Finding the right insurance coverage for your concrete contracting business shouldn’t be as challenging as pouring a perfect foundation. At ContractorNerd, we’ve revolutionized the contractor insurance experience through our proprietary quote platform that connects you directly with contractor-friendly insurers who truly understand your trade.
Our tech-enabled platform and team of specialized agents work together to deliver something traditional brokers can’t: multiple competitive quotes in minutes, not days. We’ve analyzed over 200 insurance quotes for concrete professionals across the US, giving us unique insights into coverage requirements and pricing specific to your trade. Whether you fall under GL Code 91560 for general concrete construction or need specialized coverage, we’ll help you secure coverage tailored to your business.
As trades-only specialists, we’ve built relationships with insurers who specialize in contractor risks. This means better coverage options and more competitive quotes for your business – whether you’re a sole proprietor just starting out or managing multiple crews on commercial projects. In this guide we’ll cover the following:
- Essential coverage types for concrete contractors including general liability, workers comp and more
- General liability quote benchmarks for GL Code 91560 including typical ranges from 0.9% to 12.2% of revenue depending on business size
- Workers’ compensation specifics including workers’ comp codes 5221, 5215, and 5213 and typical rates per $100 in payroll ranging $3.00 to $10.00
- Additional coverages including commercial auto, equipment insurance, and bonds
- Risk management strategies to help you secure more favorable quotes through safety programs and proper documentation
Ready to experience insurance shopping that’s faster, simpler, and more effective? Get instant quotes today and see why concrete contractors nationwide are choosing ContractorNerd.
What Insurance Do Concrete Contractors Need?
Starting Out: Sole Proprietor
When you’re just getting started as a concrete contractor working on your own, focus on these essential coverages:
- General Liability Insurance – Your foundation coverage that protects against damage claims and injuries on job sites
- Tools & Equipment Coverage (Inland Marine) – Protects your specialized concrete equipment, forms, and tools whether at the job site or in transit
- Commercial Auto Insurance – Covers vehicles used for transporting materials and heavy equipment to job sites
Growing: Small Business with Your First Employee
Once you hire your first employee, your insurance needs expand significantly:
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance – Now mandatory in most states when you have employees
- Umbrella Insurance – Provides additional liability protection beyond your general liability limits, especially important for larger projects
- Bond Coverage – Often required for commercial and government projects to guarantee project completion
- Property Insurance – Essential if you’re maintaining a yard or equipment storage facility
Established: Business with Multiple Employees and Projects
As your concrete contracting business grows with multiple employees and simultaneous projects, consider these additional protections:
- Builder’s Risk Insurance – Protects ongoing construction projects from damage during the build
- Enhanced Commercial Property Insurance – More comprehensive coverage for equipment yards and facilities
- Employment Practices Liability Insurance – Protects against employee-related claims like discrimination or wrongful termination
- Cyber Liability Insurance – Important for businesses handling digital payments and storing project data
- Professional Liability Insurance – Critical if you offer design-build services or construction consulting
General Liability Insurance for Concrete Contractors
General liability insurance is essential protection for concrete contractors, covering bodily injury, property damage, and advertising injury claims that can arise from your operations. Standard GL policies typically provide $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate limits, though many contractors opt for higher limits given the nature of concrete work.
What General Liability Covers
Your GL policy protects against common concrete contracting risks including:
- Third-party injuries from slips, trips, or falls on wet concrete or job site hazards
- Property damage from concrete overspray, form failures, or equipment accidents
- Completed operations claims if finished concrete work cracks, settles, or fails
- Legal defense costs even for groundless claims
Understanding Your Classification Code
Concrete contractors typically fall under GL Code 91560 – Concrete Construction, which covers:
INCLUDED WORK: Concrete pouring/finishing for patios, driveways, walkways; room addition foundations; commercial foundations; exterior work up to 3 stories; retaining walls up to 6ft; slopes up to 20°; work up to 12ft below grade.
EXCLUDED WORK: New home foundations; seismic retrofitting; pools/spas; roads/bridges; tanks; boring/coring; shoring; dams; explosives; structural demolition; sound walls; waterproofing; concrete pumping; playgrounds; epoxy application; equipment rental; insulated forms.
General Liability Quote Benchmarks
Based on national averages for concrete contractors, here’s what you might expect for annual GL quotes:
| Revenue Level | National Average | Favorable Rate | Potential Savings | Premium as % of Revenue |
| $50,000 | $2,220 | $1,250 | 44% | 2.7% – 6.2% |
| $150,000 | $4,480 | $3,000 | 33% | 2.0% – 4.4% |
| $500,000 | $11,770 | $8,700 | 26% | 1.5% – 3.7% |
As a percentage of revenue, GL quotes typically range from 1.5% to 6%.
Important to note: These are national averages, and your actual quotes will vary significantly based on your state, claims history, and specific operations. For detailed state-specific pricing information, consult our comprehensive state-by-state cost guide. Access our complete concrete contractor insurance cost guide to calculate your total insurance burden across all coverage types.
