Contractor insurance in Texas, including Dallas–Fort Worth
Gatson Life & Financial Group helps Texas contractors and trades — from a one-truck shop to a larger crew — review general liability, commercial auto, workers' comp, and certificates of insurance. We serve Dallas–Fort Worth and all of Texas.
Who this is for
This page is for general contractors and trade contractors who work in Texas: plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, roofers, remodelers, and similar trades. The work may be residential, commercial, or a mix. The crew may be just you, a few employees, or a larger team with subcontractors.
Jobs often start only after someone asks for a certificate of insurance. Landlords, general contractors, and project owners want to see general liability, and many commercial or public jobs also ask for workers' compensation and additional-insured wording. Requirements vary by contract, city, and project — we do not treat any one requirement as universal.
Coverages contractors usually review
The right mix depends on how you operate, what your contracts require, and what a carrier is willing to write. These are the coverages we discuss most often with Texas contractors. Availability, limits, and price vary by carrier, industry, and state.
- General liability, including completed-operations questions and additional-insured requests from a general contractor or project owner.
- Commercial auto for work trucks, vans, and trailers, and hired or non-owned auto if employees use personal vehicles for the job.
- Workers' compensation when you have employees, when a contract requires it, or when you want to understand Texas subscriber versus non-subscriber choices at a high level.
- Inland marine or tools and equipment coverage for tools that leave the shop and sit on a job site. General liability usually does not cover your own tools.
- Umbrella or excess liability when a job specifies limits above a standard general liability policy.
Certificates of insurance and additional insureds
A certificate of insurance (COI) is a one-page summary that shows a policy is in force. It is not the policy itself, but it is what most jobs ask to see before you mobilize. Once a policy is active, we can usually issue a certificate; timing still depends on the carrier and the wording requested.
Many contracts also ask you to name the client or general contractor as an additional insured and to match specific wording, such as primary and noncontributory or waiver of subrogation. Send us the insurance section of the contract. We will tell you what we can request from the carrier. Not every endorsement is available on every policy.
Workers' comp for Texas contractors
Texas is different from many states. Most private employers are not required by state law to carry workers' compensation insurance, though government projects and many general-contractor agreements still require it. Some contractors choose to carry it anyway because of contract access, or because they want the medical and wage benefits the coverage can provide for employees.
If you are considering becoming a non-subscriber, that decision has legal and workplace responsibilities that go beyond an insurance quote. We can discuss the insurance side at a high level and point you to the Texas Department of Insurance for official rules. We do not give legal advice. Read the state's consumer guide at https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb030.html.
How to request a quote or a COI
For a quote, it helps to have your business name, what trades you perform, years in business, estimated revenue and payroll, number of employees or subcontractors, vehicles, and any recent claims. If a job already sent a certificate request, include that too.
Call (866) 486-9959, text (903) 348-0913, or use our quote form. We serve contractors in Dallas–Fort Worth, Sulphur Springs, Cumby, and throughout Texas. Coverage still varies by carrier.
Texas contractor insurance FAQ
Can you issue certificates of insurance for a job?+
Once a policy is active, certificates can usually be issued, including additional-insured requests when the carrier and policy allow them. Timing and available wording vary by carrier. Send us the contract's insurance requirements.
Do Texas contractors have to carry workers' comp?+
Most private employers in Texas are not required by state law to carry it, but many commercial and public jobs still require proof of coverage. Rules and contract terms vary. We can explain the insurance questions at a high level; we do not give legal advice.
Do you insure plumbers, electricians, HVAC, and roofers?+
Yes, those are trades we regularly review, along with general contractors and other construction-related businesses. What we can place still varies by carrier, your operations, and claims history.
Does general liability cover my tools?+
Usually not. General liability is for injury or damage you cause to others. Your own tools and equipment are typically a separate inland marine or tools coverage, when it is available.
Get contractor coverage that matches the job.
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