New Jersey Contractor Insurance: Quotes From $31/mo

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There are 3,787,470 construction firms in the US. This business offers promising returns, with profits averaging $100,000 to $ 1 million annually.

If you are considering venturing into this money-making business, don’t let the high profits make you overlook the unforeseen risks you might encounter. It would be best to acknowledge that unexpected challenges might be inevitable whether you are a startup or an experienced contractor.

You must obtain New Jersey contractor insurance to safeguard your firm’s financial stability. This article discusses the fundamental insurance policies you should prioritize, their coverage limits, add-ons, and the top insurance companies and brokers you can buy from.

New Jersey Contractor Insurance Requirements

Here are some of the fundamental NJ contractor insurance requirements:

  • General liability insurance–You require general liability insurance with limits of $500,000 -$1,000,000 per occurrence and aggregate limit

  • Workers’ compensation insurance–If you have employees in New Jersey, you must hold workers’ compensation insurance. The number of employees and type of work determine the limit

  • Commercial auto insurance–Coverage limitations depend on the contractor’s vehicle size, type of work, and other considerations. The coverage limit ranges from $500,000 to $1 million per accident

  • General and building contractors–Property damage coverage of $50,000 and public liability coverage of $300,000 are required

  • Other contractors–You must carry a $100,000 public liability insurance policy and $25,000 property damage coverage

  • Bonding–In NJ, you must obtain a contractor license bond. The contractor’s bond might range from $10,000 to $300,000, depending on the work

General Liability Insurance for New Jersey Contractors

CoverWallet  NEXT (Best) Thimble Hiscox The Hartford
Per occurrence limit  $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000/$2,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000/$2,000,000
Aggregate limit  $2,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000/$2,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000/$2,000,000
Products and completed operations aggregate limit  $2,000,000 $1,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000
Advertising injury coverage aggregate limit  $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000
Tenant’s legal liability coverage limit  $300,000/$1,000,000 $300,000 $100,000 $100,000 $1,000,000
Waiver of subrogation included? Yes No Included Can be included No
Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage included? Yes No No Can be included Can be included
Equipment breakdown floater included? No  Yes Yes Can be included Can be included
Can you get a certificate of insurance online? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Name additional insureds? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Deductible $0 $0 $0 $0 $0


Contractor general liability insurance in New Jersey cushions your firm from claims that may occur during a renovation or building operation. Ensure you purchase this general contractor insurance NJ for adequate protection from advertising injuries, bodily injuries, and medical payments.


What Incidents Are Covered by Contractors’ General Liability Insurance in New Jersey?

  • If a competitor firm accuses you of using their images or logo without permission

  • One of your employees makes defamatory remarks about another business

  • A client is injured while visiting the construction site

  • You damage a customer’s car while constructing a building

Add-Ons to This General Contractor Insurance NJ

  • Customer property coverage–This add-on reimburses the customer if his or her property gets damaged while under your care, custody, and control 

  • Professional liability insurance–This add-on is crucial. If you offer consultation or design services, professional liability insurance will cover claims that arise from negligence or professional mistakes

Coverage Limits of General Liability for New Jersey Contractors

When an incident occurs in your business, such as a customer sustaining injuries, your insurance will pay a certain amount to cover the damages. The limit can be $1 million to $2 million for each occurrence, while you get an aggregate limit of up to $5 million or more.


Professional Indemnity Insurance for New Jersey Contractors

CoverWallet  NEXT Thimble (Best) Hiscox The Hartford
Per occurrence limit  $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000/$2,000,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000
Aggregate limit  $2,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000/$2,000,000 $1,000,000 $2,000,000
Name additional insureds? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Waiver of subrogation included? Yes No Yes Can be included No
HIPAA coverage included? No No No No No
Sexual misconduct coverage included? No No No No Can be included
License defense coverage included? No No No No Can be included
Deductible  $500 $500 $500 $50/$10,000 $500


Some clients can be unsatisfied with your work and even claim you caused losses. Professional indemnity insurance shelters your company from claims of omissions, errors, or negligence. When a client sues you over a mistake you made, this policy will cover legal defense and settlement costs.


What Incidents Are Covered by This Contractor Insurance New Jersey?

  • You make a slight mistake when designing or renovating a building, leading to your client incurring expensive repairing or rebuilding costs

  • Your construction promises a specific service, but you fail to deliver. A client might believe your actions impacted their business

  • Your work fails to meet the industry standards and leads to a customer suffering financial damage

Add-Ons to Professional Indemnity Insurance for New Jersey Contractors

  • Third-party liability insurance–This add-on helps to extend the coverage of your standard policy and covers claims made by third parties who may not be direct clients

  • Run-off insurance–If you are considering retiring or closing your construction business, run-off insurance will cover all claims made after you stop operating

Coverage Limits of Professional Indemnity for New Jersey Contractors

The estimated coverage limit after being accused of professional errors or negligence is $1 million to $5 million for a single claim. But you can get higher limits if you are involved in complex projects.

