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How we choose the best independent contractor insurance companies
What is independent contractor insurance?
What coverage do independent contractors need?
How to get independent contractor insurance
Independent Contractor Insurance: Best Companies, What Coverage You Need
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Independent contractor insurance protects 1099 workers from certain lawsuits or property damage. Many businesses require contractors to buy insurance before working with them.
Here are our picks for the best places for independent contractors to get insurance.
Ergo Next
Best for Getting coverage online
Ergo Next lets you upload some basic information about your business, get a quote and buy insurance online within a few minutes. If you purchase a policy with Ergo Next, you’ll get an electronic certificate of insurance that you can share through email or text with anyone who asks to see it.
- General liability insurance.
- BOP.
- Commercial property insurance.
- Professional liability insurance.
- Commercial auto insurance.
- Tools and equipment insurance.
- Commercial property insurance.
- Umbrella insurance.
- Workers’ comp.
- Cyber insurance.
- Liquor liability insurance.
- Product liability insurance.
- Contractor license bonds.
Ergo Next lets you upload some basic information about your business, get a quote and buy insurance online within a few minutes. If you purchase a policy with Ergo Next, you’ll get an electronic certificate of insurance that you can share through email or text with anyone who asks to see it.
- General liability insurance.
- BOP.
- Commercial property insurance.
- Professional liability insurance.
- Commercial auto insurance.
- Tools and equipment insurance.
- Commercial property insurance.
- Umbrella insurance.
- Workers’ comp.
- Cyber insurance.
- Liquor liability insurance.
- Product liability insurance.
- Contractor license bonds.
Ergo Next lets you upload some basic information about your business, get a quote and buy insurance online within a few minutes. If you purchase a policy with Ergo Next, you’ll get an electronic certificate of insurance that you can share through email or text with anyone who asks to see it.
Chubb
Best for Business owner's policy
Pros
- Simple online shopping experience that most businesses can likely complete in a few minutes.
- BOP includes business interruption and extra expense coverage.
- Fewer complaints than expected about liability coverage and far fewer than expected about property coverage.
Cons
- If you have more than $2 million in annual revenue, you'll need to talk with an agent or shop elsewhere.
- Can’t get commercial auto insurance online.
Chubb is a great choice for a business owner's policy. This century-old insurance company makes it easy to buy a policy online (as long as your annual revenue is under $2 million). If you need both liability and property coverage, get a quote from Chubb.
- General liability insurance.
- BOP.
- Business property insurance.
- Business interruption insurance.
- Professional liability insurance.
- Umbrella insurance.
- Workers’ comp.
- Cyber insurance.
Chubb is a great choice for a business owner's policy. This century-old insurance company makes it easy to buy a policy online (as long as your annual revenue is under $2 million). If you need both liability and property coverage, get a quote from Chubb.
- General liability insurance.
- BOP.
- Business property insurance.
- Business interruption insurance.
- Professional liability insurance.
- Umbrella insurance.
- Workers’ comp.
- Cyber insurance.
Chubb is a great choice for a business owner's policy. This century-old insurance company makes it easy to buy a policy online (as long as your annual revenue is under $2 million). If you need both liability and property coverage, get a quote from Chubb.
The Hartford
Best for Professional liability insurance
Pros
- Fewer complaints than expected filed with state regulators about both liability and property insurance.
- You can add data breach, professional liability and business income for off-premises utility service coverage to The Hartford's business owner's policy.
- You can add an additional insured and request a certificate of insurance online.
Cons
- No coverage available in Alaska or Hawaii.
- Not all businesses can get a quote online.
Most businesses can get a quote for general and professional liability insurance online from The Hartford, but you may not be able to complete your purchase. That can be a good thing, though — it gives you the chance to talk to an insurance professional. They can explain what your policy covers and whether you need any additional types of coverage.
- Business owner's policies.
- General liability insurance.
- Professional liability insurance.
- Workers’ compensation insurance.
- Commercial property insurance.
- Business income insurance.
- Data breach insurance.
- Commercial umbrella insurance.
- Commercial auto insurance.
- Employment practices liability insurance.
- Liquor liability insurance.
Most businesses can get a quote for general and professional liability insurance online from The Hartford, but you may not be able to complete your purchase. That can be a good thing, though — it gives you the chance to talk to an insurance professional. They can explain what your policy covers and whether you need any additional types of coverage.
- Business owner's policies.
- General liability insurance.
- Professional liability insurance.
- Workers’ compensation insurance.
- Commercial property insurance.
- Business income insurance.
- Data breach insurance.
- Commercial umbrella insurance.
- Commercial auto insurance.
- Employment practices liability insurance.
- Liquor liability insurance.
