. Pays when your work injures someone or damages a customer’s property: a flooded kitchen, a broken window, a client who trips over your ladder. It is the policy customers ask for first. As low as $59 a month. Prices vary. See general liability insurance.
Commercial auto. Covers the pickup, van or box truck you use for work. A personal auto policy may not pay for an accident that happens on the job. As low as $79 a month. Prices vary. See commercial auto insurance.
Business owner’s policy. General liability plus coverage for your own equipment, supplies and shop, in one policy. Worth a look once you have a space or equipment to protect. As low as $94 a month. Prices vary. See business owner’s policy.
Workers’ compensation. California requires it as soon as you have one employee, part-time included. It pays medical bills and lost wages when a worker is hurt on the job. As low as $83 a month. Prices vary. See workers’ comp insurance.
Tools and equipment. We can add coverage for the tools and equipment you carry from job to job.
What You Need
by Trade
Handyman. Licensed or not, we can get you a quote. General liability first. Add commercial auto if you drive to jobs with tools and materials, and workers’ comp the day you hire a helper.
Plumber. General liability, because one leak can damage a whole floor of a home. Commercial auto for the work van. Workers’ comp if you have a crew.
Electrician. General liability, commercial auto, and workers’ comp for employees. Commercial clients and general contractors usually want to see $1 million in liability before you step on site.
Gardener or landscaper. General liability for the rock through a window or the broken sprinkler line. Commercial auto for the truck. Workers’ comp for your crew.
Painter, carpenter, tile setter, cleaning crew and other trades. The same four policies apply. Tell us the work you do and we match the coverage to it.
Working Alone or With a Crew
- Just you. General liability and commercial auto cover most one-person trades.
- You and a helper. Add workers’ comp. California requires it with even one employee, and calling a helper an independent contractor does not automatically make him one.
- A shop, a yard or a lot of equipment. Ask us about a business owner’s policy.
What California Requires
- Contractor license. A job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials needs a state contractor license. So does any job that needs a building permit or a hired worker.
- License bond. Licensed contractors file a $25,000 bond with the state. A bond is not insurance. It protects your customers, not your business.
- Workers’ comp. Required with one or more employees. Five license types must carry it even with no employees: concrete, heating and air conditioning, asbestos abatement, roofing and tree service. State law is set to extend this to every licensed contractor on January 1, 2028.
- Liability insurance. The state requires it for contractors licensed as an LLC: at least $1 million with five or fewer people on the license. For everyone else, it is the customer who requires it. Most property managers and general contractors ask for $1 million.
- Auto insurance. A work vehicle needs at least $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident and $15,000 for property damage. Many contracts ask for more.
What Does Insurance for Tradesmen Cost?
- General liability: as low as $59 a month
- Commercial auto: as low as $79 a month
- Business owner’s policy: as low as $94 a month
- Workers’ comp: as low as $83 a month
Prices vary. Yours depends on your trade, your sales or payroll, the limits you choose, your vehicles and your drivers’ records. We shop dozens of insurance companies and give you an exact number. The quote is free.
Certificates of Insurance
When a customer, landlord, property manager or general contractor asks for proof, we send you a certificate of insurance the same day your policy is in place. If the contract asks for something specific, such as naming them on your policy, tell us and we will set it up.
New Business, Tickets or No Prior Insurance
Just starting out? We insure new businesses. Tickets or accidents on a driver’s record? We work with insurance companies that accept them. Never had a commercial policy before? We can still get you a quote.
How to Get Covered
- Send the quote form or call (800) 726-0640. Tell us your trade, whether you have employees, and what vehicles you use.
- We shop dozens of insurance companies and come back with prices.
- You choose your coverage and pay.
- We send your certificate of insurance the same day so you can get on the job.
Contractor and Tradesman Insurance Questions and Answers
What insurance does a handyman need in California?
General liability comes first, because it pays if your work injures someone or damages a customer’s home. Add commercial auto if you drive to jobs with tools and materials, and workers’ comp as soon as you hire a helper.
Do I need insurance if I’m an unlicensed handyman doing small jobs?
The state does not make you buy liability insurance for jobs under $1,000. One broken pipe or one injured customer can cost far more than the job paid, so most handymen carry general liability anyway, and many customers ask for it. We insure handymen with or without a contractor license.
How much does handyman insurance cost in California?
At MIS, general liability starts as low as $59 a month and commercial auto as low as $79 a month. Prices vary with the work you do, your sales and your driving record.
What insurance does a plumber need?
General liability, commercial auto for the work van, and workers’ comp if you have employees. If you keep parts, equipment or a shop, a business owner’s policy can cover those too.
Does general liability cover water damage caused by a plumber?
Accidental damage your work causes to a customer’s property is what general liability is for. Every policy has its own limits and exclusions, so tell us exactly what work you do and we will match the policy to it.
Is electrician insurance required in California?
The state requires a license bond, and workers’ comp if you have employees. An electrician licensed as an LLC must also carry at least $1 million in liability insurance. For everyone else it is the client who requires general liability, and most do.
What insurance does a gardener or landscaper need?
General liability, commercial auto for the truck, and workers’ comp for the crew. Routine yard care such as mowing and trimming does not need a contractor license. Installing things like irrigation, patios or retaining walls for $1,000 or more does.
Do I need commercial auto insurance for my work truck or van?
If you use it mainly for work, such as carrying tools and materials to jobs, yes. A personal auto policy may not cover an accident that happens on the job.
Are my tools covered by general liability?
No. General liability covers harm to other people and their property. Your own tools and equipment need property or equipment coverage. Commercial auto can cover equipment that is permanently attached to the vehicle. We can set up tools and equipment coverage for you.
Do I need workers’ comp if I work alone?
Usually not. With no employees you are generally exempt. The exceptions are five license types that must carry it anyway: concrete, heating and air conditioning, asbestos abatement, roofing and tree service.
Do I need workers’ comp for one part-time helper?
Yes. California requires it with even one employee, and part-time counts.
What is the difference between a contractor bond and liability insurance?
The bond is a state licensing requirement that protects your customers and workers if you break the license law. Liability insurance protects you: it pays claims when your work injures someone or damages property. Most licensed contractors need both.
A property manager asked for a certificate of insurance. Can you send one?
Yes. We send your certificate the same day your policy is in place, so you can hand it to your client, landlord, property manager or general contractor.
How much liability coverage does a contractor need?
Most clients ask for $1 million per claim, so that is where most small trades start. The state requires at least $1 million for a contractor licensed as an LLC with five or fewer people on the license.
I just started my business. Can I get insured?
Yes. We insure new businesses and owners who have never had a commercial policy.
I have tickets or accidents on my record. Can I still get commercial auto insurance?
Yes. We work with insurance companies that accept drivers with tickets and accidents.
How do I get a quote?
Send the form on this page or call (800) 726-0640. The quote is free, and we shop dozens of insurance companies for you.
MIS Insurance Services is a licensed California insurance agency (#0G55496) in Culver City, with more than 3,100 Google reviews and a 4.9-star rating.
This page is general information, not legal advice. License and insurance rules change, so confirm yours with the Contractors State License Board.
MIS Insurance Services insures contractors and tradesmen in all cities in California including: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach, Oakland, Bakersfield, Anaheim, Riverside, Stockton, Chula Vista, Irvine, Fremont, San Bernardino, Modesto, Fontana, Oxnard, Moreno Valley, Huntington Beach, Glendale, Santa Clarita, Oceanside, Garden Grove, Rancho Cucamonga, Santa Rosa, Ontario, Elk Grove