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Commercial Property Insurance for New Jersey Contractors

CoverWallet NEXT (Best) Thimble Hiscox The Hartford
Building coverage limit (minimum) $50,000 $260,000 $25,000/$500,000 $25,000 $60,000
Contents coverage limit (minimum) $50,000 $22,000 $25,000/$500,000 $25,000 $60,000
Outdoor signs Excluded $2,500 Excluded Excluded Excluded
Accounts receivable  Excluded Excluded $5,000/10,000 Included Excluded
Money and securities Excluded $2,500 $1,000 Included Excluded
Lock and keys  Excluded $2,500 Excluded Excluded Excluded
Business interruption floater Excluded Included Included Included Excluded
Equipment breakdown floater Excluded Included Excluded Excluded Excluded
Inland marine insurance floater Excluded Excluded $10,000 Excluded Excluded
Employee dishonesty floater Excluded $5,000 $2,500 Included Excluded


Commercial property insurance will cover your business premises’ rebuilding or repair costs. It can also pay for the costs of replacing your equipment or stock. This policy includes content and buildings insurance. Building insurance will cover your physical structures, such as ceilings, walls, and floors. On the other hand, contents insurance will cover your stock or equipment. Some of the covered perils include:

  • Burst pipes

  • Storms

  • Riots

  • Theft

  • Flooding

  • Falling trees

Add-Ons to Commercial Property Insurance for New Jersey Contractors

  • Flood insurance–Some standard commercial property insurance may not include flood damage. Some areas in New Jersey are vulnerable to flooding, and you should use this add-on to your base policy

  • Builder’s risk insurance–Covers losses due to vandalism, theft, or damage to the construction project

Coverage Limits of Commercial Property Insurance for New Jersey Contractors

Storms or floods can destroy your buildings; your insurance company will pay $500,000 to $5 million to cover rebuilding and repair costs. But if you have valuable facilities, you will require better coverage.


Business Owner’s Policy for New Jersey Contractors

CoverWallet NEXT (Best) Thimble Hiscox The Hartford
Building coverage limit (minimum) $50,000 $260,000 $25,000/$500,000 $25,000 $60,000
Contents coverage limit (minimum) $50,000 $22,000 $25,000/$500,000 $25,000 $60,000
Outdoor signs Excluded $2,500 Excluded Excluded Excluded
Accounts receivable  Excluded Excluded $5,000/10,000 Included Excluded
Money and securities Excluded $2,500 $1,000 Included Excluded


A business owner’s policy bundles many coverage types into one insurance package. Obtaining one package is cost-effective compared to acquiring the policies separately. These policies are available to small construction businesses with low risk. BOP has property, liability, and business interruption insurance.


What Are the Situations That BOP Can Cover?

  • If your office is damaged by fire or natural disasters, this coverage will compensate you for all the damages.

  • For bodily injury, the coverage will reimburse the medical costs

  • For claims of libel or slander, the policy will pay for defense costs or compensation fees

Add-Ons to BOP for New Jersey Contractors

  • Cyber liability insurance–This add-on will shelter your business from cyber risks. It will cover costs related to credit monitoring, data breach response or legal liabilities from adverse cyber incidents.

  • Employment practices liability insurance–Protects your company from allegations of harassment, wrongful termination, and discrimination

Coverage Limits of BOP for New Jersey Contractors

You will be compensated $1 million to $2 million for each occurrence in the liability coverage and $100,000 to $5 million for the property coverage.


Tools and Equipment Insurance for New Jersey Contractors

NEXT  Thimble Hiscox The Hartford
Aggregate limit $3,000/$10,000 $2,500/$5,000 $15,000/$25,000 $5,000-$10,000
Covers hired and borrowed equipment? $3,000/$10,000 $2,500/$5,000 No Yes
Miscellaneous equipment also covered? $5,000/$10,000 No Yes Yes
Offered as an endorsement to general liability insurance? Yes Yes Yes Yes
Deductible $500 $500 $0 $0


Tools and equipment insurance offers coverage for your small hand tools and equipment. This coverage may also extend to your rental equipment. Your insurance can provide replacement cost coverage or actual cash value coverage. Replacement cost is the value of your tools and equipment and determines how much your insurer will compensate after a covered event occurs. Conversely, actual cash value pays for your stolen or damaged items at depreciating value.


