You don't have to be a multi-million dollar solar contractor to be sued like one. A single lawsuit could mean the end of the years of effort you've spent building your solar contracting business. As a solar panel installation technician, you can never be completely prepared for the number of perils that your business and clients are exposed to.
That's where solar contractor insurance comes in. This protects your investment in the event that the unexpected happens. Moreover, say if you’re working with electrical contractors for a big project, it’s important to have your own coverage because their electrical company insurance will not protect you if something goes wrong.
Solar contractor insurance is a tailored coverage that offers liability insurance, commercial property insurance, workers' compensation insurance, business owner’s policy, inland marine insurance, commercial auto insurance, and more.
Insurance companies commonly offer solar contractor liability insurance as aprofessional liability policy and general liability policy. Let’s discuss how these work.
| CoverWallet | NEXT | Thimble (Best) | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | Yes | Can be included |
| Deductible | $500 | $500 | $500 | $50/$10,000 |
Mistakes in solar panel installation can result in your client’s heavy losses. In return, they can file a claim against you to get some compensation.
It’s important for your solar panel installers insurance to have a professional liability policy. Professional liability insurance for solar contractors will grant protection if clients accuse you of committing mistakes, negligence, inaccurate advice, misrepresentation, and other forms of misconduct.
Use the table above to see which insurance company offers the best professional liability insurance.
Here are some situations where you will find professional liability insurance useful as a solar contractor:
The client files a claim because you didn’t finish installing the solar panels on the date stipulated in the contract
The client files a claim because the solar panel system was haphazardly designed and installed
Issues happened during installation because you hired unskilled independent contractors. The clients demands compensation for the extra expenses they had to cover
Professional indemnity insurance will only help you cover the legal expenses associated with investigations and lawsuits filed by licensing boards. The successful revocation or suspension of your license falls out of the scope of this insurance.
Name the independent electrical engineer as an additional insured in your professional liability policy and he will be covered. However, doing so might come at a cost. We suggest you ask the electrical engineer to get his own electrical engineer insurance and add professional liability coverage to it.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $300,000/$1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 |
| Products and completed operations aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Advertising injury coverage aggregate limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Tenant’s legal liability coverage limit | $100,000 | $100,000 | $5,000 | $100,000 |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | Included | Can be included |
| Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage included? | Yes | No | Excluded | Can be included |
| Equipment breakdown floater included? | No | Yes | Yes | Can be included |
| Can you get a certificate of insurance online? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Deductible | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Solar panel installation is an intricate task and accidents can happen while you’re doing it. Accidents don’t only endanger you and your employees but also other individuals.
That's why you ought to invest in general liability insurance for your solar installation business. General liability insurance, also included in renewable energy business insurance programs, will cover expenses if third parties file a claim for bodily injury or property damage after an accident happened in your solar panel installation project.
Use the table above to see which insurance company offers the best general liability insurance for solar contractors.
Here are some situations where general liability insurance for solar panel contractors provides coverage:
While raising a solar panel to the roof, the pulley’s cable snapped. As a result, the solar panel dropped to a car parked near the client’s building
A client slips and falls while visiting your solar company’s office
You and employees are unloading a solar panel from the car. You were rushing and accidentally struck someone with the solar panel, who was unnoticeably passing by
The general liability policy of solar installer insurance has a $1 million per occurrence limit and a $2 million aggregate limit. Some companies can offer a higher amount of coverage upon your request.
A solar contractor’s general liability insurance will cover these expenses when clients and other third parties file a claim for bodily injuries or property damage:
Medical treatment
Reimbursement for property damage
Attorney fees and other legal expenses
Settlements
Court judgments
Yes. A solar contractor’s general liability insurance comes with $1 million-$2 million products and completed operations coverage. This allows you to cover the client’s claim, pay for product recall, and take care of the extra expenses for replacing the defective solar panel.
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 | $25,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $100,000 |
| Contents coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $25,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $100,000 |
| 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 |
It's likely that your business owns or leases an office space or a warehouse from where you run your business. Protect your business property with commercial property insurance.
Suppose you have an inventory of solar panels stored away at one of your warehouses, and a fire breaks out, destroying the panels and ultimately causing damage to the structural integrity of the warehouse. The commercial property policy steps in and offers you funds to help you repair or rebuild the warehouse
Use the table above to see which insurance company offers the best commercial property insurance for solar panel installers.
