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Engineering Consultant Insurance: Liability & Quotes from $11

Construction projects continuously develop. And so, existing knowledge about building design and construction are always changing. Employed and independent engineering consultants provide the needed advice and plans.

Employed and independent engineering consultants need insurance. Independent engineering consultants must be insured to attract clients. Those working for firms, on the other hand, need insurance as an extra layer of coverage to their employer’s business insurance.

While you can go for an engineer insurance bundle, what caters to your needs best is engineering consultant insurance. In this guide, learn what policies are included, the cost of premiums, and the best companies.

Liability Insurance for Engineering Consultants

General liability and professional indemnity policies are the types of liability insurance for engineering consultants. Don’t skip these two because they provide comprehensive coverage against lawsuits.

To comply with the possible insurance requirements for engineering consultants, you must have a $1 million professional indemnity and general liability coverage where clients and other third parties can be named as additional insureds.


Professional Indemnity Insurance for Engineering Consultants


CoverWalletNEXTHiscoxThe Hartford
Per occurrence limit$1,000,000$1,000,000$1,000,000$1,000,000
Aggregate limit$2,000,000$1,000,000/$2,000,000$1,000,000$1,000,000
Name additional insureds?YesYesYesYes
Waiver of subrogation included?YesNoCan be includedNo
License defense coverage includedNoNoNoNo
Deductible$500$500$50/$10,000$500


Use the table above to see which insurance company offers the best professional indemnity insurance for engineering consultants.

Clients expect you to perform perfectly; reports must have no errors, analysis of data must be accurate, and measurements should be on point. That said, any issues you commit that result in the client’s losses can be grounds for a lawsuit.

Professional indemnity insurance for engineering consultants will cover claims if a client holds your services responsible for financial losses. This is also called professional liability insurance. Situations where you’ll find this insurance are when:

  • The plan and blueprint you provided didn’t follow the building code of the state where the client’s construction project is taking place

  • You failed to submit plans, blueprints, and deliverables on time

  • You shared information about your client’s project to a third party without permission

  • A client entrusted an important document to you and this got lost by accident


Settlements, legal fees, and court judgments are the most common expenses you can cover using professional indemnity insurance. However, similar to the professional liability policy of construction consultant insurance, the professional liability policy of engineering consultant insurance might have add-ons.

Professional liability insurance for engineering consultants comes with license defense coverage. License defense coverage will cover legal fees if licensing bodies conduct an investigation against you following a malpractice claim.

Another thing, a defective work floater can be added to the PI insurance for consulting engineers, provided that you oversee and manage the construction projects of clients.


General Liability Insurance for Engineering Consultants


CoverWalletNEXT (Best)HiscoxThe Hartford
Per occurrence limit$1,000,000$1,000,000$1,000,000$1,000,000
Aggregate limit$2,000,000$1,000,000/$2,000,000$2,000,000$2,000,000
Products and completed operations aggregate limit$2,000,000
$1,000,000$1,000,000Included
Advertising injury coverage aggregate limit$1,000,000$1,000,000$1,000,000Included
Tenant’s legal liability coverage limit$100,000
$100,000$300,000Included
Waiver of subrogation included?YesNoCan be includedExcluded
Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage included?YesNoCan be includedExcluded
Equipment breakdown floater included?NoYesYesYes
Can you get a certificate of insurance online?YesYesYesYes
Name additional insureds?YesYes
YesYes
Deductible$0$0$0$0


Use the table above to see which insurance company offers the best general liability insurance for engineering consultants.

Your office is where client meetings, team discussions, and transactions happen. At the same time, it can also be a place where accidents resulting in property damage or bodily injuries occur.

