Excavator Insurance: Cost & Quotes From $11

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Do you need insurance for your excavators? The answer is yes. Why? Here’s the answer; diggers/excavators are dangerous. In fact, 346 excavator-related deaths were recorded between 1992 – 2000 by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health . Furthermore, a review the agency conducted in 2000 – 2001 showed that deaths were mainly caused by being hit by the machine itself or through its quick disconnect buckets.

In addition, the cost of injuries caused by excavators tallied at $1,100 on average for each worker. But this isn’t the overall picture. If we take a further look, we’ll see that injuries requiring professional medical service costs $42,000 and in case of death, the costs increase up to $1 million.

If you want to make sure that there isn’t a gaping hole in your wallet when something bad happens, get an excavator insurance a.k.a digger insurance.

This guide will cover everything that you need to know about getting your hands on heavy equipment insurance for an excavator you’re renting or owning. If you’re interested in doing an excavator insurance online quote comparison, just click the ‘Get Quotes’ button at any time, complete the questionnaire and you’ll receive custom quotes from the best excavator insurance companies in the market online.


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Excavator Liability Insurance

Excavator liability insurance shields from claims filed against you by third parties. This can include the developer running the project, the business or person who owns the land that you’re working on, or even casual strangers.

Liability coverage for excavators can be classified as general liability insurance and public liability insurance


General Liability Insurance for Excavators 

Similar to bulldozers and dump trucks, excavators are very dangerous. Excavators can cause accidents and those who get involved rarely survive without a scratch. This is why companies always include general liability coverage in their specialized excavators insurance. 

General liability insurance for excavators will help if your unit causes damage while being used. The language of this small business excavation insurance covers the following perils:

  • Third-party personal injuries-General liability insurance covers costs if your excavator overruns a person or hits someone with its bucket or arm. If a claim is filed, this excavation liability insurance will take care of the aggrieved person’s medical expenses 

  • Third-party property damage-Your excavator is also covered by general liability insurance if it causes an accident that results in the possessions of third parties incurring damage. If a person files a claim, this excavating insurance will reimburse the value of the damaged property 

  • Legal expenses-In personal injury claims and property damage claims, general liability insurance takes care of your attorney fees, administrative costs, and the settlements to be given if ever aggrieved third parties win the lawsuit 

Understand that general liability insurance for excavator is very crucial not only as a protection but as a tool to scale your business. Most won’t work with you if you can’t show proof that you have this coverage ready and waiting. 


Excavator Public Liability Insurance

Public liability insurance is an alternative to general liability insurance. This type of excavator company insurance has a more limited scope. Excavator public liability insurance only covers personal injury claims or property damage claims. Unlike general liability, this commercial excavators coverage can’t be added with optional business insurance policies. 


Excavator Hire Insurance

An excavator hire insurance policy will reimburse the losses of the property owner if an excavator you’re renting or leasing becomes lost or damaged due to fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils. 


Business Insurance for Excavation Contractors 

Excavation contractors insurance policy is a tailored coverage for businesses that provide excavation services for different ventures in the construction industry. Included in this specialized insurance plan are numerous types of business insurance for excavation contractors, namely:

  • General liability insurance

  • Professional liability insurance

  • Workers compensation insurance

  • Commercial property insurance

General Liability Insurance for Excavation Contractors 

General liability insurance for excavation contractors covers personal injury claims and property damage claims third parties file. Moreover, it provides further protection against other exposures through the following optional coverages:

  • Advertising injury coverage-Advertising injury coverage is an optional insurance for excavation that will cover settlements, administrative costs, and other legal expenses in slander, libel, and copyright infringement claims filed against you as an excavator contractor 

  • Rented premises liability coverage-This optional insurance for excavation business, which you can add to general liability insurance, functions to provide reimbursements to the property owner if the space you’re renting becomes damaged due to a fire

  • Products and completed operations coverage-When the service you completely delivered caused personal injuries or property damage, this optional excavation contractor insurance will cover medical expenses, reimbursements, as well as legal defense costs if a claim is filed

Professional Liability Insurance for Excavator Contractors 

As a contractor, you’re surely working with operators hired to take charge of the excavators owned by your business. Such employees might commit a mistake or be negligent while operating a unit. As a result, accidents might happen and affected parties will sustain economic or financial losses.

