As a contractor in Virginia, having proper insurance coverage is crucial for protecting your business, meeting state requirements, and securing contracts. This comprehensive guide breaks down the essential insurance coverages Virginia contractors need, including costs based on our analysis of actual quotes from leading carriers.
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General Liability Insurance for Virginia Contractors
General liability insurance protects your contracting business from third-party claims of property damage and bodily injury. Based on our analysis of over 800 contractor quotes, here are the typical costs for Virginia contractors:
Average Annual Premiums by Revenue Size
| Revenue Size | Average Premium | % of Revenue | Favorable Rate | Potential Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500K | $3,300 | 0.7% | $2,400 | 27% |
| $1M | $5,900 | 0.6% | $5,300 | 10% |
| $2.5M | $13,500 | 0.5% | $10,000 | 26% |
These premiums assume:
- Clean claims history (5+ years without incidents)
- Standard $1M/$2M coverage limits
- Typical mix of residential and commercial work
- Approximately 10% subcontractor costs
Worker’s Compensation Insurance for Virginia Contractors
Worker’s compensation insurance is mandatory for Virginia contractors with 3 or more employees. Based on our analysis, Virginia contractors typically pay around $4,794 per employee annually for workers’ compensation coverage.
Key premium factors include:
- Employee classification codes
- Annual payroll
- Claims history
- Safety programs
- Experience modifier rating (EMR)
For Virginia contractors, typical workers’ compensation costs per $100,000 of payroll average $9,730, which is moderate compared to other states.
Common contractor classification codes and their approximate rates in Virginia:
- Code 5606 (Project Manager/Supervisor): $2-4 per $100 of payroll
- Code 5645 (Residential Construction): $7-11 per $100 of payroll
- Code 5403 (Commercial/Large Projects): $11-15 per $100 of payroll
Additional Business Insurance for Contractors in Virginia
1. Commercial Auto Insurance
- Typical cost: $1,000-$4,000 per vehicle annually
- Required for business-owned vehicles
- Higher limits often needed for larger contractors
- Coverage for accidents, damage, and liability
- Protection extends to work tools and materials in transit
2. Tools & Equipment Coverage
- Cost: $1,500-$5,000+ annually for $15k-$50k coverage
- Protects both owned and rented equipment
- Coverage follows equipment to all jobsites
- Protection against theft, damage, and vandalism
- Includes coverage during transport between locations
3. Commercial Property Insurance
- Protects offices, storage facilities, and workshops
- Annual premiums: $2,000-$20,000+ based on property value
- Coverage for fire, theft, vandalism, and natural disasters
- Protection for business contents and inventory
- Optional business interruption coverage available
4. Builder’s Risk Insurance
- Premium: 0.15-0.75% of project value
- Covers projects under construction
- Protection against fire, weather, vandalism
- Coverage for materials both on-site and in transit
- Typically project-duration based policies
5. Contractor License Bonds
- Helps satisfy state licensing requirements
- Required for certain Virginia contractor licenses
- Typical cost: 1-3% of bond amount
- Premium varies based on credit and experience
- Provides financial guarantee to clients
Get Virginia Contractor Liability with ContractorNerd
ContractorNerd specializes in making insurance simple and data-driven for Virginia contractors. Our platform offers:
- Instant online quotes from top-rated carriers
- Side-by-side coverage comparisons
- Contractor-specific expertise and guidance
- Streamlined application process
- Ongoing policy management support
- Claims advocacy when needed
Our team of contractor insurance specialists understands Virginia’s unique requirements and can help you:
- Optimize coverage levels based on your specific risks
- Find competitive rates through our carrier network
- Bundle policies for additional savings
- Ensure compliance with state regulations and contract requirements
To get started with tailored quotes for your Virginia contracting business, visit our online quote tool or speak with one of our contractor insurance specialists today.