A general liability policy, which you can also find in safety consultant's insurance bundles, provides a shield if accidents in the office involve third parties such as clients, visitors, and independent contractors. Here are some situations where you’ll find this type of engineering consultant liability insurance helpful:

  • A technician gets electrocuted while repairing the HVAC unit of your office

  • The client slips and falls while traversing the stairs of your office

  • During a meeting, the bulletin board topples over and hits the client’s head


You can use general liability insurance to cover these expenses when clients, independent contractors, and other third parties ask for compensation for their property damage or bodily injury:

  • Emergency room fees, doctor’s fees, and other medical expenses

  • Refund for the value of the damaged property

  • Settlements

  • Legal fees

  • Court judgments


Some insurance companies automatically include the following add-ons in their general liability insurance for engineering consultants:

  • Tenants' legal liability coverage/rented premises liability coverage

  • Products and completed operations coverage

  • Medical expenses coverage

  • Advertising injury coverage

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Commercial Property Insurance for Engineering Consultants 


CoverWalletNEXT (Best)HiscoxThe Hartford
Building coverage limit (minimum)$50,000$350,000$25,000$50,000
Contents coverage limit (minimum)$50,000$18,000$25,000$50,000
Outdoor signsExcluded$2,500ExcludedIncluded
Accounts receivable ExcludedExcludedIncludedIncluded
Money and securitiesExcluded$2,500IncludedIncluded
Lock and keys Excluded$2,500ExcludedIncluded
Business interruption floaterExcludedIncludedIncludedExcluded
Equipment breakdown floaterExcludedIncludedExcludedExcluded
Inland marine insurance floaterExcludedExcludedExcludedExcluded
Employee dishonesty floaterExcluded$5,000IncludedExcluded


Use the table above to see which insurance company offers the best commercial property insurance for engineering consultants. 

The estimated cost of an engineering consulting office is somewhere between $38-$40 per square foot depending on location. The investment is hefty and you certainly don’t want your office to get burned, destroyed, or damaged. 

Commercial property insurance allows you to insure the office you’re using as an engineering consultant. Have this insurance and you’ll get the money to cover building reconstruction or renovation expenses when any of these exposures happen:

  • Fire

  • Theft

  • Vandalism

  • Civil commotion

  • Sinkhole collapse

  • Volcanic action

  • Lightning

  • Weather

  • Falling objects

  • Aircraft damage

  • Vehicle damage

  • Impact

  • Sprinkler leakage


Purchasing commercial property insurance doesn’t only protect the building but what’s inside too. The policy comes with a contents coverage, which will reimburse the value of the HVAC unit, television, valuable papers and records, and objects inside the office. 


Business Owner’s Policy for Engineering Consultants


CoverWalletNEXT Hiscox (Best) The Hartford  
General liability aggregate limit $2,000,000$1,000,000/$2,000,000$1,000,000/$2,000,000$2,000,000
Commercial property coverage limit $50,000$350,000$25,000$50,000
Optional policies can be added?YesYesYesYes
Name additional insureds for free?YesYesYesYes
BOP discount?YesYesYesYes


Use the table to see which insurance company offers the best business owner’s policy for engineering consultants. 

Insurance companies might offer a business owner’s policy if you’re planning to get general liability and commercial property insurance. 

Don’t refuse the offer. A business owner’s policy is a fusion of general liability and commercial property insurance. That said, it offers liability coverage and business property coverage for the price of one. 

The premiums of a business owner’s policy is 10% lower than when you bought commercial property and general liability insurance policies separately.


Commercial Auto Insurance for Engineering Consultants

Your engineering consultant insurance will offer a commercial auto policy if you’re an engineering consultant who frequently drives their own car to inspect and evaluate the construction projects of clients. 

Commercial auto insurance guards against the possible perils of driving and vehicle ownership.  You can use this to:

  • Cover the medical treatment of third parties who got injured in a vehicular accident you caused

  • Pay the repair or replacement of parts if your automobile for work got damaged because of fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils

  • Cover your medical treatment if you get involved in an accident caused by an uninsured/underinsured driver


Cyber Liability Insurance for Engineering Consultants

Consider getting cyber liability insurance if you process data on behalf of clients or use a platform that collects addresses, credit card numbers, phone numbers, and other sensitive information. 