No. Fire is only one of the perils that commercial property insurance can cover. Other exposures included in the terms of this insurance are:
Theft
Vandalism
Civil commotion
Riot
Volcanic action
Sinkhole collapse
Lightning
Weather
Falling objects
Aircraft
Vehicle
Sprinkler leakage
Yes. Commercial property insurance comes with contents coverage, and this will reimburse the value of the solar panels that got damaged while inside the warehouse. Remember that the reimbursement you receive is subject to the limits provided by the insurance company.
Commercial property insurance only covers solar panels that got damaged or destroyed while in the office or warehouse. It won't recover the value of solar panels to be installed that got damaged because of theft, car accident, or upset during transit.
| CoverWallet | Thimble | NEXT | Hiscox (Best) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General liability aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $25,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 |
| Commercial property coverage limit | $50,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $25,000 | $100,000 |
| Optional policies can be added? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds for free? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BOP discount? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Some solar installer insurance programs allow you to bundle general liability and commercial property insurance into a business owner’s policy. A business owner’s policy protects you against third party claims for bodily injuries/property damage and business property damage/loss.
Use the table above to see which insurance company offers the best business owner’s policy for solar contractors.
Buy a business owner’s policy for solar contractors because it helps you avoid wasting money by buying general liability insurance and commercial property insurance separately. This insurance provides the protection of two policies at an affordable cost.
| NEXT | Thimble | Hiscox (Best) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggregate limit | $3,000/$10,000 | $2,500/$5,000 | $5,000/$25,000 |
| Covers hired and borrowed equipment? | $5,000/$10,000 | $2,500/$5,000 | No |
| Miscellaneous equipment also covered? | $5,000/$10,000 | No | No |
| Offered as an endorsement to general liability insurance? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Deductible | $500 | $500 | $0 |
Tools and equipment insurance will help cover the implements you use for installing solar panels such as ladders, flat pry bars, caulk guns, conduit benders, and electric screwdrivers.
If something happens to your implements, tools and equipment insurance sees to it that your pockets won’t bear the strain of covering the cost of repair or replacement.
Use the table above to see which insurance company offers the best tools and equipment insurance for solar contractors.
Tools and equipment insurance will protect your solar panel installation equipment against damage or destruction caused by:
Fire
Theft
Vandalism
Operator error
Impact
Electrical surge
Electrical shorts
Mechanical breakdown
Mysterious disappearance
Tools and equipment insurance doesn’t cover your solar installation equipment while it’s being used by another contractor. However, the policy can cover solar panel installation implements that you rented, leased, or borrowed.
Solar installation is a growing profession but is dangerous at the same time. It’s estimated that 650 solar installation technicians were injured from 2011-2019; a figure that’s 32% higher than the electrical installation injuries recorded in the same years.
And so, it’s essential to get workers' compensation insurance if you employ one or more full-time and part-time employees.
Workers' compensation insurance will allow you to grant the benefits mandated by the state if an employee sustains a work-related injury or disease.
Moreover, this insurance grants immunity from some employee-employer lawsuits if you’re in a state that adopts the principle of exclusive remedy in its labor codes.
A solar contractor’s workers' compensation insurance will cover these expenses when an employee sustains a work-related injury or disease:
Medical treatment
Hospitalization
Medication
Rehabilitation and retraining
Lost wages
Funeral expenses and allowance to dependents in case of death
These are some of the most common situations where your solar panel installation company can use workers' compensation insurance:
An employee falls from a height
An employee gets electrocuted and burned
An employee is exposed to the harmful substances inside a defective solar panel and sustains an illness
An employee cuts himself while using the tools for solar panel installation
A solar panel hits an employee while it’s being lifted to the rooftop
Chances are that your business likely owns or leases cars, trucks, or vans to aid with the solar installation. It’s unlawful to use an uninsured commercial vehicle. In order to comprehensively protect your business, you'll need to invest in a commercial auto insurance policy that will:
Cover the medical treatment of third parties who got injured in an accident caused by your solar company’s commercial vehicle
Cover the medical treatment of the passengers and driver if your solar company’s vehicle got involved in an accident caused by an uninsured/underinsured driver
Account for the cost of parts repair or replacement if your solar company’s commercial vehicle sustained damage because of fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils
Yes. You can name additional drivers and vehicles in your solar company’s commercial auto insurance. You can do this during and after you have purchased the policy. But remember that this will increase your rates.
