Electrical contractors will need an insurance company that is responsive and affordable when you have a question or a claim. It’s also important that the insurer offers enough liability and property coverage for your business. If you are involved in construction or bidding on jobs, then you want the company to be able to be flexible and quick when it comes to creating a certificate of liability (COI).
Using our proprietary rubric focusing on financial stability, customer satisfaction, convenience, and the policies offered, we surveyed 15 insurers to find the six best electrician insurance companies:
- The Hartford: Best overall provider for electrician insurance
- Simply Business: Best for comparing and buying insurance online
- Next Insurance: Best for coverage options and instant COIs
- Nationwide: Best for surety bonds
- Hiscox: Best for interior electrical engineers
- Progressive: Best for commercial auto insurance
Best Electrician Insurance Companies Compared
Quote Process | Policy Purchase Process | Accessibility | Instant COI | Financial Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Online or over the phone | Sometimes online, but usually over the phone | 24/7 call center | ✓ | A+ (Superior) |
 | Online or over the phone | Online or over the phone | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time | ✓ | A++ (Superior) |
 | Online, over the phone, or through the app | Online or over the phone | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time | ✓ | A- (Excellent) |
 | Via an agent | Through an agent | 24/7 call center | ✕ | A+ (Superior) |
 | Online or over the phone | Online or over the phone | Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET | ✓ | A (Excellent) |
 | Online or over the phone | Over the phone | 24/7 availability | ✕ | A+ (Superior) |
The Hartford: Best Overall Provider for Electrician Insurance
Pros
- Only quote
- Years of experience
- Excellent financial strength
Cons
- Unavailable in Alaska, Hawaii, and New Jersey
- No mobile app to manage your commercial policy
- Will usually have to call to purchase the policy
Standout Features
- Full range of insurance policies any electrician might need are available
- 24/7 call center for claims and customer service
- Tailor quotes so that limits and endorsements match your business needs
- Over 1 million small businesses choose The Hartford to protect their business
Financial stability: An established company with two centuries of insurance experience, The Hartford’s AM Best rating is A+ (Superior).
When considering the best electrician insurance companies, The Hartford insurance company is the best electrician insurer because it excels in almost all categories of our evaluation: financial stability, customer service, convenience, and the policies offered.
For electrical contractors, it has a wide range of coverage for your business: general liability, property, workers’ compensation, contractor equipment, and tools coverage. These are available through a quick, online quote. During the quote process, you’ll be able to customize the coverage to fit your business needs through endorsements and adjusting limits to bring them into line with the size of your business.
If you are looking for an opportunity to compare the cost of insurance before making a decision, The Hartford cannot help with that as it sells its own insurance directly to you. For that, you’ll want to consider a broker like Simply Business, which can generate several quotes simultaneously for you. Like The Hartford, Simply Business lets you customize the coverage before purchasing anything.
We received a quote with an estimated premium of $1,979 annually. This quote was for a business owner’s policy (BOP) that contained $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate liability limits. It also had $5,000 in property coverage with a deductible of $1,000 as well as contractor equipment and contractor tool coverage.
Because it is a larger carrier, your company can grow with it by increasing limits or adding coverage, such as workers’ compensation if you hire employees.
The Hartford has developed a high-quality digital experience for its clients and has an online portal for managing policies and obtaining an instant COI. It maintains its own in-house department of claims adjusters who specialize in different types of coverage. It also offers a 24/7 claims hotline so you can file a claim any time of day and expect to hear back from an employee of the company regarding the claim.
Clients are happy with it, as evidenced by the lack of complaints tracked by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the positive reviews online. For example, customers can leave reviews about their claim experience on its website[1], and there are more than 4,500 reviews for commercial property claims handled by The Hartford, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Simply Business: Best for Comparing & Buying Insurance Online
Pros
- Online quotes
- Purchase insurance online
- Financial support of Travelers
Cons
- Claims filing process
- No 24/7 call center
- Does not directly handle claims
Standout Features
- Simply Business will provide multiple quotes from top-rated providers
- You can adjust coverage and receive an updated quote in real time
- Purchase insurance online or call and speak with a dedicated agent
- Policy documents are available after purchasing the policy.
