6 Best Painting Insurance Companies for 2023
The best painting insurance companies provide general liability at an affordable price and have coverage for your tools and equipment. On top of that, a leading provider should offer high-quality customer service and convenience, such as in responding to your inquiries promptly and providing quick resolutions to your claims.
Using our proprietary rubric focusing on customer service, convenience, policies offered, and financial strength, we researched over 20 providers to find the six best painting insurance companies.
- The Hartford: Best overall for painting insurance
- Next: Best for same-day coverage
- Nationwide: Best for commercial painters
- Thimble: Best for fastest quote
- Progressive: Best for commercial auto insurance
- Simply Business*: Best for comparing quotes from top providers
*Did You Know:
Simply Business is a one-stop shop for your painting insurance needs. In 10 minutes or less, you can get multiple quotes from top-rated providers. After comparing the quotes, you can purchase a policy online without speaking to anyone.
Top Painting Insurance Companies Compared
Best for | Quote Process | Accessibility | Instant Certificate of Insurance (COI) | Financial Rating | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Painting insurance overall | Online or over the phone | 24/7 call center | ✓ | A+ (Superior) | |
Same-day Coverage | Online | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time | ✓ | A- (Excellent) | |
Commercial painters | Online or over the phone | 24/7 call center | ✕ | A+ (Superior) | |
Fastest quote | Online or through the app | Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time | ✓ | A- to A (Excellent) | |
Commercial auto insurance | Online or over the phone | 24/7 call center | ✕ | A+ (Superior) | |
Comparing quotes from top providers | Online | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET | ✓ | A++ (Superior) | |
The Hartford: Best Overall for Painting Insurance
What We Like
- Quick, online quote
- 24/7 claims services
- Full range of policies
Drawbacks
- No mobile application for commercial customers
- No same-day coverage
- You may have to call to finish the process
Deciding Factors
- Provides independent agents to help you with your policy
- Has an online portal for instant access to policy documents
- Has an excellent financial rating
- Offers instant COIs once you purchase a policy
The Hartford is the best overall painting insurance company because it provides all of the policies a painting company needs (general liability, BOP, inland marine, workers’ comp, commercial auto, even surety bonds). It also has a stellar customer service record and 24/7 availability.
You can manage your policy online, and when you purchase a policy, you’ll receive an instant COI. While its website has many online features, it has no mobile application for small business owners. Also, there is a good chance you will have to call to finish the quote and purchase the policy.
We received a quote for a business owner’s policy (BOP) that cost $2,990 annually. The policy included $15,000 in coverage for commercial property and a general liability limit of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. The coverage for this quote would not start until the next business day. To finalize the quote and purchase the policy, a phone call was required.
A nice feature about it is that the coverage is highly customizable. There were some coverages we could add to the quote, like inland marine ($247) and EPLI ($150). It had several other coverages more focused on contractors, like installation coverage ($178).
It also offers an independent contractors policy for painters. So, if you are a house painter who works as a 1099 contractor, this is the best policy to consider. It offers higher limits than other companies in this guide, with a $2 million per occurrence and $4 million aggregate option available.
You can call 24/7 or go online to manage your policy, pay your bill, and file a claim. All policy changes you may need to make can be done so online.
Despite holding a large percentage of the market share for policies sold, The Hartford has lower-than-average complaints for its commercial operations. It is also third in J.D. Power’s independent agent customer satisfaction survey for 2022. This means The Hartford is a preferred provider when it comes to which carriers independent agents prefer working with.
Founded in 1810, The Hartford has years of experience as an insurance provider and has maintained a strong financial position with an A+ Superior rating from AM Best.
Next: Best for Same-day Coverage
What We Like
- Same-day coverage
- Custom, quick quotes
- Instant and unlimited COI
Drawbacks
- Weekday-only services
- Difficult to obtain a quote if you have a history of claims
Deciding Factors
- Is a one-stop-shop for quoting and binding policies
- Has an app to easily manage policy and claims
- Provides useful resources, such as a state-by-state guide for painters
- Offers tiered options create affordable coverage
Next Insurance is a great provider for contractors and painters because you can instantly create and share a COI through its app, plus the provider includes professional liability with its general liability policy. Its high score is due to it offering same-day coverage online in just 10 minutes or less, its excellent customer service, and the convenience of managing your policy and claims online or through the app.
While the app functions like a 24/7 call center, Next, unfortunately, does not offer a 24/7 staffed center for after-hours needs. It also caps yearly revenue for businesses at $5 million.
Next usually offers three tiered levels of coverage: Basic, Premier, and Deluxe.