Most businesses can get a quote for general and professional liability insurance online from The Hartford, but you may not be able to complete your purchase. That can be a good thing, though — it gives you the chance to talk to an insurance professional. They can explain what your policy covers and whether you need any additional types of coverage.
Thimble
Best for Short-term coverage
Pros
- Can get a quote and buy coverage online in minutes.
- Coverage available by the job or the month.
- Contractors and the people managing them can use the Certificate Manager to verify that insurance is contractually compliant, or to purchase coverage that is contractually compliant.
Cons
- Customer support is only available online.
- May charge extra fees when you buy coverage.
- Thimble does not sell commercial auto insurance.
Thimble sells general liability insurance policies by the month, year or for a single job or event. If you need coverage to comply with the requirements of a contract but don’t want to pay a premium on an ongoing basis, Thimble might be a good option.
Thimble is an insurance broker. Since it doesn't underwrite policies, we don't give it a star rating.
- Business owner’s policy.
- General liability insurance.
- Business property insurance.
- Workers’ compensation.
- Professional liability insurance.
- Inland marine insurance.
- Cyber insurance (not available in California, Florida or New York).
- Event insurance (not available in New York, North Carolina or Texas). This includes event liability or liquor liability coverage.
Thimble sells general liability insurance policies by the month, year or for a single job or event. If you need coverage to comply with the requirements of a contract but don’t want to pay a premium on an ongoing basis, Thimble might be a good option.
Thimble is an insurance broker. Since it doesn't underwrite policies, we don't give it a star rating.
- Business owner’s policy.
- General liability insurance.
- Business property insurance.
- Workers’ compensation.
- Professional liability insurance.
- Inland marine insurance.
- Cyber insurance (not available in California, Florida or New York).
- Event insurance (not available in New York, North Carolina or Texas). This includes event liability or liquor liability coverage.
Thimble sells general liability insurance policies by the month, year or for a single job or event. If you need coverage to comply with the requirements of a contract but don’t want to pay a premium on an ongoing basis, Thimble might be a good option.
Thimble is an insurance broker. Since it doesn't underwrite policies, we don't give it a star rating.
How we choose the best independent contractor insurance companies
NerdWallet’s editorial team chooses the best business insurance companies based on:
- How many complaints policyholders make to state insurance regulators.
- How financially strong insurance companies are, according to credit rating agencies.
- How easy it is to get a quote and buy a policy online.
What is independent contractor insurance?
There’s no single insurance policy called “independent contractor insurance.” Instead, independent contractors probably need one or several kinds of liability coverage.
As a 1099 worker, you are legally separate from the business hiring you. If someone files a lawsuit related to your work, the business wants you held responsible — not them. Insurance protects you in those cases. Many businesses won’t hire a contractor without seeing proof they have insurance.
Sometimes businesses ask 1099 contractors to add them as an additional insured. That means, if you’re both named in a lawsuit, your policy will pay out first.
What coverage do independent contractors need?
As a 1099 contractor, you can be held liable for harming another person or their property just as any small-business owner can be. You probably need general liability insurance, professional liability insurance or both.
General liability insurance
General liability insurance protects you if a third party accuses you of causing harm to them or their property. It can also protect you against claims of libel, slander and reputational harm.
For example: Say you clean homes and a customer claims you damaged their furniture. General liability insurance could help cover your legal costs.
In some cases, the company that hires you as a contractor may be able to add you to its general liability insurance policy. In others, the company may require you to carry your own policy. They can ask to see a certificate of insurance before hiring you.
Professional liability insurance
If you provide services to customers for a fee, you should have professional liability insurance. This coverage is also known as errors and omissions insurance. It protects you from claims like:
- Mistakes or oversights in performing your service.
- Breach of contract.
- Professional negligence.
- Failure to deliver a service on time.
For example, say you’re a real estate agent. You make a mistake in a client’s contract and, to save the deal, they lower their selling price. They could sue you for the money they could have earned but didn’t. Whether or not a court finds you liable, professional liability insurance can help pay for your legal defense.
