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Writer Insurance: Cost & Quotes From $30/mo

Table of contents
1. General Liability Insurance for Writers1.1. Situations Where General Liability Insurance Can Help1.2. Add-Ons of General Liability Insurance for Writers1.3. Coverage Limits of General Liability Insurance for Writers1.4. Does General Liability Insurance Grant Protection Against Libel Claims?2. Professional Liability Insurance for Writers2.1. Coverage Limits of Professional Liability Insurance for Writers2.2. What is Media Liability Insurance for Authors?3. Product Liability Insurance for Writers3.1. Coverage Limits of Product Liability Insurance for Writers3.2. Am I Legally Required to Purchase Product Liability Insurance?3.3. Does Product Liability Cover My Product Recall Costs?4. Commercial Property Insurance for Writers4.1. Add-Ons of Commercial Property Insurance for Writers4.2. Coverage Limits of Commercial Property Insurance for Writers4.3. Do Freelance Writers Need Commercial Property Insurance?4.4. Does My Commercial Property Policy Cover Transit?5. Business Owner’s Policy for Writers5.1. Add-Ons of Business Owner’s Policy for Writers5.2. Coverage Limits of Business Owner’s Policy for Writers5.3. Does Business Owner’s Policy Cover Professional Indemnity Insurance?6. Tools and Equipment Insurance for Writers6.1. Add-Ons of Tools and Equipment Insurance for Writers6.2. Coverage Limits of Tools and Equipment Insurance for Writers6.3. What is Not Covered by Tools and Equipment Insurance?7. Commercial Auto Insurance for Writers7.1. Add-Ons of Commercial Auto Insurance for Writers7.2. Coverage Limits of Commercial Auto Insurance for Writers7.3. Can a Self-Published Author Benefit From Commercial Auto Insurance?7.4. Can I Use a Personal Vehicle I Own for Commercial Auto Insurance?8. Excess Liability Insurance for Writers 8.1. Coverage Limits of Excess Liability Insurance for Writers8.2. Does Excess Liability Cover Every Policy?9. Workers' Compensation Insurance for Writers9.1. Will an Author Qualify for Workers’ Compensation?9.2. Are My Employees Paid for the Entire Time Off Work?10. Writer Insurance Cost11. Best Writer Insurance Companies11.1. NEXT Writer Insurance 11.1.1. Pros11.1.2. Cons11.2. The Hartford Writer Insurance 11.2.1. Pros 11.2.2. Cons 11.3. CoverWallet Writer Insurance 11.3.1. Pros 11.3.2. Cons 11.4. Tivly Writer Insurance 11.4.1. Pros 11.4.2. Cons 11.5. Thimble Writer Insurance 11.5.1. Pros11.5.2. Cons11.6. Hiscox Writer Insurance 11.6.1. Pros 11.6.2. Cons 11.7. Writers Guild of America Insurance 11.7.1. Pros 11.7.2. Cons 11.8. Author’s Guild Insurance 11.8.1. Pros 11.8.2. Cons 

142,000 writers and authors worked in the United States in 2021. As a writer or author, you want to invest in an insurance policy considering your industry's unique risks. The broadcasting company might sue for financial losses after an article you’ve made offended a particular group. Also, misleading information from you can result in media liability claims. Consider getting writer insurance for the best protection. Read further to know what policies are included, the cost of premiums, and the best companies:

General Liability Insurance for Writers


CoverWallet NEXT (Best)Thimble HiscoxThe Hartford
Per occurrence limit $1,000,000$1,000,000$1,000,000/$2,000,000$300,000/$1,000,000$1,000,000/$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$1,000,000/$2,000,000
Products and completed operations aggregate limit $2,000,000
$1,000,000$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$1,000,000
Tenant’s legal liability coverage limit $100,000
$100,000$5,000$100,000$1,000,000
Waiver of subrogation included?YesNoIncludedCan be includedNo
Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage included?YesNoExcludedCan be includedCan be included
Equipment breakdown floater included?No YesYesCan be includedCan be included
Can you get a certificate of insurance online?YesYesYesYesYes
Name additional insureds?YesYes
YesYesYes
Deductible$0$0$0$0$0


One of the most useful liability insurance for your business is general liability. This policy will protect your business from third-party injury and property damage. While most insurance companies offer general liability as a long-term policy, it’s possible to get this as a short-term coverage that only lasts for hours, days, or weeks. 