The wide range between national average and favorable rates shows the importance of shopping multiple carriers – you could potentially save 26-44% on your GL premium with the right insurer and proper risk management practices.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Concrete Contractors
Workers’ compensation insurance is mandatory in most states once you hire employees. For concrete contractors, premium rates typically range from $3.00 to $10.00 per $100 of payroll – higher than many trades due to the physically demanding nature of concrete work.
Common NCCI Classification Codes
Concrete contractors typically fall under one of these classification codes:
- 5221 – Concrete Flatwork: For contractors pouring floors, driveways, sidewalks, patios, and decorative concrete
- 5215 – Concrete Residential: For concrete work on 1-2 family homes including foundations, driveways, and patios
- 5213 – Concrete Construction: For commercial concrete contractors doing foundations, walls, and commercial buildings
- 5506 – Street/Road Construction: For contractors paving roads and parking lots (excludes excavation/grading)
Key Workplace Risks
The high workers’ comp rates reflect common injury risks including:
- Back injuries from lifting forms and rebar
- Chemical burns from wet concrete exposure
- Fall injuries from elevated work
- Equipment-related injuries from mixers and power tools
- Respiratory issues from concrete dust and silica
Reducing Your Premium
Contractors can lower their rates by 20-40% through:
- Implementing comprehensive safety programs
- Maintaining detailed safety documentation
- Providing proper PPE and training
- Establishing concrete handling protocols
Your actual rates will vary based on your state location, claims history, and experience modification factor. For detailed state-specific workers’ comp requirements and rates, consult our comprehensive state-by-state cost guide.
Other Coverages for Concrete Contractors
Commercial Auto Insurance Critical for transporting heavy equipment and materials. Standard limits: $100K/$300K/$100K. Many contractors need higher limits given vehicle weight. Annual premium: $2,000-$3,000+ (higher for larger vehicles)
Tools & Equipment Insurance (Inland Marine) Protects specialized equipment including pumps, mixers, forms, and finishing tools. Annual premium: $200-$500 for limits under $25K; more for higher limits
Builder’s Risk Insurance Covers ongoing work, materials on site, and forming systems during construction. Annual premium: 1-5% of total project cost
Bonds for Concrete Contractors Required for many public works and commercial projects. Premium: 1-3% of bond amount (varies by credit score)
- $10,000 bond: $100-$300
- $50,000 bond: $500-$1,500
- $100,000 bond: $1,000-$3,000
- $250,000 bond: $2,500-$7,500
Risk Management Tips for Lower Premiums
Reduce your insurance costs by 20-40% through:
- Implementing comprehensive safety training programs
- Maintaining detailed project documentation
- Using written contracts with specific terms
- Regular equipment maintenance and inspection
- Employee certification and ongoing training
- Quality control measures for concrete work
Focus safety meetings on high-risk areas: proper lifting techniques, silica dust protection, chemical handling, and fall protection measures.
Concrete Contractor Insurance Quotes from ContractorNerd
Our proprietary quote platform connects you directly with contractor-friendly insurers who understand the unique risks of concrete work – from foundation failures to equipment damage. Unlike traditional brokers, our tech-enabled platform delivers multiple competitive quotes in minutes, not days.
Behind the technology, our team of specialized agents brings deep construction industry expertise to ensure you get the right coverage at the best rates. We’ve partnered with insurers who specialize in contractor risks, resulting in more competitive quotes and coverage options tailored specifically for concrete professionals.
Whether you’re pouring residential driveways or managing large commercial projects, ContractorNerd makes securing comprehensive insurance faster, simpler, and more affordable than ever before.
Don’t let insurance complexity slow your business down. Get instant quotes today and experience the ContractorNerd difference!
Concrete Construction Insurance FAQs
How much is insurance for a concrete company?
You’re looking at $2,220 to $11,770 annually for general liability alone, depending on your revenue. Small operations doing $50K pay around 2.7-6.2% of revenue, while bigger companies hitting $500K see 1.5-3.7%. Add workers’ comp at $3-10 per $100 in payroll.
What insurance is important for a concrete company?
General liability is your foundation – covers bodily injury, property damage, completed ops claims – it runs 1.5% to 6.2% of revenue. Workers’ comp kicks in once you hire anyone, running $3-10 per $100 payroll for concrete work. You’ll also need commercial auto ($2,800-6,500 per vehicle), inland marine for equipment ($1,200-4,500), and probably an umbrella policy once you’re doing bigger commercial jobs.
What does concrete liability cost?
For basic $1M/$2M coverage, expect $1,250-$2,200 annually if you’re solo doing $50K revenue. Once you hit $500K revenue with a crew, you’re looking at $8,700-$11,700 depending on your state. Shopping multiple carriers can help you save, so don’t just take the first quote.
What class codes should a concrete contractor know and use?
GL Code 91560 covers most concrete construction – driveways, patios, foundations up to 3 stories. For workers’ comp, you’ve got 5221 for flatwork, 5215 for residential concrete, 5213 for commercial construction. Getting classified wrong will absolutely destroy your rates – make sure your broker knows exactly what work you’re doing.