Financial stability: Simply Business is owned by Travelers Insurance. AM Best rated Travelers A++ (Superior).
As an online digital broker, Simply Business stands out on this list for being the only option that can generate multiple quotes from different top-rated carriers for electrician insurance. As insurance premiums can get costly for electricians and, in general, are rising this year, comparing quotes from multiple providers can help you save money.
If you like seeing your options and getting a real-time comparison of prices and coverage, then Simply Business is the best insurer to check out. However, while there are many pros to going through a broker, one downside is that while it sells insurance and gives you some freedom to manage the policy, it does not handle any coverage issues or claims directly.
For that, you will need to then work with an actual provider. If you like an easy insurance purchasing experience but prefer to work with the carrier, then check out Hiscox, which offers a simple and easy way to purchase insurance.
After answering a few questions, we received five quotes in minutes. The price range was $500 to $956 annually. The most affordable policy was a general liability policy from Hiscox. It had limits of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. There were two payment options: pay in full or $125 down and then 10 monthly payments of $37.50.
After selecting a policy, you have two options: you can purchase it online or call and speak with an agent before finalizing the purchase.
As an online broker, Simply Business allows you to get quotes and purchase a policy in minutes. While you can manage your policy and get instant COIs, the claims process requires knowing which carrier the policy is through and then contacting that carrier directly. It does offer a list of contact information for the carriers.
While you can’t look into complaint history with a broker like you can with a provider, you can read reviews. Simply Business has overwhelmingly positive reviews online from policyholders. On independent review site Trustpilot[2], there are currently over 1,000 reviews, and its average rating is 4.7 out of 5.
Next Insurance: Best for Coverage Options & Instant COIs
Pros
- Policy package options
- Fast quote process
- Purchase insurance online
Cons
- No 24/7 call center
- Availability of coverage varies by state
Standout Features
- User-friendly app for your policy and claim needs
- Create and share a COI within 60 seconds through the app
- Tiered policy packages provide comparison options for the shopper
- Savings up to 10% when coverages are bundled through Next
Financial stability: While it is a newer company, Next Insurance is in a good financial position. AM Best rated Next Insurance A- (Excellent).
Next Insurance has created three different policy packages for electricians with different levels of coverage to match your style of business. When you get a quote, it will share these with you, and this gives you the chance to select the coverage that matches your business.
A nice feature of Next Insurance is that if you are a brand new business, you can still get insurance—something difficult with other carriers. As your business grows, those tiers of coverage are still available, so your coverage can change and grow as the business grows. This gives you a highly customizable experience.
While this provider’s tiered options present you with some flexibility, if you are looking to do some comparison shopping, that is where a broker like Simply Business shines. It can provide you with multiple quotes that you can choose from to find your electrician insurance.
We received three quotes for Next’s basic, premier, and deluxe policy packages:
- Basic costs $97.50 monthly and was liability only with limits of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate and $50,000 in professional liability.
- Premier was $142.41 monthly with the same liability limit, except it also had $5,000 for stolen or damaged tools. This coverage followed the tools around and was not tied to a specific location.
- Deluxe was $222.60 monthly and had the same liability limits but had increased coverage for your property: $10,000 for tools and $10,000 for office equipment and furniture. It also had equipment breakdown coverage.
While Next Insurance is a newer company, it has already expanded nationwide, though it is still rolling out coverage. For example, at the end of 2022, it began offering EPLI insurance, and it is in 28 states and Washington, D.C.
Currently, it insures over 500,000 small businesses. Between online reviews and the low level of complaints, its customers are happy with their experience.
