💸 5 Signs You're Paying Too Much for Contractor Liability Insurance

Subcontractor in a blue shirt looking at his contartor general liability insurance bill

General Liability Insurance is a must-have for contractors in California—but that doesn’t mean you should be overpaying for it. In fact, most contractors are. If you’re like many of the businesses we help at Cal Commercial Insurance, you're likely paying more than you need to—and getting less than you deserve.

Here are five warning signs that your contractor liability insurance is draining your wallet, and what you can do about it.

1️⃣ You Bought Your Policy From a “Generalist” Agent

Not all insurance agents understand contractors. Many sell home, auto, and life insurance, and throw in a business policy as an afterthought. The problem? They don’t know the construction industry.

If your agent doesn’t ask you about:

The exact trades you perform
Your subcontractor usage
Current or future CSLB requirements
Jobsite risk exposure

…then your policy might be priced using the wrong risk profile, which means you’re overpaying—or under-covered.

✅ Fix it: Work with an agency like Cal Commercial that focuses exclusively on California contractors. We optimize every quote based on your actual work—not a generic industry code.

2️⃣ You're Not Bundling With Workers' Comp or BOP Coverage

One of the easiest ways to get affordable general liability insurance for contractors in CA is to bundle it with your Workers' Comp or Business Owner's Policy (BOP). You could save 10–30% instantly.

Example: A painting contractor in Fresno bundled their General Liability with Workers' Comp through us and saved $1,800/year.

✅ Fix it: Ask us to quote you a bundled plan. You may qualify for deep multi-policy discounts—especially if you’re switching from State Fund Workers' Comp too.

3️⃣ You Haven’t Re-Shopped Your Policy in Over a Year

Contractor rates change fast. Carriers adjust pricing by region, trade class, claim frequency—even weather risks. If you haven’t re-quoted in over 12 months, you’re probably leaving money on the table.

In fact, we’ve helped contractors who re-shop yearly save 20–40% without changing carriers—just by updating how they’re rated.

✅ Fix it: We’ll re-shop your current policy with our network of contractor-friendly insurers and show you a free side-by-side comparison.

4️⃣ Your Liability Limits Are Higher Than You Need

Bigger isn’t always better. Some contractors are sold million-dollar policies when they only need $500,000 limits, depending on their contracts.

Sure, certain jobs require high limits—but many don’t. Paying for unnecessary coverage is just wasted overhead.

✅ Fix it: We’ll help you right-size your policy. Get the coverage your jobs require—not a penny more.

5️⃣ Your Subcontractor Risk Isn’t Classified Correctly

If you use subs, insurers want to know:

Are they insured?
Are you supervising them?
Are they part of your payroll?

If your policy assumes full payroll exposure for subs—or penalizes you for using them at all—you’re likely overpaying. We see this all the time.

✅ Fix it: We’ll review your subcontractor agreements and make sure you’re not getting double-dinged on your premium.

🧠 Bonus Tip: Cheap Doesn’t Mean Risky

When contractors search for “affordable general liability insurance in CA,” they often worry it means getting poor protection.

But affordable doesn’t mean barebones. It means getting the right coverage, at the right price, from someone who knows your trade.

🏗️ Cal Commercial Insurance: Built for Contractors

We help California contractors—from general builders to roofers to electricians—lock in the lowest premiums on General Liability coverage without sacrificing protection.

✅ Contractor-only focus
✅ Custom quotes in 24 hours
✅ Same-day certificates of insurance
✅ 95% of clients save money within a week of switching

📞 Ready to Pay Less for Better Coverage?

Here’s what to do next:

Call or Text Us at (949) 749-7044
Or visit calcommercialinsurance.com and request your quote
Give us details about your current policy—we’ll show you what you’re really paying for
Or visit calcommercialinsurance.com and request your quote

Stop overpaying. Start protecting your business smarter.

💸 5 Signs You're Paying Too Much for Contractor Liability Insurance

ABOUT US

REACH US

EMAIL

PHONE

LOCATION

FIND US

💸 5 Signs You're Paying Too Much for Contractor Liability Insurance

ABOUT US

REACH US

EMAIL

PHONE

LOCATION

FIND US

Terms of Service

Privacy Policy

Core Modal Title