The following policies can be added to your solar energy contractors insurance to cover other specialized risks:
Employment practices liability insurance protects your solar contractor business from claims of unlawful employment practices. Even when the claims are groundless, the policy takes effect by paying the legal fees as well as any court judgments, including settlements.
To protect your inventory and tools and equipment while they are in transit, consider getting an inland marine policy. This policy protects any of your moving property and equipment against vandalism, theft, upsetting, and other exposures.
Umbrella liability insurance, also referred to as excess liability insurance, provides you with insurance coverage above and beyond your primary coverage.
For instance, suppose you have a commercial general liability policy with a $1 million per accident coverage and an aggregate limit of $2 million.
Suppose, you have one claim above $1 million in the course of a year or two separate claims that total to more than $2 million. There would be a gap in coverage above these set primary limits.
To address the gap, the umbrella policy would step in. In most instances, the umbrella coverage will be between $1 million to $5 million.
It’s important to get builders' risk insurance if your solar panel installation project needs several days to complete. If something happens to the solar panels at the project site because of fire, theft, explosions, vandalism, or weather, builders' risk insurance will cover their value and reimburse other financial losses you have incurred.
Insurance companies exclude roofing activities in their solar contractor insurance programs. And so, you’ll need to invest in roofing contractor insurance that offers general liability and professional indemnity policies for roofing installation, repair, and maintenance.
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Deductible | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General liability insurance | $50 | $600 | $0-$500 |
| Professional liability insurance | $60 | $720 | $0-$500 |
| Commercial property insurance | $80 | $960 | $1,000-$2,500 |
| Business owner’s policy | $100 | $1,200 | $500-$1,000 |
| Workers compensation insurance | $120 | $1,440 | $2,000-$5,000 |
| Commercial auto insurance | $85 | $1,020 | $1,000 |
| Inland marine insurance | Depends on the value of the items to be insured | Depends on the value of the items to be insured | $1,000-$1,500 |
| Umbrella liability insurance | $54 | $648 | $500-$1,000 |
| Employment practices liability insurance | $90 | $1,080 | $500-$1,000 |
The average solar contractor insurance cost is $50 per month or $600 per year for a $1 million general liability insurance. This is subject to the location of your business, claims history, and amounts of insurance purchased.
In order to get an accurate estimate of solar contractor insurance costs, it's best to get a quote from a reputable insurance company. Here's a list of a few trusted insurance companies. You can also see their rates for a $1 million general liability policy.
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEXT | $41.65 | $499.80 | Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for solar contractors |
| CoverWallet | $44 | $528 | Solar contractor insurance online quotes comparison |
| Tivly | $46 | $552 | Comparing solar contractor insurance quotes over the phone |
| Thimble | $47.97 | $575.64 | On-demand coverage for solar contractors |
| Hiscox | $50 | $600 | Solar contractor insurance with worldwide coverage |
| Travelers | $59 | $708 | Solar contractor insurance with highly specialized inclusions |
| The Hartford | $61.75 | $741 | Number of discounts on offer |
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
Finding the right solar contractor insurance partner is a crucial step in protecting your business from some of the most common perils and essentially setting yourself up for success.
Besides, your solar contracting business is cutting the edge of what could best be described as new technology, and as such, you need insurance carriers that can match up.
Here's a list of the best solar contractor insurance companies for your consideration. Read some of the reviews below to know their pros, cons, and cost of a $1 million general liability insurance.
Best overall
Issues an online proof of insurance instantly
Fastest general liability insurance for solar contractors
Great customer service and reputation
Excellent rates
Outstanding value for money
Get a 10% discount
Couldn’t find any
If you are a small solar contractor business looking for a customizable insurance package, then NEXT is the carrier for you. Much as it was only founded in 2016, this insurer has made a name for itself within the construction and contracting landscape by providing policyholders with an easily accessible insurance package that can be managed online.