Commercial auto insurance
If you drive for work, you may need one of these kinds of commercial auto insurance:
| Commercial auto insurance | Hired and non-owned auto insurance | |
|---|---|---|
| Which vehicles are covered? | Vehicles owned by your business. | Vehicles you rent for your business, or vehicles you own that you sometimes use for your business. |
| What damages are covered? | Costs related to crashes, including property damage and medical expenses. | Legal costs, medical expenses and damage to the other party’s vehicle, but not yours. |
| Who should have it? | Contractors who have a vehicle mainly used for business, like a contractor who has a truck to move their equipment. | Contractors who use their personal car occasionally for their business. |
| How do you get it? | Online from any company that sells car insurance, like Progressive, Geico or Allstate. | As an add-on to a business owner’s policy or as its own policy. |
Other coverage types you might need
Depending on what kind of work you do, you may need additional types of business insurance. For instance, a musician who uses their own instruments and sound equipment may need commercial property insurance that will pay out if their inventory is stolen, damaged or destroyed.
| Type of insurance | Who needs it |
|---|---|
| Commercial property insurance covers property that is damaged in accidents, weather events or other hazards. | Independent contractors who rely heavily on particular materials or pieces of equipment to do their work, such as musicians, photographers or videographers. Also, if you rent office or retail space, your lease may require it. |
| Business interruption insurance covers the income you would have earned while your business was unable to operate due to an accident or disaster. | Independent contractors whose work would be significantly set back by a disaster, like a pipe bursting and causing water damage to equipment that your business relies on. |
| Cyber liability insurance covers damage resulting from data breaches or software hacks, including the costs of notifying customers and setting up credit monitoring. | Independent contractors, such as accountants, who handle sensitive information. |
If you need both general liability and property insurance, get a business owner's policy. BOPs usually include general liability insurance, commercial property insurance and business interruption insurance.
How to get independent contractor insurance
Follow these steps to shop for 1099 contractor insurance.
- Figure out what coverage you need. Your insurance coverage should protect you from the risks your business faces based on what kinds of lawsuits, accidents or disasters might happen. If the company that hired you has specific requirements, review them.
- Get quotes. Get business insurance quotes from multiple companies to compare costs and coverage before choosing a policy. You can usually get a quote in just a few minutes online.
- Buy your policies. After you choose a policy, make sure you know how to make payments and file claims if necessary.
- Add the person or business that hired you as an additional insured, if necessary. Most commonly, you’ll add your client or your landlord. This extends your coverage to them. If you’re sued on the job and the injured party also names your client or landlord in the lawsuit, they won’t have to file an insurance claim of their own.
It’s possible for the person or business that hired you to add you as an additional insured, too. But since that could increase the cost of their coverage, they may insist you buy your own coverage instead.
How to get your certificate of insurance
Digital-first insurance companies generally let you pull up your certificate of insurance in an online dashboard. Other insurers make you request a certificate via email or an online portal. They should be able to send you a copy within a few hours.
A certificate of insurance is proof that you have an insurance policy. Once you get a copy, it’s yours to share with anyone who asks for it. You shouldn’t have to pay for your COI.
How to add an additional insured
The person who hired you might ask you to add them to your policy as an additional insured. You can usually do this the same way you get your COI — either online or by calling your agent.
An additional insured endorsement extends your coverage to another party. Say you rent office space. You add your landlord to your general liability policy as an additional insured. Someone falls and hurts themselves on the stairs up to your office, and sues both you and your landlord. This general liability policy could pay out to cover both you and your landlord’s fees.
The cost of adding an additional insured varies. It’s free with some companies, like Ergo Next. Other insurers, like biBERK, may charge a small fee.
Methodology
Business insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet rewards business insurance companies for reliability and good service. We calculate star ratings based on scores in about a dozen categories. These include:
- Each company's financial strength.
- How many complaints customers made relative to its market share.
- How easy it is to get coverage.
- How accessible customer service is.
Learn more about how we rate small-business insurance companies.
Our editorial team routinely fact-checks and updates these data points. We also adjust our scoring on an ongoing basis. This helps our star ratings reflect changing industry norms. For instance, in 2026, we began evaluating how easy insurers make it to add an additional insured.
Our ratings are a guide. But insurance policy details and prices can vary widely. We encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes.NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Insurer complaints methodology
One key factor in our star ratings is how many complaints insurance companies get. Here's how we arrive at that score.
Disappointed customers can file a complaint with their state's insurance department. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) collects, analyzes and groups complaints by business line and insurance company every year. A business line is a specific type of coverage, like workers’ comp.
Then, the NAIC calculates a complaint ratio for each company. It divides the company's share of complaints by its share of total premiums for each line of business. It then adds these ratio values to their official complaint index.
- A complaint ratio of 1 means a company received about the expected number of complaints relative to its size.
- A ratio of 2 means it received twice as many complaints as expected.
- A ratio of 0 means it received half as many complaints as expected.
NerdWallet obtains the raw NAIC data every year. We aggregate results at the company level and fact-check these results. Then we calculate a three-year average of each insurer's complaint ratio and convert it to a score for our star ratings.
Business insurance star ratings consider complaints about two lines of business: commercial liability and commercial property. We analyze complaint data on commercial auto and workers' comp policies too. But we don't currently incorporate these into our ratings since they're less universal.