It excels at bringing convenience to the front of the user experience with quick online quotes, online policy, and claim management. It has an app for iOS and Android, which allows you to manage your policy, obtain an instant COI, and file a claim. The ease of creating a COI and speed by which you can share it makes Next Insurance one of the best providers for electrician insurance.
Nationwide: Best for Surety Bonds
Pros
- In-house claim services
- Financial strength
- Nationwide availability
Cons
- No clear way to request a COI
- Bond quotes are through an agent
- No mobile app for commercial policies
Standout Features
- Strong customer service with low complaints and positive reviews
- In-house claims services, with a 24/7 claims center
- Appetite for small, midsize, and larger small businesses
- Able to offer traditional commercial insurance and surety bonds
Financial stability: Nearly 100 years old, Nationwide has the proven financial resilience that you want in a carrier. Nationwide’s AM Best rating is A+ (Superior).
Nationwide Insurance has been selling insurance since 1926 and, over time, has widened its offerings to small business insurance and surety bonds. As we lay out in our guide to electrician insurance, there are instances, including at the state level, where electricians are required to obtain a surety bond to be licensed—and Nationwide is licensed to sell surety bonds in all 50 states for several different industries and amounts, including for electricians.
However, while many electricians will need a surety bond to be licensed or to work on certain jobs, there is no clear way for obtaining proof of insurance. If you are an electrician who works mostly in construction and needs to modify insurance regularly by adding an additional insured or share proof of insurance, then check out Next Insurance, which makes it very easy and quick to get a COI.
To purchase a surety bond, you will need to contact an agent. Typically, surety bonds cost 1% to 2% of the total bond value. However, most insurers calculate credit scores into the cost of the bond. Nationwide offers multitiered rating plans and has bonds for small, medium, and large contractors.
If you don’t need a bond or you need a bond with other coverage as well, Nationwide does sell the whole range of insurance policies. These include workers’ comp, general liability, professional liability, commercial property, inland marine, and commercial auto.
Nationwide is available across the country through its 24/7 call centers. These centers are for customer service and claims. For surety claims, you will need to file those via email.
The online policy management isn’t very built out or, if it is, there is little available information.
In J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction survey, Nationwide not only ranked first but it came in with the highest score reported. This high ranking is confirmed by it having a very low complaint rating of all companies reviewed by the NAIC.
Hiscox: Best for Interior Electrical Engineers
Pros
- In-house claim services
- Financial strength
- Nationwide availability
Cons
- No clear way to request a COI
- Bond quotes are through an agent
- No mobile app for commercial policies
Standout Features
- Get a quote and purchase a policy online, often for same-day coverage
- General liability, professional liability, inland marine, and workers’ comp all available
- Appetite for interior electrical engineers means it should be easy to get insurance
- Available general liability insurance limits up to $10 million
Financial stability: As a company, Hiscox’s roots go back to 1901. It has a healthy financial rating, as AM Best has rated Hiscox an A (Excellent).
Hiscox is a dedicated small business insurer with over 500,000 small businesses currently insured. It offers general liability for electricians who focus on interior work. You can be a subcontractor or an independent contractor or have your own electrician business and all are eligible for insurance with Hiscox.
An advantage of going with Hiscox is, electricians are within its appetite, which means it is usually not difficult to get a quote. It also provides quality online policy management and claims services to its customers.
A disadvantage of Hiscox, however, is that often, the online quotes have a lower limit—and to get a higher limit, you will need to call. If you’d prefer to have multiple options at once, including higher limits, consider checking out a broker like Simply Business, which will let you compare quotes and purchase insurance online.
After answering a few questions, we received a quote for $91.12 a month for 10 months. This required $304 down at the time of purchase. The policy was a general liability policy with a total limit of $300,000 and included blanket additional insureds.
Higher limits, up to $5 million aggregate, are available. For those, you will need to call and speak with an agent to see if your business would qualify for that level of coverage.