What Are the Common Incidents Covered by This General Contractor New Jersey?

  • Your tools and equipment are damaged by fire

  • Your items are stolen

  • Your employees accidentally damage your tools and equipment

Add-Ons to Tools and Equipment Insurance for New Jersey Contractors

  • Employee theft coverage–This add-on offers coverage in case your employees commit fraudulent activities, such as stealing your tools and equipment

  • Inland marine coverage–Extends the coverage of your tools and equipment insurance to include items transported to off-site locations

Coverage Limits of Tools and Equipment Insurance for New Jersey Contractors

If your tools and equipment are destroyed or stolen, an insurer can pay you an aggregate limit of $100,000 to $5 million. 




Commercial Auto Insurance for New Jersey Contractors

You require commercial auto insurance if your construction business owns or leases vehicles. This help compensates for the legal fees, repairs, or medical costs in case an accident that involves your automobile occurs. The policy covers a variety of vehicles, such as vans, tracks, or cars, for your contracting business.


What Are the Critical Components of Commercial Auto Insurance?

  • Liability coverage–Pays for property damage and bodily injury liabilities after an accident

  • Medical payment coverage–Pays for the needed medical costs for all the covered personnel

  • Collision coverage–Will pay for the repair costs if your vehicle is damaged after a collision with an object or car

  • Comprehensive coverage–Will pay for the damage to your insured vehicle; damage can be due to vandalism or theft

  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage–This policy settles any damages when your driver is involved in an accident with another driver who doesn’t have adequate liability insurance

Add-Ons to Commercial Auto Insurance for New Jersey Contractors

  • Hired and non-owned auto coverage–This policy will extend your commercial auto insurance to accommodate borrowed or rented vehicles

  • Umbrella insurance–This add-on will extend the limits of your commercial auto insurance. It will safeguard your business if it faces a large liability claim

Coverage Limits of Commercial Auto Insurance for New Jersey Contractors

An insurer will evaluate whether the accident has caused property damage, bodily injury, or damage to your vehicle. Depending on the extent of the accident, you can get coverage of $50,000 to $500,000.


Excess Liability Insurance for New Jersey Contractors

Excess liability is tailored for some significant incidents which may exhaust your primary insurance policy. You can include it as a safety net; it will step in when your regular policy cannot adequately cover all damages suffered. With this policy, you are 100% guaranteed that your business will still run even after calamities hit your construction business.


What Incidents Are Covered by Excess Liability Insurance NJ?

  • Covers severe property damage that may require hefty rebuilding or repairing costs

  • In severe bodily injury, the medical bills can escalate and exceed your policy’s limit

Coverage Limits of Excess Liability Insurance for New Jersey Contractors

The coverage limit depends on your risk exposure and the specific assets you must cover. But you will get paid an average of $2 million to $10 million.


Workers Compensation Insurance for New Jersey Contractors

The construction business poses so many hazards to the workers. An employee may fall from a height and sustain severe injuries. In other instances, the materials you use for construction can lead to infections. Having this home improvement contractor insurance NJ is intrinsic to the safety of your employees.


What Incidents Can This Insurance Cover?

  • An employee falls ill due to exposure to harmful substances at work

  • An employee suffers from chronic pain due to lifting heavy materials

  • An employee falls from a height and sustains a hip injury

Add-Ons to Workers Compensation Insurance for New Jersey Contractors

  • Worldwide coverage–This ensures you can adequately cover employees working for your company beyond the state’s border

  • Employer’s liability insurance–This add-on covers negligence lawsuits filed by employees who sustained a work-related injury or disease

  • Occupational accident insurance–Independent contractors and self-employed individuals can get occupational accident insurance instead of workers’ compensation. It protects contractors who are not protected by workers’ compensation

Coverage Limits of Workers’ Compensation for New Jersey Contractors

The payment you get from your insurance company can be used to pay for hospital bills, lost wages, funeral costs, or death benefits. For the lost income, your employee will calculate it according to the weekly wage of the employee.

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New Jersey Contractors Insurance Cost

Cost per Month Cost per Year Deductible
General liability insurance $32 $384 $0-$500
Professional liability insurance $46 $552 $1,000-$2,000
Commercial property insurance $55 $660 $1,000-$2,000
Business owner’s policy $74 $888 $1,500
Tools and equipment insurance $38 $456 $500-$1,000
Commercial auto insurance $57 $684 $500-$1,000
Workers compensation insurance $65 $780 $2,500-$5,000
Excess liability insurance $34 $408 $500-$1,000


The average NJ contractor insurance cost is $32 per month or $384 per year for a $1 million general liability policy. Factors that affect premiums are claims history, business history, policy limits, deductibles, and number of employees. Here’s a table showing the cost of a $1 million general liability policy from the best companies:

Cost per Month Cost per Year Best for
NEXT $15 $180 Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for contractors
CoverWallet $17 $204 Comparing contractor insurance quotes online
The Hartford $20 $240 Workers’ compensation insurance for contractors in New Jersey
Tivly $22 $264 Comparing contractor insurance quotes over the phone
Thimble $26 $312 Contractors looking for on-demand coverage
Hiscox $28 $336 Contractors who operate internationally and looking for global coverage


Get a further idea of general contractor insurance cost NJ by comparing quotes. Click the “Get Quotes” button on this page to start. 