Malware, ransomware, and man-in-the-middle attacks could cripple operations and cause financial losses. Cyber liability insurance protects you against these exposures by covering the following costs:

  • Customer notification

  • Containment, and removal of malware or software

  • Containment and fixes for data breach

  • Credit and fraud monitoring

  • Legal expenses if a lawsuit is filed against you

  • Fines authorities impose


Workers Compensation Insurance for Engineering Consultants

Engineering consultants with one or more employees must have workers' compensation insurance. Workers' compensation insurance will cover medical treatment, hospitalization, medication, lost wages, and other related expenses if a part-time or full-time employee sustains a work-related injury or disease.

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Engineering Consultant Insurance Cost 


Cost per MonthCost per YearDeductible
General liability insurance$42$504$0-$500
Professional liability insurance$70$840$500-$1,000
Commercial property insurance$50$600$1,000-$2,500
Business owner’s policy$90$1,080$500-$1,000
Workers compensation insurance$115$1,380$2,000-$5,000
Cyber liability insurance$60$720$500-$1,000
Commercial auto insurance$55$660$1,000


The average engineering consultant insurance cost is $42 per month or $504 per year for a $1 million general liability coverage. Below is another table showing how much the recommended carriers charge for a $1 million general liability policy. 


Cost per MonthCost per YearBest for
NEXT$25$300Best overall; Fast general liability insurance for engineering consultants
CoverWallet$39$468Engineering consultant insurance quotes comparison online
Tivly$42$504Comparing engineering consultant insurance quotes over the phone
Hiscox$45$540Engineering consultant insurance that satisfies contract requirements
The Hartford$63.08$756.96Professional liability insurance for engineering consultants

 

The top factors insurance companies consider when deciding the premiums you will pay on your engineering consultant insurance are your consultancy's size, qualifications and experience, and the type of work carried out. 

The size of contracts you take out and claims experience are also considered. Note that there is a direct relationship between the size and complexity of the job and the exposure. Further, a poor claims experience will often be taken as a reflection of the quality of the company's work, experience, staff, and internal risk management.

Compare Engineering Consultant Insurance Quotes Online

Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!

Best Engineering Consultant Insurance Companies 

Your business needs will determine the engineering consultant insurance company that you go for. You might be looking for an insurance provider with personalized service. As such, you will likely be inclined towards a provider with a call center and a dedicated team to assist with your queries. 

On the other hand, you might be looking for a provider with an online system that provides the opportunity to run a personalized quotation. Alternatively, you might be looking to work with an experienced team with a wealth of experience and knowledge. 

Whatever your business needs, you will need to work with the best engineering consultant insurance companies in the market. Here's a breakdown of the best providers you must consider. Read to know their pros, cons, and rate for a $1 million general liability insurance.

 

NEXT Engineering Consultant Insurance

Pros

  • Best overall

  • Issues an online proof of insurance instantly

  • Fastest general liability insurance for engineering consultants

  • Great customer service and reputation

  • Excellent rates

  • Outstanding value for money

  • Get a 10% discount if you bundle engineering consultant insurance policies

Cons

  • Couldn’t find any 

NEXT covers engineering consultants with its engineer insurance. Policies offered are general liability insurance, commercial property insurance, professional liability insurance, and workers' compensation insurance. 

This company’s general liability insurance for engineering consultants has a $1 million per occurrence limit with a $2 million aggregate. No deductibles apply. 

Engineering consultant’s professional liability insurance from this company has a $1 million per occurrence limit with a $2 million aggregate. 

As for commercial property insurance, NEXT allows the policy to provide a $350,000 building coverage and $18,000 contents coverage.

