
Contractors professional liability insurance is a must-have for any business that provides services to clients. This type of insurance protects contractors from lawsuits and financial losses due to errors, omissions, or negligence.
A single lawsuit can be devastating for a small business, with costs adding up quickly. In fact, the average cost of a lawsuit can range from $50,000 to over $1 million.
This is why it's essential to have a solid insurance plan in place. By investing in contractors professional liability insurance, you can safeguard your business and protect your assets.
What is Contractors Professional Liability Insurance?
Contractors professional liability insurance is a type of insurance that protects contractors and building professionals from construction errors. It's a crucial safety net in case something goes wrong during the construction process.
Designing and building a structure can be a complicated process involving many parties, including architects, designers, engineers, building contractors, and other building specialists. This complexity is exactly why contractors professional liability insurance exists.
In a nutshell, CPL insurance helps contractors cover the costs of damages or losses resulting from construction errors, giving them peace of mind and financial security throughout the project.
What Is Insurance?
Insurance is a type of protection that covers financial losses in case of unforeseen events or mistakes. It's a safeguard for individuals and businesses to mitigate risks and avoid financial ruin.
Liability insurance is a specific type of insurance that provides coverage for mistakes or errors made by the policyholder. In the context of contractors, this type of insurance is crucial to protect against construction errors.
Contractors professional liability insurance, or CPL insurance, is a type of liability insurance specifically designed for contractors who provide design and building services. It covers mistakes made by the contractor themselves, as well as errors made by third-parties hired by the contractor.
Understanding Insurance
Who should carry Contractors Professional Liability (CPL) insurance? Construction managers, general contractors, and artisans and tradespeople such as plumbers, roofers, and electrical contractors should carry CPL coverage.
Your General Liability policy won't cover professional liability-related claims, making CPL insurance an essential component of asset protection. This is why it's crucial for contractors and building professionals to have CPL insurance.
Designing and building a structure can be a complicated process involving many parties, including architects, designers, engineers, building contractors, and other building specialists.
Coverage and Exposures
Contractors professional liability insurance provides coverage for a wide range of professional liability claims, including design errors, faulty engineering, inadequate project management, and code violations.
A CPL policy covers claims made by clients or third parties who allege that the contractor professional's negligent actions, errors, or omissions led to financial losses or damages in a construction project.
The policy covers a wide range of professional errors, including failure to meet specifications and other professional errors.
The policy typically covers legal defense costs, including attorney fees, court costs, and settlements or judgments, up to the policy limits.
Here are some examples of exposures that are covered under a CPL policy:
Contractors can purchase coverage limits based on their needs and the scale of the projects.
Exposures Covered
Professional liability insurance covers a wide range of professional errors, including design errors, faulty engineering, inadequate project management, and failure to meet specifications.
Claims can be made by clients or third parties who allege that the contractor's negligent actions, errors, or omissions led to financial losses or damages in a construction project.
Contractors can purchase coverage limits based on their needs and the scale of the projects, with options for project-specific or blanket policies providing coverage for multiple projects throughout the policy period.
A CPL policy covers legal defense costs, including attorney fees, court costs, and settlements or judgments, up to the policy limits.
Some common exposures covered under a CPL policy include:
- Design errors
- Faulty engineering
- Inadequate project management
- Failure to meet specifications
- Code violations
- Other professional errors
It's worth noting that a CPL policy won't cover legal disputes due to claims involving bodily injuries or property damage from normal construction operations.
CPL vs. Builders Risk Coverage
Contractors professional liability insurance and builders risk coverage both protect similar sets of conditions, types of loss, and entities involved in a building project. However, the key difference lies in who typically takes out the policy.
Contractors professional liability insurance is usually taken out by a contractor, while builders risk coverage is generally taken out by the owner of the project. This distinction can impact how you approach coverage for your building project.
Contractors professional liability insurance can be taken out on building improvement projects, but may not be available for a new project with no existing structure. Builders risk coverage, on the other hand, can protect projects that don’t have an existing structure.
Cost and Benefits
Contractors professional liability insurance costs an average of $74 per month.
The cost of insurance is based on several factors, including the type of construction and contracting services offered. This means that a contractor specializing in high-risk projects may pay more for insurance than one who only offers low-risk services.