This excavation business insurance provides help in such a situation. Professional liability insurance will cover attorney fees, settlements, administrative costs, and other related expenses if aggrieved third parties, who suffered economic or financial losses due to your excavator, sues for:

  • Negligence

  • Misrepresentation

  • Violation of good faith

  • Violation of fair dealing

  • Breach of confidentiality

  • Missed deadlines

  • Inaccurate advice 

  • Other causes of action considered errors and omissions 

Note that excavation insurance companies underwrite professional liability insurance as a claims-made policy or occurrence policy. 


Excavator Contractor Commercial Property Insurance 

Your excavator insurance quote will offer commercial property insurance. Commercial property insurance functions to cover tangible business assets. When bought as a basic business policy, commercial property insurance provides coverage for:

  • Building damage-Commercial property insurance will take care of repair expenses if your business’s covered building sustains damage due to fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils.

  • Building destruction-If your business’s covered building is destroyed by fire or extreme weather, commercial property insurance provides the money you can use to cover reconstruction costs

Excavator Contractor Equipment Breakdown Coverage

Equipment breakdown insurance is very useful in your work as an excavator contractor. This will recoup losses if a covered excavator sustains damage while being used. The theft of the entire unit or its parts is also covered. Note that equipment breakdown coverage is an automatic inclusion in excavator hire insurance policies. Another thing, this coverage isn’t only useful for excavators but also other equipment such as skid steers and dump trucks too


Workers Compensation Insurance for Excavator Contractors 

Workers compensation insurance is a coverage for your excavators’ operators. This will cover expenses if ever they sustain a work-related injury or disease. Particular things covered are:

  • Surgeries, therapies, and other medical treatments procedures

  • Medication

  • Hospitalization

  • Lost income compensation

  • Rehabilitation

  • Death benefits 

Mini Digger Insurance 

Mini digger insurance is a specialized coverage for those using small excavators for projects. Inclusions in tailored mini excavator insurance are general liability, equipment breakdown, and theft insurance. 


General Liability Insurance for Micro Diggers

This micro digger insurance covers expenses if a third party sues you for personal injuries or property damage. Unlike the general liability insurance for excavators, the general liability insurance for micro-diggers can have an additional equipment and tools coverage, depending on the carrier that underwrites it. 


Equipment Breakdown Insurance for Micro Diggers 

You can cover your micro digger with equipment breakdown insurance. This cover costs if the micro digger sustains damage due to fire, usage, theft, and other covered perils. Note that, depending on the carrier underwriting it, equipment breakdown insurance can provide a replacement if your micro digger gets damaged or stolen and is deemed unusable. Note that equipment breakdown coverage is a common inclusion in tailored forklift insurance


Mini Digger Theft Insurance

Mini digger theft insurance kicks in when your mini digger becomes damaged or lost due to theft. This will cover the replacement and labor costs of parts stolen. If ever the thief left off with your digger, theft insurance will refund your loss. 


Mini Digger Hire Insurance 

Mini digger hire insurance will cover losses if you need to refund a rented or leased mini digger that got lost or damaged because of theft, fire, vandalism, and other covered perils. 


Short Term Mini Digger Insurance

Short term mini digger insurance is a general liability insurance policy you can avail for only hours, weeks, days, or months. Optional policies can be added such as equipment breakdown insurance and theft coverage. 


Backhoe Loader Insurance

Excavators are different from backhoes though both are related. Backhoes are slightly smaller and can be used for other tasks aside from those which an excavator usually does. And so, you can find insurance companies providing backhoe loader insurance. Inclusions in tailored backhoe insurance are equipment breakdown coverage, commercial property insurance, commercial auto insurance, and general liability insurance. 


Excavator Insurance Cost

Excavator insurance cost starts at $83 per month or $996 per year for a $1 million general liability insurance coverage.