Compare Cheap New Jersey Contractor Insurance Quotes Online

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

Best New Jersey Contractors Insurance Companies

Here are the companies to consider working with. Read some of the reviews below to know their pros, cons, and average rate for a $1 million general liability policy. 


NEXT

Pros

  • Outstanding customer service team who guide you in insurance policy acquisition

  • Excellent rates suitable even for startup contractors

  • Offers online proof of insurance within minutes

  • For bundled-up policies, you get a 10% discount

  • Fastest general liability insurance

  • Best overall 

Cons

  • Couldn’t find any

NEXT is one of the best choices for contractors seeking comprehensive coverage in New Jersey. They allow you to acquire insurance coverage online, access your insurance license, and manage your policies easily. You can get assistance from their agents when making claims.

Best for: Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for contractors

Average cost: $15 per month

Our rating: 10/10


CoverWallet

Pros

  • They offer an online platform where you have access to multiple insurance providers

  • You can find out which insurer offers competitive rates through their comparison tool

  • You can discuss the needs and operations of your business with them, and they will direct you to a provider who best meets your needs

Cons

  • An insurance broker who does not underwrite their policies

CoverWallet offers adjusted insurance solutions to contractors despite the size of your business. They walk you through the entire process of purchasing a claim and ensure you get the proper coverage. They have also invested in an online comparison tool that allows you to view the prices of different providers.

Best for: Comparing contractor insurance quotes online 

Average cost: $17 per month

Our rating: 10/10


The Hartford

Pros

  • They have a good reputation for handling claims faster

  • You can purchase comprehensive insurance policies

  • Offers excellent benefits on their worker’s compensation insurance

  • You can easily acquire contractors insurance online

Cons

  • Primarily targets AARP members and may not adequately address the needs of non-members.

The Hartford has offered a safety net for small businesses for over a century. It is known for having the best workers’ compensation policies and benefits. They also provide businesses tips to mitigate occupation-related accidents. For businesses with high-risk profiles, this company allows purchasing of specialized policies.

Best for: Workers’ compensation insurance for contractors in New Jersey

Average cost: $20 per month

Our rating: 10/10


Tivly

Pros

  • Has partnered with many insurance companies (more than 200)

  • You can quickly obtain insurance quotes on your phone

  • Does not consider the risk to your business when issuing coverage

  • They are cheaper than other providers

Cons

  • You cannot get an insurance quote online

Tivly has managed to stand out by offering competitive prices; they have collaborated with top-rated providers to ensure your business has limitless options. You can purchase multiple policies from this insurance marketplace, such as BOP, workers’ compensation insurance, excess liability, general liability, property insurance, and more. Call now to compare quotes over the phone. 

Best for: Comparing contractor insurance quotes over the phone 

Average cost: $22 per month

Our rating: 9/10


Thimble Contractors Insurance

Pros

  • Allows contractors to buy insurance policies when needed

  • You can include multiple add-ons on the general liability insurance

  • Their insurance premiums are cost-effective

Cons

  • Their customer service is not available on the phone

Thimble offers on-demand coverage for your construction business. In addition to their short-term policies, you can also get long-term coverage. This company ensures you have versatility and the freedom to customize your limits. You can buy multiple insurance policies, such as general liability, BOP, workers’ compensation, professional liability, tools and equipment, and more.

Best for: Contractors looking for on-demand coverage

Average cost: $26 per month

Our rating: 9/10


Hiscox Contractors Insurance

Pros

  • You can purchase a wide array of policies

  • They offer coverage in many countries through their worldwide coverage

  • They are an experienced company that ensures businesses get the appropriate coverage

Cons

  • The process of making claims can be slow

Hiscox is a company known for offering global coverage for companies. You can get a 14-day refund of all your policies. As your construction business expands, you can adjust your limits and add-ons. Some policies you can buy include general liability, workers’ compensation insurance, tools and equipment, and excess liability.

Best for: Contractors who operate internationally and looking for global coverage

Average cost: $28 per month

Our rating: 9/10 

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