Best for: Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for engineering consultants

Average cost: $25 per month 

Our rating: 10/10


CoverWallet Engineering Consultant Insurance

Pros

  • You can get quotes from several insurance providers using CoverWallet's online quotes comparison tool

  • Wide variety of coverage types available 

  • Policyholders can manage their policies, pay premiums and handle claims through an online dashboard 

Cons

  • CoverWallet doesn’t underwrite the engineering consultant insurance customers can avail 

CoverWallet is an online insurance broker that provides comprehensive engineering consultant insurance to small-business owners. CoverWallet's digital wallet is simple to use, making the purchasing, management, and switching of insurance policies relatively seamless. 

Once you start working with the company, you will be able to get a variety of quotes from different insurance providers. Additionally, you can get personal advisors to help you choose the right insurance for you. 

If you are weary of design errors, bad recommendations, failure to meet deadlines, and poor project management, then consider getting CoverWallet engineering consultant insurance. From the insurer, you can get:

  • General liability coverage

  • Workers' compensation policy 

  • Business owner’s policy

  • Professional liability coverage 

Some of the features you should be on the lookout for include

  • My CoverWallet Dashboard 

  • Certificates of insurance

  • Claim filing Support 

 

Best for: Engineering consultant insurance quotes comparison online

Average cost: $39 per month 

Our rating: 10/10

 

Tivly Engineering Consultant Insurance

Pros

  • Compare engineering consultant insurance quotes over the phone

  • Create a customized insurance program with the help of an agent

  • Responsive customer service

  • Takes you to partners if your profile doesn’t match Tivly's underwriting appetite 

Cons

  • Doesn’t issue online quotes 

Tivly (formerly CommercialInsurance.NET) provides coverage for engineering consultants. However, the company will require you to speak with a representative so that it can determine whether you match its underwriting appetite. If you’re approved to get insured, Tivly will offer its general liability, commercial property, workers compensation insurance, and other policies for independent professionals. 

Call Tivly now to compare engineering consultant insurance quotes over the phone and get covered.

Best for: Comparing engineering consultant insurance quotes over the phone

Average cost: $42 per month

Our rating: 10/10


Hiscox Engineering Consultant Insurance

Pros

  • 14-day money-back guarantee

  • Worldwide coverage

  • In-house team of insurance adjusters

  • You can get covered online or with the help of an agent

Cons

  • General liability insurance for engineering consultants doesn’t have additional coverages

Similar to NEXT, Hiscox covers engineering consultants with its engineer’s insurance that offers general liability and professional liability policies. 

Hiscox’s professional liability insurance for consultants offers a $1,00,000 million per occurrence limit with a $1,000,000 aggregate. 

As for general liability insurance, the policy has a minimum $1 million per occurrence limit with a $2 million aggregate. 

Hiscox allows you to avail workers compensation insurance, commercial auto, and cyber liability insurance as add-ons to its engineering consultant insurance. 

Best for: Engineering consultant insurance that satisfies contract requirements 

Average cost: $45 per month 

Our rating: 9/10


The Hartford Engineering Consultant Insurance

Pros

  • Lifetime renewability for engineering consultant insurance 

  • Above-average customer satisfaction

  • Lots of coverage options are available

  • An online quote tool is available 

  • Superior financial stability  

  • Waivers of subrogation can be added to general liability insurance

Cons

  • Online quotes are not available in all states

  • The Hartford doesn't allow separate deductible amounts for property damages 

  • A potential credit check required 

The Hartford has over 200 years of experience, and as such, you are assured that they understand the unique challenges that your business faces. In this time, the insurer prides itself in having served over a million clients, meaning your business will be in good hands. Some of what's offered include:

  • General Liability 

  • Professional Liability 

  • Business Owner's Policy (BOP)

  • Workers' Compensation 

  • Business Income 

  • Data Breach 

  • Commercial Umbrella 


The Hartford calculates a custom quote for you depending on your claims history, type of business, coverage limits, and experience. You can get in contact with an agent by phone, or you could use The Hartford's online quotation tool. The latter provides a fast and convenient means to obtain the pricing information you need. 

Best for: Professional liability insurance for engineering consultants

Average cost: $63.08 per month 

Our rating: 9/10


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