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Contractor insurance in Spokane, WA
Registration with L&I, a bond, general liability and workers' comp — contractors carry the most moving parts of any class we write, and the most contract-driven requirements.
What Washington requires
Registered contractors in Washington must carry general liability at state-set minimums and post a contractor bond with L&I — $30,000 for general contractors and $15,000 for specialty contractors since the amounts rose on 1 July 2024 (RCW 18.27.040). Those are floors, not what the job will actually ask for. Most general contractors want $1M/$2M before you are allowed on site, frequently with additional insured status on a primary and non-contributory basis.
The classification problem
Workers' compensation rates for the trades vary enormously by risk class, and the class is set by the work performed rather than the job title. Crews doing a mix of work frequently end up classified at the highest rate for everything. Getting the split right is one of the largest single savings available to a Spokane contractor, and it is a review rather than a sales pitch.
Tools, equipment and the gap people miss
Commercial property covers what is at your shop. Commercial auto covers the van. Neither covers $40,000 of tooling stolen out of the back of it overnight. That needs a contractor's equipment floater or inland marine — cheap, and routinely missing from policies we review.
Biggest exposures in this class
- Additional insured and waiver-of-subrogation wording demanded by GCs
- Tools and equipment stolen from vans and job sites
- Faulty workmanship claims after the job closes out
- L&I class code errors inflating workers' comp for years
Usually written together
Coverage this class normally needs
General Liability
The baseline policy. Covers injuries to other people and damage to their property arising out of your business.
Read moreWorkers' Compensation
Required in Washington for nearly every employer. Covers medical care and lost wages when someone gets hurt on the job.
Read moreCommercial Auto
Coverage for the vehicles your business owns, leases, rents or asks employees to drive.
Read moreCommercial Umbrella
Extra liability limits that sit above your general liability, auto and employer liability policies.
Read moreStart with your trade. We will take it from there.
Tell us what the business does and we will pre-select the coverage it normally needs, then compare carriers for you. About two minutes, no obligation.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (509) 944-0847.