You are hired to transform your clients' health, similar to what personal trainers and online personal trainers do. Even when you observe the utmost care and always conduct risk assessments, there's still a chance that an accident will occur.
Evidently, whether you work on a full-time or casual basis, at the local fitness facility or at a home gym, with a single client or group; you simply cannot afford not to have fitness instructor insurance.
Fitness trainer insurance is specialty insurance that protects you, your clients, and potentially your employees from a range of incidents.
Also sold as exercise instructor insurance or gym instructor insurance, this policy protects you from paying out of pocket for any costs arising from claims. You can even use this to cover the replacement of fitness and gym equipment.
Insurance for PT instructors enhances your credibility and professionalism. Most clients won’t hire you unless you provide proof of insurance.
That said, read this guide that discusses:
The cost of fitness instructor insurance
The function of each policy that most fitness instructors need
The pros and cons of the recommended companies for comprehensive coverage
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | K&K | IDEA | PHLY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $4,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $3,000,000 | $3,000,000 |
| Products and completed operations aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Advertising injury coverage aggregate limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Tenant’s legal liability coverage limit | $1,000,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $5,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | Included | Included | Can be included | No | No | No |
| Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage included? | Yes | No | Excluded | Can be included | No | No | No |
| Equipment breakdown floater included? | No | Yes | Yes | Can be included | No | No | No |
| Can you get a certificate of insurance online? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Deductible | $0 | $0 | $0 | $500-$2,500 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
As a fitness instructor, there are a number of risks that you potentially face, such as:
Client injury or property damage resulting from a workout or training session
Workout equipment causing injury to a third party or damaging property
These are just but a few of the incidents for which you could be found liable. It is given this risk that you want to purchase fitness trainer liability insurance.
General liability insurance is one of the insurance requirements for fitness instructors who want to work for dance studios or gyms as an independent contractor. About 100% purchase this.
General liability insurance for fitness instructors grants a shield if a student, visitor, or any other third party holds you liable for bodily injuries or property damage. Use the table above to compare the quotes of general liability insurance.
You insure that you can cover lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage without incurring losses by having general liability insurance for exercise instructors. It’s because this insurance provides the money for:
Medical treatments
Reimbursement for property damage
Settlements
Defense costs
Covering bodily injury and property damage claims is just a basic function of fitness instructor liability insurance. This usually comes with add-ons such as:
Tenant legal liability coverage
Personal and advertising injury coverage
Hired/non-owned auto coverage
Products and completed operations coverage
Right out of the gate, it is important to mention that most fitness centers will not allow you to operate unless you have fitness instructor public liability insurance.
Public liability insurance for fitness instructors covers the costs of defense against claims and allegations of injury or damage suffered by a member of the public.
You already get public liability insurance for gym instructors by purchasing general liability insurance. It’s because the language or policy wording of general liability insurance already includes the function of public liability insurance.
| CoverWallet | NEXT | Thimble (Best) | Hiscox | K&K | IDEA | PHLY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $4,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,0000 | $1,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $3,000,000 | $3,000,000 |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | Yes | Can be included | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded |
| HIPAA coverage included? | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Sexual misconduct coverage included? | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| License defense coverage included? | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Deductible | $500 | $500 | $500 | $50/$10,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
It’s smart to get professional indemnity insurance for fitness instructors if you’re afraid that students will file a lawsuit because of your actions and advice. Crossfit instructors and barre instructors get this too.
Professional liability insurance is one of the insurance requirements for a fitness instructor who wants to get a state license or certification. About 70% purchase this.