Situations Where General Liability Insurance Can Help

Below are a few examples of when this coverage might be helpful:

  • A customer slips and falls at your business property and needs help paying for medical expenses

  • One of your employees accidentally breaks a customer’s property, which needs to be replaced

  • You get served a lawsuit for your writing causing copyright infringement, requiring you to handle court costs


Add-Ons of General Liability Insurance for Writers

You can customize your general liability through add-ons. Examples include:

  • Tools and equipment–Helps you pay for repairing or replacing damaged business equipment and tools

  • Employment practices liability–Protects your business from employee claims of harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination


Coverage Limits of General Liability Insurance for Writers

The coverage limit of your general liability policy will be around $1 million per occurrence and $2 million in aggregate.


Does General Liability Insurance Grant Protection Against Libel Claims?

General liability can be used as libel insurance. Libel, defamation, and other related offenses are included in the personal injury section of a general liability policy’s language. 


Professional Liability Insurance for Writers


CoverWallet NEXTThimble (Best)HiscoxThe 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?YesYesYesYesYes
Waiver of subrogation included?YesNoYesCan be includedNo


Professional liability insurance, also called errors and omissions insurance, covers claims for negligence, breach of contract, inaccurate advice, or failure to deliver a service. Insurance companies offer this as a claims-made or occurrence policy. Professional liability insurance covers the legal costs, settlements, and judgments. 


Coverage Limits of Professional Liability Insurance for Writers

Your professional liability policy offers a $1 million-$2 million per occurrence and aggregate limit. It’s possible to get more if you request the insurance company. 


What is Media Liability Insurance for Authors?

Media liability insurance for authors offers a specialized form of professional liability insurance that protects liabilities that stem from disseminating content. This policy protects publishers and authors from issues like invasion of privacy and misappropriation of names and identities.


Product Liability Insurance for Writers

Your writer insurance policy can use product liability protection to cover injuries that result from selling a faulty product. For writers, this can include situations like

  • You release a defective product that damages a customer's personal property

  • Your business sells merchandise and fails to warn customers that it can be harmful when ingested


Coverage Limits of Product Liability Insurance for Writers

A standard coverage limit for product liability is $1 million per occurrence and $2 million in aggregate.


Am I Legally Required to Purchase Product Liability Insurance?

No, your product liability insurance will not be legally required to operate your writing business. However, sometimes you want to purchase it anyway since clients may want you to provide evidence that you can cover damages to your products if you do business with them.


Does Product Liability Cover My Product Recall Costs?

No. Product liability insurance for freelance writers might not cover your business expenses when you need to recall a product. You want a product recall endorsement to cover those costs.

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Commercial Property Insurance for Writers


CoverWalletNEXT (Best)ThimbleHiscoxThe 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 signsExcluded$2,500ExcludedExcludedExcluded
Accounts receivable ExcludedExcluded$5,000/10,000IncludedExcluded
Money and securitiesExcluded$2,500$1,000IncludedExcluded
Lock and keys Excluded$2,500ExcludedExcludedExcluded
Business interruption floaterExcludedIncludedIncludedIncludedExcluded
Equipment breakdown floaterExcludedIncludedExcludedExcludedExcluded
Inland marine insurance floaterExcludedExcluded$10,000ExcludedExcluded
Employee dishonesty floaterExcluded$5,000$2,500IncludedExcluded


Commercial property insurance can make a good companion policy for your writer or author liability insurance. You get protection from damage to your business building and its commercial property. Some example situations include:

  • A thief breaks into your writing business and steals a working outline for a book

  • Your business property gets damaged by a fire and needs replacement


Add-Ons of Commercial Property Insurance for Writers

  • Equipment breakdown insurance–Adds protection for mechanical breakdowns from power outages and power surges for equipment you use in your writing business

  • Flood insurance–Helps you compensate for property damage from flood waters


Coverage Limits of Commercial Property Insurance for Writers

Commercial property insurance will have an average coverage limit of $60,000. The coverage limit depends on the value of your commercial property.


Do Freelance Writers Need Commercial Property Insurance?

Freelance writer insurance can still benefit from commercial property coverage providing extra protection for business equipment that a homeowner’s policy might not. If you rely on business equipment to make your business work, you should consider commercial property insurance.


Does My Commercial Property Policy Cover Transit?

No, your commercial property policy will only cover your business property at the location outlined in the policy. If you want to cover the property you are storing off-site, you will want inland marine coverage. An inland marine insurance policy can also cover your business property while transported over land.