A commercial general liability policy through Hiscox includes coverage for property damage, bodily injury, and protection from claims involving personal and advertising injury.
Hiscox states that coverage for this line of business is in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. However, in an appetite guide online, it states general liability is unavailable for this industry in New York and Alaska. So, keep that in mind.
Beyond that, its customer service has been improving for years. Currently, complaints tracked by the NAIC are lower than expected. On its website[3], users can leave reviews. Currently, it has 4.7 out of 5 stars from almost 950 reviews.
Its hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. However, online, you can file a claim 24/7, manage your account, and even create a COI.
Progressive: Best for Commercial Auto
Pros
- 24/7 call center
- Years of experience
- Appetite for all types of vehicles
Cons
- Unclear process for obtaining a COI
- May refer you to another provider rather than offer insurance
- Higher-than-expected complaints
Standout Features
- Offers auto insurance in every state except for Hawaii
- Roadside assistance and a network of shops for commercial vehicles
- Largest insurer for commercial auto with a dedicated claims team
- Numerous discounts available for its commercial auto insurance
Financial stability: When it comes to having the resources to handle claims, Progressive is in a good position. Progressive’s AM Best rating is A+ (Superior).
Progressive is the largest commercial auto insurer by market share, making it one of the best providers for electrician insurance. It specializes in commercial auto insurance for cars, trucks, work vans, and larger vehicles. If your business has one vehicle or a fleet, a commercial truck, or larger truck with an aerial work platform, then Progressive is the best option for finding commercial auto insurance.
It sells regular small business insurance as well. So, if you need more than auto coverage, then it can provide that, often with a discount if you purchase a commercial auto policy.
Sometimes, it will serve as a broker, so instead of giving you a quote, it will provide you with one from another carrier. That can be frustrating if that isn’t what you were looking for, and when it does that, it typically offers only one quote. If you do want to go through a small business insurance broker to compare quotes, then consider Simply Business.
For this article, we were able to get an online quote for a BOP costing $595 annually.
The policy had a liability limit of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. It also had a $2 million limit for products and completed operations.
Progressive offers a 10% to 15% discount on your commercial auto policy if you purchase other lines of business through it. Additionally, it offers online quotes for auto insurance, but you will need the vehicle identification number (VIN) and state driver’s license number for all the drivers.
Progressive business insurance is available in every state except Hawaii, and for many lines of business, you can get a quote and purchase a policy online. It also works with independent agents if you would like to review coverages.
While there is an online account portal for some policy maintenance, you will need to call to get a COI, which can be made available within 48 hours. Claims can be filed online or over the phone, and its in-house claims team will handle the loss.
How We Evaluated the Best Electrician Insurance Companies
We determined the best insurers for electrician insurance with our in-house proprietary evaluation system. In evaluating insurance companies, we focused on the customer’s needs, paying particular interest to convenience, financial ratings (AM Best), customer service, types of policies offered, and the overall experience as a policyholder for a specific provider.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Electrician insurance is a policy or combination of policies that helps your business by either protecting you from claims of negligence by nonemployees or helping your business property if you have a loss. If you are interested in learning more, we’ve put together an in-depth guide to electrician insurance.
The cost of electrician insurance can vary depending on the level of risk, claims history, and size of your business. Liability insurance for electricians can range from $500 to $1,200 annually. Inland marine for your tools can cost anywhere from $175 to $540 per year.
There is no national board governing electricians, so it depends on the states—and sometimes even local jurisdiction—to determine what is required. For example, in California, a license is required if the electrician is going to be working on projects over $500. However, Illinois doesn’t have any state-level requirements and everything is determined at the municipal level.
Bottom Line
You don’t need to be in the dark about the best providers for electrician insurance, so we’ve done the hard work by reviewing 15 different carriers to find the six best for your business. The Hartford is the top-recommend provider because it has a custom policy for contractors, 24/7 availability, online policy management, and a strong financial position.