Also called professional liability insurance, professional indemnity insurance covers the cost of lawsuits if you’re accused of committing:
Negligence
Inaccurate advice
Verbal abuse
Breach of contract
Violation of good faith
Misrepresentation
Professional liability insurance for fitness instructor might also help with:
Claims for sexual abuse or molestation
Investigations and lawsuits filed by licensing boards
HIPAA violations
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $110,000 | $500,000 | $25,000 |
| Contents coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $18,000 | $500,000 | $25,000 |
| Outdoor signs | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Excluded |
| Accounts receivable | Excluded | Excluded | $5,000/$10,000 | Included |
| Money and securities | Excluded | $2,500 | $1,000 | Included |
| Lock and keys | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Excluded |
| Business interruption floater | Excluded | Included | Included | Included |
| Equipment breakdown floater | Excluded | Included | Excluded | Excluded |
| Inland marine insurance floater | Excluded | Excluded | $10,000 | Excluded |
| Employee dishonesty floater | Excluded | $5,000 | $2,500 | Included |
Commercial property insurance must be part of your fitness instructor insurance plan if you own or rent a studio. Use the table above to compare commercial property insurance quotes.
Commercial property insurance for fitness instructors, dance instructors, and zumba instructors will reimburse losses if the studio and its contents get damaged or destroyed because of fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils. About 78% of fitness instructors buy this together with general liability insurance in a business owner’s policy.
Workers' compensation insurance for fitness instructors, yoga instructors, and pilates instructors allows you to cover yourself and employees as well in case an occupational disease or injury occurs.
About 80% of fitness instructors need workers' compensation insurance. Think of this as a backup to your health insurance. It’s better to use this for covering the cost of work-related injuries or diseases. This insurance will help pay for:
Medical treatment
Hospitalization
Medication
Rehabilitation and retraining
Lost wages
Funeral expenses and allowance to dependents in case of death
As a fitness instructor, you run the risk of unexpected injury and illnesses. Without the proper health insurance for fitness instructors, you have to pay hefty costs out of pocket.
By investing in health insurance, you are assured of having a policy that covers the doctors you want to see, the prescriptions you are meant to get, and you might get extra perks, including free access to telemedicine.
Personal liability insurance for fitness and aerobics instructors is a coverage that’s part of most homeowner’s insurance policies. This is not business insurance coverage but homeowner's coverage.
Personal liability insurance for fitness instructors can be useful if you have a personal fitness studio right at home and teach students there. This will cover the cost of medical treatment, reimbursement for property damage, and lawsuits just like what general liability insurance does.
However, note that coverage might not be approved all the time. That said, consider getting a general liability policy for home-based fitness instructors.
Group fitness instructor insurance provides the best protection if you’re a fitness instructor who conducts fitness sessions for 30 students or more. Note that this is an upgraded version of a fitness instructor insurance plan.
Policies included in group exercise instructor insurance programs are general liability insurance, errors and omissions insurance, sexual misconduct coverage, HIPAA claims coverage, and more.
General liability insurance for group fitness instructors has a $1 million per occurrence limit with a $3 million aggregate. Errors and omissions insurance, on the other hand, has a $1 million per occurrence limit and a $6 million aggregate. HIPAA claims coverage and sexual misconduct coverage have their own limits or share the limits of general liability or errors and omissions insurance.
For the best group fitness instructor insurance, we suggest you try CPH & Associates, Hiscox, and CoverWallet.
Event insurance is important if you want to hold fancy fitness classes featuring renowned instructors.
Policies offered by events insurance are public liability insurance for fitness classes, key person coverage, event cancellation coverage, and equipment coverage.
Key person coverage will reimburse your loss if a popular instructor you invited for the special fitness class can’t make it.
Cancellation coverage will reimburse non-refundable costs for equipment rental, props, etc. if your fitness class is canceled or delayed due to late delivery of materials, conflicting venue schedules, and other covered perils.
Public liability insurance for exercise classes, on the other hand, will cover costs if guests, attendees, and other third parties sustain bodily injuries or property damage while the special fitness class is commencing.
Last but not least, equipment coverage will reimburse your losses if rented and owned equipment gets lost or damaged.
One day fitness instructor insurance is a short-term general liability policy that lasts for 24 hours or less, depending on your preferences.
Some insurance companies allow you to upgrade this into a monthly fitness instructor insurance that can be paused anytime.
Consider getting one-day fitness instructor insurance if you need emergency coverage because you forgot to renew your long-term policy, your current coverage doesn’t satisfy requirements, or your insurance doesn’t cover the type of fitness class you’re teaching.
