What Is Plumber Insurance?

Plumber insurance is a package of commercial policies designed to protect plumbing contractors, master plumbers, and plumbing businesses from the financial risks inherent in the trade. Plumbing work involves entering customers' homes and businesses, working with water and gas lines, and performing tasks where a single mistake can cause thousands of dollars in water damage, property destruction, or personal injury.

Whether you are a solo plumber with a service van or a plumbing company with a crew of journeymen, the right insurance program protects you from lawsuits, covers property damage claims, and meets the licensing requirements in your state.

What Types of Coverage Do Plumbers Need?

Plumbing businesses face a broad range of risks — from water damage at a client's property to employee injuries and vehicle accidents. Here are the essential coverages:

Coverage Type	What It Protects	Typical Limits
General Liability	Property damage, bodily injury at job sites	$1M / $2M
Commercial Auto	Service vans, trucks, and fleet vehicles	$1M combined
Workers' Compensation	Employee injuries, lost wages, medical costs	State minimums
Tools & Equipment	Theft or damage to plumbing tools and equipment	$5K – $50K
Commercial Property	Office, warehouse, inventory	Replacement cost
Surety Bonds	Required by many states for plumbing licensure	$5K – $25K
Umbrella / Excess	Additional liability above primary limits	$1M – $5M

General Liability is the most critical policy for plumbers. It covers the scenario every plumber fears: you fix a pipe, leave the job, and the repair fails, flooding the customer's home. GL covers the resulting property damage claim and your legal defense costs.

Commercial Auto is equally essential since plumbers spend much of their workday driving between job sites.

How Much Does Plumber Insurance Cost?

Pricing varies based on your crew size, revenue, services offered, and claims history.

Business Size	Annual Revenue	GL Cost (Annual)	Commercial Auto (Annual)	Workers' Comp (Annual)
Solo Plumber	Under $100K	$500 – $1,200	$1,200 – $2,500	N/A
Small Company (2–5)	$100K – $500K	$1,000 – $3,000	$2,500 – $6,000	$3,000 – $8,000
Mid-Size Company (6–15)	$500K – $2M	$2,500 – $7,000	$5,000 – $12,000	$8,000 – $25,000
Large Company (15+)	$2M+	$5,000 – $15,000	$10,000 – $30,000	$20,000 – $60,000

Plumbers who work on gas lines, do new construction, or perform commercial plumbing typically pay higher premiums than residential service plumbers. Your claims history is also a major factor — a history of water damage claims will increase your GL premium significantly.

State Licensing and Insurance Requirements

Most states require plumbing contractors to carry minimum insurance coverage as a condition of licensure. Common requirements include:

General Liability — Required in most states, typically $500K–$1M minimums
Workers' Compensation — Required in nearly all states if you have employees
Surety Bond — Required in many states, typically $5,000–$25,000
Commercial Auto — Required if you have business-owned vehicles

Failing to maintain required insurance can result in license suspension, fines, and inability to pull permits. Always verify your state's specific requirements.

Key Risk Factors for Plumbers

Service type — Gas line work carries higher risk and premiums than drain cleaning
Residential vs. commercial — Commercial plumbing jobs often require higher limits
Subcontractor use — Hiring subs without verifying their insurance creates exposure
Vehicle count — More service vehicles means higher commercial auto costs
Claims history — Water damage claims are the most common and most impactful

Why Compare Multiple Carriers?

Plumbing insurance rates vary widely between carriers. Contractors' insurance is a competitive market, and carriers have different appetites for plumbing risks. One carrier might offer excellent GL rates but expensive commercial auto, while another bundles everything at a discount.

Insura lets you compare quotes from 20+ carriers including Hartford, Travelers, Liberty Mutual, and specialty contractor insurers. See side-by-side comparisons in minutes and choose the best package for your plumbing business.

Get Your Plumbing Business Protected Today

Do not let a water damage claim or on-the-job injury threaten your plumbing business. Compare quotes from top carriers, meet your state licensing requirements, and get the comprehensive coverage you need — all in minutes.

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