Rates depend on your business’ safety record as well as other factors such as the cost of the diggers you’re using, your business size, claims history, location, gross income, and more. 

To further answer your query, we’ve compiled the following rates based on an under 3 years old excavator owned by a company that has a stellar safety record:

Company Monthly Yearly Best for
Coverwallet $80 $960 Excavation business insurance online quote comparison
Thimble $90 $1,080 On-demand excavation contractor insurance policies
Next $300 $3,600 Fast excavation insurance policy
JCB Insurance $375 $4,500 Excavator contractors only using JCB units
The Hartford $397 $4,762 Excavators looking for a coverage having a waiver of subrogation
Caterpillar Insurance $402 $4,824 Tailored coverage for Caterpillar excavators
Progressive $408 $4,896 Excavator contractors who already have a commercial auto insurance from Progressive
Zurich $415 $4,980 Excavator contractors that rent their units to other businesses
State Farm $419 $5,028 Customer service
AIG $444 $5,328 Inland marine insurance for excavators
Liberty Mutual $456 $5,472 Excavator contractor tools and equipment insurance


Keep in mind that this digger insurance cost list is only for a full-sized excavator, which is the main reason why you can expect to pay so much for it. If you’re not trying to perform a job that requires a full-sized piece of equipment, you can expect to pay significantly less. 


How Much Does Excavation Insurance Cost?

So how much does excavation insurance cost? Carriers determine rates based on the type of project, your location, business history, and more. Excavation insurance rates differ between large contractors and small contractors. But know that small business excavation insurance cost is $84 per month or $1,008 per year for a $1 million general liability insurance for projects. This is just an estimate by the way. Your own excavation insurance cost will be cheaper or more expensive.


Mini Excavator Insurance Cost

Mini excavator insurance cost is determined by a lot of factors. For instance, while machine size is a major determinant of your mini excavator insurance cost, there are also secondary factors, like the decreased probability of an accident happening, and scale of the damage done. Here’s our mini digger insurance cost table showing the rates of the top companies:

Company Monthly Yearly
The Hartford $178 $2,136
Nationwide $197 $2,364
Chubb $205 $2,460
Progressive $219 $2,628
State Farm $238 $2,856
Liberty Mutual $260 $3,120
Zurich $276 $3,312
AIG $290 $3,480


Mini excavator insurance is usually made part of business owner’s policy of construction insurance for subcontractors. You can also choose to get excavation contractors insurance from carriers catering to the needs of large businesses. However, you will only find a few who will approve your insurance application right then and there.



Backhoe Insurance Cost

Insuring a backhoe is cheaper than insuring an excavator. Premiums start at $72 per month or $864 per year for a $1 million general liability coverage. But note that depending on how it’s used, rates can be more expensive than usual. When determining backhoe insurance cost, carriers consider the year, make, and model of the backhoe as well as how it’s used.


Bobcat Insurance Cost

Bobcats or skid steers are sometimes used in tandem with excavators and mini-diggers. So how much does insurance cost for these machines? Based on our research bobcat insurance cost is $67 per month or $804 per year for a $1 million general liability coverage. 

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Best Excavator Insurance Companies

Nothing makes purchasing insurance faster than when you already know the carriers that provide the most reasonable rates. Here are reviews that talk about excavator insurance top carriers pros, cons, and pricing for a $1 million general liability coverage. 


CoverWallet Digger and Contractor Insurance

Pros

  • Has terrorism coverage

  • Get insured, pay premiums, and manage your insurance online

  • Cancel a policy anytime 

Cons

  • Not an insurance company but a broker 

CoverWallet is an insurance broker that covers excavators and contractors online. This company sells commercial property insurance and general liability insurance for excavator contractors. Excavators, the machine themselves, can be insured with equipment coverage and other insurance policies that cater to equipment damage. CoverWallet is one of the excavating insurance companies that provide you with a free certificate of insurance. 