Online fitness instructor insurance covers fitness coaches that offer their services over the internet.
It’s tempting to believe that you don't necessarily need insurance because you don’t interact with clients physically.
Still, even in this virtual environment, there are going to be claims of negligence, bodily injury, or property damage. When any of these come up, online fitness coach insurance will cover the costs of these claims.
Note that some insurance companies cover online fitness coaches with their online personal trainer insurance programs.
The table below shows the cost of the insurance policies you must have to comply with fitness instructor insurance requirements imposed by licensing boards, state authorities, and landlords.
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Deductible | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General liability insurance | $29 | $348 | $0-$500 |
| Professional indemnity insurance | $36 | $432 | $500-$1,000 |
| Workers compensation insurance | $66 | $792 | $2,000-$5,000 |
| Commercial property insurance | $51 | $612 | $1,000-$2,000 |
| Health insurance | $103 | $1,236 | $1,000 |
Fitness instructor liability insurance cost $29 per month or $348 per year for a $1 million coverage. This assumes that you make $500,000-$750,000 revenue per year. Factors that affect fitness instructor insurance cost are:
Coverage limits
Number of policies
Business location
Type of fitness training you offer
Professional certifications
Previous claims history
In connection, here’s another table of the best companies we recommend for cheap fitness instructor insurance available online or over the phone:
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEXT | $11 | $132 | Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for fitness instructors |
| CoverWallet | $13 | $156 | Fitness instructor insurance quotes comparison online |
| Tivly | $15 | $180 | Comparing insurance quotes for fitness instructors over the phone |
| Thimble | $17 | $204 | Short-term general liability insurance for fitness instructors |
| Hiscox | $19 | $228 | General liability insurance with worldwide coverage for fitness instructors |
| GEICO | $20 | $240 | Online fitness instructors |
| K&K | $20.41 | $245 | U.S-based fitness instructors |
| PHLY | $26 | $312 | Private or group fitness instructors |
| IDEA | $29.83 | $357.96 | Flexible payment options |
Consider comparing quotes to get a better idea of trainer insurance cost. Click the “Get Quotes” button on this page to start.
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
We’ve examined the perks of each carrier that provides comprehensive coverage at a reasonable rate. Here's a list of the best fitness instructor insurance companies. Read to know their pros, cons, and rate for a $1 million general liability insurance.
Best overall
Get an online proof of insurance and send as a text message, email, or social media post
Fastest general liability insurance for fitness instructors
Great customer service and reputation
Issues an online proof of insurance instantly
Outstanding value for money
Bundle two or more insurance policies and get a 10% discount
Couldn’t find any
This company offers the cheapest fitness instructor insurance of all the companies we reviewed. NEXT offers three coverage options-basic, premiere, and deluxe. Get quotes from NEXT or leave a personal review.
You enjoy general liability and professional liability policies from the basic coverage. Premiere offers general liability, professional liability, and commercial property insurance.
Deluxe is the most comprehensive. It bundles general liability, workers compensation, professional liability, and commercial property insurance.
Best for: Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for fitness instructors
Average cost: $11 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Quick and easy fitness instructor insurance comparison online
Cancel your coverage anytime with no charges
General liability insurance comes with a waiver of subrogation and HNOA coverage
Not an insurance company but a broker
CoverWallet’s fitness instructor insurance program offers general liability, commercial auto, workers' compensation, commercial property, professional liability, and other business insurance policies of partners. Get quotes from CoverWallet or leave a personal review.
You can also get event insurance from this company that features general liability coverage, liquor liability coverage, and cancellation coverage.
CoverWallet helps you with fitness instructor insurance comparison with its online tool. All you have to do is provide basic business information, and the quotes of its partners will be shown. Of course, aside from comparing, you can also buy any quote online or over the phone.
Best for: Fitness instructor insurance quotes comparison online
Average cost: $13 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Compare fitness instructor insurance quotes over the phone
A partner of many reputable insurance companies
Responsive customer service
You need to call to get a quote
Tivly doesn’t have a fitness instructor insurance plan. Instead, it provides coverage through its personal trainer insurance program, which offers general liability, workers' compensation, umbrella liability, professional liability, and other coverages.