- Basic was for general liability and professional liability. The general liability had a total limit of $1 million, and the professional liability carried $10,000 per occurrence and $20,000 in aggregate limit. It costs $645 monthly.
- Premier was for a BOP that cost 715 monthly. It carried the same liability as basic, but it included a wide range of coverage for tools and equipment, including $10,000 in equipment coverage, $1,000 for miscellaneous tools, and $5,000 for borrowed tools and equipment. All of the property coverages carried a deductible of $500.
- Deluxe was the same as the premier except for the liability limits increase—general liability carried a limit of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate and professional liability increased to $25,000 per occurrence and $50,000 aggregate. This policy costs $785 monthly.
It should be noted that the above quotes are for an exterior painting company that used a paint sprayer.
While Next isn’t available 24/7, it has a mobile app for iOS and Android. The app functions like a call center, giving you access to your policy, a COI, and push notifications for updates on a claim.
While it is a newer company, user reviews are overwhelmingly positive. There are over 5,000 user reviews on its site, with 4.5 out of 5 stars. It also offers a state guide for required certification and coverage requirements for painters.
Founded in 2015, Next is relatively new but has received an A- (Excellent) rating from AM Best.
Get a Quote from Next Insurance
Nationwide: Best for Commercial Crews
What We Like
- 24/7 availability
- Nationwide availability
- Higher liability limits
Drawbacks
- No mobile app for commercial businesses
- May write the policy through another carrier
- Unclear process for obtaining a COI
Deciding Factors
- Is a trusted provider, with over 500,000 small businesses insured by it
- Has nearly 100 years of experience in insurance
- Has in-house adjusters who handle claims, from filing to resolution
- Offers quick online quotes
Nationwide Insurance is the best provider for commercial crews because of its willingness to take on riskier industries, like commercial and exterior painters, and businesses with higher revenues. It also has the ability to offer high liability limits, and it has high customer service and satisfaction scores through third-party review sites like J.D. Power and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which tracks complaints filed with state-level departments of insurance.
Its drawbacks include sometimes functioning like a brokerage and providing one quote from another provider and having an unclear process for obtaining a COI.
Nationwide offered a quote for general liability that was underwritten and serviced by CNA. It costs $4,754 annually. It had minimal information on the limits, and you had to call to finish the process.
Nationwide also offers an inland marine policy to cover your tools and equipment, workers’ comp, commercial property, and surety bonds.
Over half a million small businesses trust Nationwide. Though it is one of the largest insurers, the complaint level, as monitored by the NAIC, is well below average.
If you purchase a policy through Nationwide, you will have access to an online account where you can manage the policy, pay your bill, and file a claim.
There is a 24/7 call center for customer service and claims.
Nationwide’s credit is rated A+ (Superior) by AM Best.
Thimble: Best for Fastest Quote
What We Like
- Quote in 60 seconds
- Quote online or through the app
- Instantly create and share COIs
Drawbacks
- Claims handled by a third party
- Weekday-only services
- Lacks 24/7 customer service line
Deciding Factors
- Has an app to conveniently manage your policy and share COIs
- Has independent agents to help you with your policy
- Provides instant access to policy documents via an online portal
- Offers short-term liability coverage by the hour and month
Out of every provider on this list, Thimble has the fastest quoting system. In less than a minute, you can have a customized quote and purchase a policy online. And unlike many other providers, Thimble makes it possible to get a quote and purchase insurance on its app. So if you use Thimble for short-term coverage, you can get a quote and a new policy through the app whenever you need it.
It also offers short-term liability by the hour, day, or week. However, same-day coverage is sometimes unavailable. Note that Thimble works with several providers to sell its policies, and claims are handled directly through those providers.
Thimble offers coverage for interior and exterior painting. We received a quote for interior painting that cost $546 monthly. This was for a BOP, and it had the price breakdowns for each coverage in case you wanted to eliminate one. If you want to adjust the limits or deductibles before purchasing, it gives you that choice, too.
The quoted policy carried $1 million in total general liability, $25,000 in business property, and $2,500 for tools and equipment.
Like Next, Thimble offers an iOS and Android app that lets you manage your policy, file claims, check claim status, and create and share a COI. There is no upcharge on the creation of a COI, so you can create and share as many as you need. Getting a quote on an app is a unique feature for small business insurance—one that Thimble provides.
If you are a painting contractor, Thimble provides a certificate manager service that helps you manage your contractor insurance and follow state-specific guidelines.
It is well-reviewed by its policyholders. On the independent review site Trustpilot, Thimble has 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 1,200 reviews.