Best for: Excavation business insurance online quote comparison

Average cost: $80 per month

Our rating: 10/10


Thimble Excavator Insurance

Pros

  • Add additional insureds for free

  • Cheap deductibles 

Cons

  • Has an online quotes system but customers buying excavator insurance from Thimble can’t get quoted 

  • Excavator insurance sold is underwritten by a partner

Thimble also provides digger insurance online. However, you must know that the company doesn’t underwrite it. The excavator insurance you’ll get from this company is underwritten by Tivly. Policies you’re sure to avail are general liability, commercial property, professional liability, and commercial umbrella insurance. 

Best for: On-demand excavation contractor insurance policies

Average cost: $90 per month

Our rating: 10/10


Next Excavator Contractors Insurance

Pros

  • Live certificate of insurance

  • 10% discount when buying two or more policies from Next

Cons

  • Doesn’t sell stand-alone theft coverage for excavator contractors 

Next provides coverage for excavator contractors consisting of general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, tools and equipment insurance, workers compensation insurance, commercial property insurance, and commercial auto insurance. Next is a great option if you’re planning to buy a lot of coverage because it provides 10% if you bundle two or more insurance policies. 

Best for: Fast excavation insurance policy

Average cost: $300 per month 

Our rating: 9/10


Progressive Excavator Insurance

Pros

  • Enjoy a discounted rate if you already have a Progressive commercial auto insurance

Cons

  • Doesn’t have a specialized excavator business insurance policy

  • Doesn’t sell short term mini digger insurance

Progressive insures excavation businesses through its construction insurance plan. Inclusions are general liability, workers compensation, and commercial auto insurance. Alternatively, you can opt to get a business owner’s policy.  If you already have commercial auto insurance from Progressive, you’ll enjoy a discounted rate on excavator business insurance policies. 

Best for: Excavator contractors who already have a commercial auto insurance from Progressive

Average cost: $408 per month 

Our rating:  9/10


Caterpillar Insurance Company

Pros

  • Deductibles for excavator equipment insurance is set at $1,000

  • Provides coverage for extra costs

Cons

  • Don’t provide generous insurance policies to excavators registered to businesses in the logging industry

Caterpillar does more than just selling excavators; they insure them too! Keep in mind that their policies are only offered in the United States, but they allow you to insure both your equipment and your business before you get started on a job.

In all industries except for logging, Caterpillar insurance offers a relatively low deductible of only $1,000 and they protect you against partial and total equipment losses. They even cover extras that may come into play, like the cost of transporting excavators that have been damaged and renting replacement gear to get the job done.

Best for: Tailored coverage for Caterpillar excavators

Average cost: $402 per month 

Our rating:   9/10


State Farm Excavator Insurance

Pros

  • Fast to handle claims

  • Dedicated customer service channels for different complaints and issues 

Cons

  • Doesn’t provide excavator insurance online quote; get in touch with an agent

State Farm provides coverage for excavation businesses. However, this depends on the nature of business operations. That said, contact a State Farm agent if your business can be covered because the company doesn’t provide an online quote. And if it is, you’ll get to enjoy the protection of commercial property insurance, equipment insurance, general liability insurance, and other policies the company is selling. 

Best for: Customer service

Average cost: $419 per month 

Our rating: 8/10


Zurich Excavator Insurance

Pros

  • Rental reimbursement coverage

  • Covers repair or replacements of your excavator’s parts

  • Has fuel coverage for excavators

Cons

  • Equipment insurance for excavators doesn’t have theft coverage

Zurich only covers the excavators of excavation contractors with its equipment and machinery insurance coverage. But still, you can ask the representatives of the company if your business can avail its other business insurance policies. Contractors equipment insurance from Zurich covers excavators you own, rent, or lease. Coverage also takes effect if others rent or lease your excavators.