Policy coverage limits and deductibles also play a significant role in determining insurance costs. A contractor with a higher level of coverage will likely pay more for insurance than one with lower coverage limits.
Here are some of the key factors that affect insurance costs:
- Type of construction and contracting services offered
- Level of experience and risk exposure in your field
- Where your business operates
- Policy coverage limits and deductibles
- Number of employees
- Liability claims history
Cost
The cost of contractor professional liability insurance is a significant concern for construction companies and contractors. On average, they pay $74 per month for this type of insurance.
Insurance costs are based on several factors, including the type of construction and contracting services offered. This is an important consideration, as different services come with varying levels of risk.

The level of experience and risk exposure in your field also plays a role in determining insurance costs. If you have a good track record and minimal risk, your costs will likely be lower.
Where your business operates is another factor that affects insurance costs. This can be due to differences in local regulations, market conditions, or other factors that impact the cost of doing business.
Policy coverage limits and deductibles also impact the cost of insurance. It's essential to carefully consider these factors when selecting a policy.
The number of employees in your business is another factor that affects insurance costs. As your business grows, so will your insurance costs.
A liability claims history can also impact the cost of insurance. If you have a history of claims, you can expect to pay more for insurance.
Here are some key factors that affect insurance costs for construction companies and contractors:
- Type of construction and contracting services offered
- Level of experience and risk exposure in your field
- Where your business operates
- Policy coverage limits and deductibles
- Number of employees
- Liability claims history
Tokio Marine HCC Advantage

Our underwriters are engineers, attorneys, and insurance professionals who know the professional liability needs of firms involved in design and construction.
Each policy comes with risk management and pre-claim assistance services to help clients with contract reviews and risk management.
Coverage is determined based on the specific facts and circumstances presented at the time of a claim and the language of the policy issued to the Insured.
Key Takeaways
Contractors professional liability insurance is a must-have for many construction businesses. This type of insurance protects contractors from mistakes made by third-party vendors associated with a project, as well as other losses related to repairs.
Larger contractors who offer multiple in-house services, such as home design, may expose themselves to more risks on a job. This is because they're not only building the project, but also designing it.
CPL insurance may not be available for a new project with no existing structure. In those situations, builders risk insurance can be taken out instead.
Here are some key things to know about contractors professional liability insurance:
- CPL insurance protects contractors from errors created during the design and engineering process.
- CPL insurance is especially useful when projects have many professionals involved in different aspects of the project.
- CPL insurance is usually reserved for contractors that provide design-build or construction management services.
Damages covered by CPL insurance include economic loss and costs associated with repairs. These costs can add up quickly, so it's essential to have the right insurance coverage in place.
Who Needs It and How to Get It
Contractors professional liability insurance is a must-have for those who work in the construction industry, especially for those who offer design or consulting services. This type of insurance is a must-have for contractors who want to protect their business from costly lawsuits.
Contractors who offer design or consulting services, such as architects, engineers, and construction managers, need this type of insurance to protect themselves from claims of professional negligence. This is because they have a higher risk of being sued for mistakes made during the design or planning phase of a project.
Contractors who work with high-risk clients, such as government agencies or large corporations, should also consider purchasing this type of insurance. This is because these clients often have more stringent requirements for liability insurance and may require contractors to have a certain level of coverage.
To get contractors professional liability insurance, you can contact an insurance agent or broker who specializes in construction insurance. They can help you determine the right level of coverage for your business and provide you with quotes from different insurance companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is contractor protective liability the same as general liability?
No, contractor protective liability (OCP) is a limited policy that only covers a single project, whereas general liability provides broader coverage. This key difference makes OCP a specialized policy for specific project needs.
How much is a $2 million dollar insurance policy for a business?
A $2 million business insurance policy typically costs around $30 per month in premiums. This affordable coverage can provide significant financial protection for your business.
How much is professional liability insurance usually?
Professional liability insurance typically costs around $735 per year, or about $61 per month, for small businesses. This coverage helps protect businesses from financial losses due to professional mistakes or negligence.
Sources
- https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/contractors-professional-liability.html
- https://www.insureon.com/construction-contracting-business-insurance/professional-liability
- https://www.tmhcc.com/en-us/products/professional-liability/contractors-professional-liability
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/contractors-professional-liability-insurance.asp
- https://gaslampinsurance.com/inside-contractors-professional-liability-insurance/
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