As a managing general agent, it offers policies that are through a variety of different carriers, such as Spinnaker or Markel Insurance. All of the carriers it works with are rated A- to A (Excellent) by AM Best.
Progressive Commercial: Best for Commercial Auto Insurance
What We Like
- 24/7 call center
- Roadside assistance
- Superior financial rating
Drawbacks
- No mobile app for commercial customers
- Higher than expected level of complaints
- Have to call for a COI
Deciding Factors
- Handles in-house claims directly
- Offers multiple discounts
- Has independent agents to advise you on your policy
- Offers multiple types of commercial policies
If you are a painter who owns a dedicated work vehicle for your painting business, then Progressive is the best choice. It is one of our top-rated commercial auto insurers because it will insure nearly every type of vehicle. Besides that, it has a nationwide network of repair facilities and roadside assistance.
It can also write small business insurance or act as a brokerage and help find coverage. As a bonus, it offers a number of discounts for its commercial auto insurance, including a paid-in-full discount of up to 15% and a discount if you purchase a general liability or BOP policy.
Unfortunately, it can take up to 48 hours after calling to receive a COI, and in 2022, complaints filed against Progressive increased to above the national average.
We received a quote from Progressive for $2,044 annually. The quote was for a general liability policy with limits of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. There were no other details provided on the policy. To finalize and purchase it, you have to call it directly.
The policy was through Progressive’s Business Advantage program, so it was underwritten by Hiscox.
Progressive is available nationwide and operates a 24/7 call center for claims. It does have an online account where you can manage your policy, but the full extent of what services it provides online are not available.
The NAIC shows a trend of increasing complaints against Progressive for its commercial auto, property, and liability policies. Complaints for 2022 are higher than the national average.
Progressive Insurance was founded in 1937 and has nearly 100 years of proven financial reliability. It has an AM Best rating of A+ (Superior).
Simply Business: Best for Comparing Quotes From Top Providers
What We Like
- Works with top providers
- Comparison shopping
- Carrier information available
Drawbacks
- No mobile app for commercial customers
- Have to contact the provider to file a claim
Deciding Factors
- Offers tailored coverage for multiple different industries
- Has a quick and simple online quotation process
- Allows you to purchase a policy online without having to speak to anyone
- Offers instant COIs after policy purchase
Simply Business is the best broker for painting insurance. In 10 minutes or less, it will generate quotes from multiple providers, giving you the ability to compare policies and prices. Once you find one that fits your business needs, you can either speak with a licensed agent or purchase the policy online without talking to anyone.
With insurance premiums rising this year, being able to compare quotes in real time is a great way to find an affordable policy for your painting business. Unfortunately, Simply Business is not available 24/7, and to file a claim, you have to know which carrier your policy is through and contact the carrier directly. However, Simply Business states that it will help you with that process if needed.
We received four quotes from Simply Business. All were for general liability insurance, and two had additional coverages that you could purchase for your business.
- Hiscox: $752.30 due today, then 10 monthly payments of $225.67
- Harborway: $1,238 due today, then 10 monthly payments of $371.41
- Accredited America: $1,243 due today, then 10 monthly payments of $373.12
- Markel: $744.62 due today, then 10 monthly payments of $468.82
All the policies carried the same limit of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate.
The policies from Harborway, Markel, and Hiscox all had the option to purchase additional coverage for your tools and equipment coverage.
Simply Business is available nationwide. Its offerings are more focused on micro businesses than large businesses, and while not all coverages are available, you can get a quote for general liability, workers comp, and professional liability online. More options are available if you call the provider.
Its customers are happy with their experience. On the independent review site Trustpilot, Simply Business has 4.7 out of 5 stars from over 600 reviews.
After purchasing a policy, you can manage it online, pay bills, and request a COI when you need proof of insurance.
In addition to working with top-rated carriers like biBERK or CNA, Simply Business is owned by Travelers, which AM Best rated A++ (Superior).
Get a Quote from Simply Business
Our Methodology
We determined which insurance companies would be the best for your painting business with our in-house proprietary evaluation system. We reviewed over 20 insurance providers and presented the six with the highest scores. In evaluating, we focused on the customer’s needs and paid 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.
Bottom Line
Staying in the lines and on the ladder requires concentration—you don’t need to be distracted wondering if you’ve got the right insurance. We’ve removed that distraction by finding the six best insurance companies for painting businesses—and The Hartford is our leading provider for painting contractors insurance. Visit its website, or call (888) 219-3051 for a fast, no-obligation quote.