Best for: Excavator contractors that rent their units to other businesses

Average cost: $415 per month 

Our rating: 8/10


The Hartford Excavator Contractor Insurance

Pros

  • Excavator contractor insurance comes with waiver of subrogation

  • Name additional insureds for free

  • Numerous endorsements for your excavator contractor policy for more protection 

Cons

  • Doesn’t sell commercial auto insurance for excavators 

The Hartford’s excavator contractor insurance provides you with a waiver of subrogation, free naming of additional insureds in your policy, and products and completed operations coverage. Endorsements can be added for more protection such as contractual general liability coverage, limited professional liability coverage, and more. 

Best for: Excavators looking for a coverage having a waiver of subrogation

Average cost: $397 per month 

Our rating: 8/10


AIG Excavator Insurance

Pros

  • Online claims tracking

Cons

  • Doesn’t sell a specialized excavator insurance quote

  • Insurance is only available by excavation businesses in Alaska 

AIG provides excavator contractors with stand-alone business insurance policies. You can choose to get inland marine insurance, equipment insurance, etc. But note that you have to consult a representative to truly know if your business can be covered. 

Best for: Inland marine insurance for excavators

Average cost: $444 per month 

Our rating: 7/10


Liberty Mutual Excavator Insurance

Pros

  • Work with in-house team of insurance adjusters when buying a policy and filing a claim

Cons

  • Doesn’t sell a tailored excavator insurance quote

Contractors like you can insure your excavators with Liberty Mutual through its contractors equipment and tools insurance. Coverage applies to excavators you own, lease, or rent. 

Best for: Excavator contractor tools and equipment insurance

Average cost: $456 per month 

Our rating: 7/10


JCB Digger Insurance

Pros

  • Proactive customer support

  • Helps you find the best excavator and backhoe loader insurance based on your machine’s size, make, and model

Cons

  • Only caters to companies in the construction industry

 

Vehicles like excavators and tractors are covered under JCB’s Commercial Vehicle Insurance policies, which are available for competitive rates and geared towards construction companies looking to keep their investments safe. 

Due to its specialized nature, you can rest assured that JCB knows a lot about the machines that they’re working with, so that you can get the specific coverage options that you need.

JCB also has a nationwide network of Territory Managers that will be able to meet up with you in person to discuss the details of your policy. This allows you to ask your questions in person and get firm answers instead of having to deal with countless forms that are far too opaque for comfort.

Best for: Excavator contractors only using JCB units

Average cost: $375 per month

Our rating: 7/10

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Excavator Insurance FAQs

Who Insures Excavators? 

Your excavators can be insured by any commercial insurance company. However, if none is willing to provide coverage, you can insure those yourself. Ask the insurance department of your state if they have a self-insurance program for business equipment.

 

What is Due Diligence and Does It Affect Your Excavator Insurance Premiums and Claim?

Insurance companies will offer discounts if they see that your construction firm is doing its best to avoid the possibility of accidents happening.

In legal terms, due diligence is the practice of implementing the necessary steps required to prevent accidents causing death, personal injuries,  or property damage. 

Construction firms are exercising due diligence when there’s strict protocols that require workers to wear safety equipment (such as helmets, harnesses, and vests) when working. Also, when the excavator is at work on public roads, there’s due diligence when someone keeps watch a few meters away from the excavator to warn third parties that there’s a project up ahead. 

Carriers won’t grant a claim if it’s established by the adjuster  that the excavator-related accident was caused by failure to exercise due diligence. Examples are when no helmet is worn, no signage is put in place, and there are no scheduled checks done on the excavator before it’s used. 


How to Save Money on Excavation Business Insurance Premiums?

Bundle coverages to get discounts and save money.  Coverages available for excavators and mini diggers range from repair coverage, PIP coverage, commercial equipment coverage, umbrella insurance coverage, and others we mentioned. You might want to consider including commercial auto insurance that isn’t only useful for tractors but also for your excavator if you’re going to take it through public roads. 


How to Get Cheap Excavator Insurance Quotes?

To get cheap digger insurance quotes online from the best digger and excavator insurance companies, simply click the ‘Get Quotes’ button below, follow the process and enter the required information, and you will receive countless excavator insurance quotes online from the best carriers in America so that you know how much bobcat insurance cost as well as the premiums for other excavator brands. 

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