Note that reputable insurance companies such as NEXT and GEICO might refer you to Tivly if they decline coverage. Call Tivly now and talk with a representative to compare quotes over the phone.
Best for: Comparing insurance quotes for fitness instructors over the phone
Average cost: $15 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Numerous optional inclusions to general liability insurance
Sells a short-term general liability policy
Quick to issue quotes
You can choose between numerous deductibles
You can’t reach customer service by calling
The fitness instructor insurance plan of Thimble offers general liability, commercial property, and workers compensation insurance. Get quotes from Thimble or leave your personal review.
Note that you can’t purchase commercial property insurance on its own. You must bundle this with general liability insurance in a business owner’s policy.
On the other hand, Thimble’s general liability insurance is available as a stand-alone coverage with numerous optional policies such as customer property coverage, business equipment coverage, and cyber liability insurance.
Thimble also sells hourly, daily, and monthly fitness instructor insurance that can be paused or canceled anytime.
Best for: Short-term general liability insurance for fitness instructors
Average cost: $17 per month
Our rating: 9/10
Worldwide coverage
14-day money-back guarantee
Choose between numerous limits and deductibles
Automatic policy renewal
Commercial property insurance and workers' compensation insurance are not automatically bundled in your tailored coverage
Hiscox covers fitness instructors with its personal training insurance plan. Policies offered are cyber liability, general liability, and professional liability insurance. Get quotes from Hiscox or leave your personal review.
These three policies you get from Hiscox can be upgraded with add-ons at an additional cost. Also, Hiscox provides worldwide coverage, meaning that you’re covered even when doing gigs abroad. While Hiscox allows customers to go for fitness instructor insurance pay monthly plans, it’s best to go for annual options to avail a discount.
Note that Hiscox sells public liability insurance for gym instructors in the UK.
Best for: General liability insurance with worldwide coverage for fitness instructors
Average cost: $19 per month
Our rating: 9/10
Easy claims handling process
Easy insurance application
Numerous commercial auto insurance discounts
If policyholder go with standalone policies, they would pay significantly higher premiums
If you have built an online fitness instructor brand, then Geico has amazing offerings for you. With its nationwide reach, you are assured of getting coverage even if you offer your training while on the move. Get quotes from GEICO or leave a personal review.
Moreover, GEICO offers numerous discounts on its commercial auto insurance.
We almost forgot to mention this. If you’re already a GEICO commercial auto insurance policyholder, you’ll get a discount on trainer insurance cost.
The only downside with Geico is that their standalone policies tend to be on the pricier side. You can, however, get past this challenge by bundling your policies.
Best for: Online fitness instructors
Average cost: $20 per month
Our rating: 7/10
Prospective policyholders can obtain quotes online in just a few seconds
Policies can be bought online without the need of involving an agent
Professional liability insurance offers abuse and molestation coverage
High limits for general and professional liability
General liability insurance comes with identity theft coverage and other floaters
Stolen equipment coverage is not offered as part of the basic insurance coverage
No access to affordable health insurance for fitness instructors
KK insurance fitness instructor program is customized for US-based professionals looking for general and professional liability insurance with significantly high limits. Policyholders can have additional protection included without additional fees.
For $20.41 per month or $245 annually, you get professional liability and general liability insurance with a $5 million limit from K&K.
Best for: US-based fitness instructors
Average cost: $20.41 per month
Our rating: 8/10
Custom coverage plans are offered to fitness instructors regardless of the kind of training
Online fitness instructors covered
Policyholders are covered in all states within the U.S., including Washington, DC
Philadelphia Insurance isn't keen on offering the option of bundling policies with existing coverage, including auto and home insurance
Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) is a premier national insurer with strong products and even stronger financial backing.
If you run group fitness training sessions for your clients, whether in private or at public events, you ought to consider Philadelphia Insurance. For starters, the insurer offers you custom plans which means that you will be able to meet your specific insurance needs.