NEXT’s solar contractor insurance is available as a basic, premiere, or deluxe insurance plan. The table below shows how each of these are unique from one another:
| Basic | Premiere | Deluxe | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General liability insurance limit | $300,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Tools and equipment insurance limit | $3,000 | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Commercial property insurance limit | $25,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 |
Best for: Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for solar contractors
Average cost: $41.65 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Compare solar contractor insurance quotes online
Get numerous quotes in an instant
Allows you to cancel your coverage anytime without hidden charges
General liability insurance comes with a waiver of subrogation
Not an insurance company but an insurance broker
CoverWallet is an insurance broker that’s a sister company of AON. Go for CoverWallet if you want to compare quotes to find the best coverage options with reasonable pricing. This company’s solar energy contractor’s insurance program offers the following:
$1 million general liability insurance with hired/non-owned auto liability coverage and waiver of subrogation
$50,000 commercial property insurance
Business owner’s policy with a $1 million general liability and $50,000 commercial property coverage
Inland marine insurance
Commercial auto insurance
Professional liability insurance
Other than what’s above, you can further avail other policies if you decide to talk with a representative rather than get your coverage automatically online.
Best for: Solar contractor insurance online quotes comparison
Average cost: $44 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Compare quotes over the phone
A partner of many reputable insurance companies
Responsive customer service
You need to call to get a quote
Tivly has a generic contractor insurance program and you might get covered through it. Consider calling a Tivly representative now to know if you’re eligible and compare quotes over the phone.
Best for: Comparing solar contractor insurance quotes over the phone
Average cost: $46 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Numerous add-ons to general liability insurance
On-demand coverage
Quick to issue an estimate of your rates
General liability insurance is available as a one-day coverage
You need to call to get a quote
Doesn’t work with solar contractors involved with installation of solar panels in buildings more than 3 stories high
Thimble covers solar contractor’s through its contractor insurance program. For solar contractors, this offers $1 million-$2 million general liability insurance and workers compensation insurance. On a side note, you can add business equipment coverage, cyber liability coverage, professional liability coverage, and customer property coverage to your general liability policy. Thimble might also offer a business owner’s policy.
Best for: On-demand coverage for solar contractors
Average cost: $47.97 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Quick to respond to queries
Has a considerable amount of experience in offering and managing business insurance
Worldwide coverage
You will be referred to partners
Hiscox sells solar contractor insurance but you will be referred to partners. For long-term coverage, Hiscox will take you to Insureon. For short-term coverage, Hiscox will ask you to get in touch with Thimble.
Best for: Solar contractor insurance with worldwide coverage
Average cost: $50 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Average premiums are below industry averages
Solid financials
Availability of online tools and innovative features for filing claims and managing policies
Policies can be canceled via mail or hotline
Lacks unique discounts
Travelers has curated specialized coverages for installation, maintenance, and service contractors within the solar energy industry. The core products on offer include:
Inland marine coverage dubbed SolarPak.
Builders' risk coverage
Permanent property and operations coverage
Equipment breakdown coverage
General liability coverage
Best for: Solar contractor insurance with highly specialized inclusions
Average cost: $59 per month
Our rating: 7/10
Dedicated underwriting specialists on board
24/7 claims reporting
Specialized claims handlers for specific coverage
Experience claims and legal assistance for the best possible outcome
Available in all 50 states
More than the expected number of customer complaints
Not a BBB-accredited business
You stand to benefit from the renewable energy business insurance offered by The Hartford. This offering includes:
General liability coverage, dubbed General Liability Choice ®
Commercial auto insurance, which covers hired auto physical damage, has employees as additional insureds and features upset and overturn extension of coverage
Workers' Compensation insurance in which The Hartford offers broad form endorsements to protect against certain unknown and unexpected exposure
Commercial umbrella coverage with up to $25 million in policy limits
Policyholders have the option of additional solutions, which include:
Marine policy, which includes a shipper's interest, ocean cargo choice, and installation coverage
Multinational coverage helps you cover traveling employees or the entire overseas enterprise. The package of protection is offered under The Hartford Passport Package and The Hartford's Controlled Master Policy.
Management liability coverage covers directors and officers, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability crime, and kidnap & ransom or extortion.
Best for: Number of discounts on offer
Average cost: $61.75 per month
Our rating: 7/10
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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