For $26 monthly or $312 annually, you will be able to customize your fitness instructor insurance to fit any private or group setting you find yourself in.
Best for: Private or group fitness instructors
Average cost: $26 per month
Our rating: 7/10
Policyholders are offered occurrence form coverage
Flexible payment options with policyholders being able to choose between monthly or annual payment plans
Customizable coverage
14% discount offered to policyholders willing to switch from monthly to annual payment options
Limited coverage for non-members
IDEA Health & Fitness Association has been offering specialty coverage since its establishment in 1982. It offers all-year-round enrollment. With the option of a customized plan, policyholders will be able to meet their specific insurance needs. If you currently have gaps in your policy, you will be able to customize add-ons.
Other than just fitness instructor insurance, IDEA offers policyholders continuing education, online courses, and a resource platform. However, only those who decide to get a membership will enjoy these.
IDEA's fitness instructor insurance starts at $29.83 per month or $357.96 annually. For this price, you get the following:
Professional and general liability insurance with a $1 million per occurrence limit and $3 million aggregate limit
Sexual abuse and molestation coverage with $100,000 per occurrence limit and a $300,000 aggregate
Best for: Flexible payment options
Average cost: $29.83 per month
Our rating: 6/10
This place is an absolute joke of a company and should be ashamed of the way they conduct business. I was hurt on the job at the end of July and it took them just shy of 7 weeks to issue out a paycheck to me. Yes the amount was back dated but still. Not many have the luxury of not receiving a paycheck for almost 2 months. To top it all off, the original adjuster marked me down for the wrong state which caused a problem from the get go, I've had 3 different adjusters now since each one can't seem to figure out the simplicity of my claim. All my paperwork which includes, my job, house, and drs visits all are from the same state and city but yet some how I have been filed under a completely different state 1500 miles away. They do not answer your phone calls or emails no matter how many you leave. I've had to escalate my frustrations to the supervisors of each of these individuals in order to even get some kind of response. I've had more communication and information given to me about my claim from the customer service representatives then the actual adjusters.......... please tell me how that works?! A serious overhaul needs to happen here in order to serve your clients the way they deserve to be taken care of. 10/10 do not recommend this company to a single soul on earth
I have never had the displeasure of working with a more incompetent and disrespectful person in my life. I’m an injured worker and the adjuster that was assigned to my case was named Carrie Furgeson. In the past 6 weeks that I’ve been injured and out of work I have only been able to get ahold of her twice, not for lack of trying. I have left countless voicemails, countless emails, and she ignores them all. When I am finally able to get ahold of her I’m greeted with terrible customer service. She is rude, she talks over me and I’m hardly able to get a word in edgewise. She spelled my name wrong on my documents even after I spelled it for her properly countless times, this caused a whole new issue with my bank. I have bill collectors from the hospital calling me demanding payment and Carrie Furgeson won’t do a single thing to help, or to get them paid. All of my documentation is in Colorado, my job is in Colorado, my address is in Colorado, all my Dr offices and appointments have been in Colorado and Carrie still managed to hold my claim because she wasn’t sure what state she needed to file it under. It’s been 6 weeks since my Injury and my company still hasn’t received the wage paperwork to fill out so they can get me my correct wages. When she’s not ignoring me she’s answering my questions with “I don’t know” well I don’t know how she got this job, because apparently she doesn’t know anything about it. She is a disgusting morose individual inside and out and I genuinely wish her the worst in all of her future endeavors. I highly recommend you don’t use this company. Please if you are a business owner and your looking into this company please don’t use them. I’m sure they have the cheapest payment and that’s why companies use them in the first place, but you will be doing your employees a grave disservice by forcing them to venture into this absolute dumpster fire of a company. I would rate 0/5 if possible but 1 was the lowest I was allowed.
Their general liability insurance purchase process is simply the best online experience I've ever had in my life!
As long as they cover your line of business, you're literally covered! best rates, best coverage, best online experience, best professionals, can't be happier that I chose them!
It really can't get any better than this... wow
Not all those who wander are lost.
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