What does plumber GL cover vs. not cover?

GL covers: third-party bodily injury (a customer slips on water you tracked in), property damage caused by your work or your tools (drill breaks a gas line), and completed operations claims (pipe bursts 3 days after your repair). GL does NOT cover: your own tools and equipment, damage to property in your care/custody/control (the pipe you're working on), your work vehicle, employee injuries (WC covers those), or your own business losses.

Do I need workers' comp as a solo plumber?

It depends on your state. Most states require workers' comp only when you have employees. However, some states (CA, WA, OR, and others) require WC even for sole proprietors in certain trades, or require it to obtain or maintain a contractor license. California, for example, requires licensed contractors with any employees to carry WC — and many GCs will require a WC certificate even from sole proprietors. Check your state plumbing board requirements specifically.

What tools should I insure as a plumber?

Priority tools to insure: pipe inspection cameras ($3,000–$15,000), hydro-jetting machines ($5,000–$25,000), drain snakes and augers ($500–$3,000), pipe threading machines, copper pipe cutters, and specialty diagnostic tools. Add tools and equipment coverage to your GL policy or BOP — it's typically inexpensive and covers theft from your van, damage in transit, and loss on a job site. Most tools policies cover items up to a per-item limit (often $2,500–$5,000) with a blanket total.

What insurance do plumbing subcontractors need?

Plumbing subcontractors need: GL ($1M minimum, often $2M required by GC contracts), WC (required by almost every GC as a condition of the subcontract, even in optional-WC states like TX), commercial auto for any company vehicles, and tools coverage. The GC will require you to be named as additional insured on their policy and vice versa. Most GC contracts have indemnification clauses that shift liability to you for work you perform — GL protects you against those claims.

What does plumber GL cover vs. not cover?

GL covers: third-party bodily injury (a customer slips on water you tracked in), property damage caused by your work or your tools (drill breaks a gas line), and completed operations claims (pipe bursts 3 days after your repair). GL does NOT cover: your own tools and equipment, damage to property in your care/custody/control (the pipe you're working on), your work vehicle, employee injuries (WC covers those), or your own business losses.

Do I need workers' comp as a solo plumber?

It depends on your state. Most states require workers' comp only when you have employees. However, some states (CA, WA, OR, and others) require WC even for sole proprietors in certain trades, or require it to obtain or maintain a contractor license. California, for example, requires licensed contractors with any employees to carry WC — and many GCs will require a WC certificate even from sole proprietors. Check your state plumbing board requirements specifically.

What tools should I insure as a plumber?

Priority tools to insure: pipe inspection cameras ($3,000–$15,000), hydro-jetting machines ($5,000–$25,000), drain snakes and augers ($500–$3,000), pipe threading machines, copper pipe cutters, and specialty diagnostic tools. Add tools and equipment coverage to your GL policy or BOP — it's typically inexpensive and covers theft from your van, damage in transit, and loss on a job site. Most tools policies cover items up to a per-item limit (often $2,500–$5,000) with a blanket total.

What insurance do plumbing subcontractors need?

Plumbing subcontractors need: GL ($1M minimum, often $2M required by GC contracts), WC (required by almost every GC as a condition of the subcontract, even in optional-WC states like TX), commercial auto for any company vehicles, and tools coverage. The GC will require you to be named as additional insured on their policy and vice versa. Most GC contracts have indemnification clauses that shift liability to you for work you perform — GL protects you against those claims.

Trades & Construction

Business Insurance for Plumbers

A pipe you touched bursts two days later and floods a finished basement — that's a six-figure claim without GL. Here's the complete insurance playbook for licensed plumbers.

$85–$250/ monthSolo licensed plumber: $85–$150/month for GL. Add WC (1 employee): +$80–$150/month. Commercial auto: +$120–$200/month per vehicle. Full package (solo): $200–$350/month.

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Coverage Types for Plumbers

These are the key insurance policies most relevant to your business type — ranked by importance.

🛡️

General Liability

Required

Covers third-party bodily injury and property damage — including water damage from plumbing work you performed. Most plumbing licenses require proof of GL, and every property owner or GC will demand a certificate before you start. Completed operations coverage extends protection after the job is done.

🦺

Workers' Compensation

Required

Required in most states with any employees. Plumbers have above-average injury rates: back injuries from confined space work, burns from soldering, chemical exposure, and falls from ladders are the most common claims. Sole proprietors should check state law — some states require it even without employees.

🚐

Commercial Auto

Required

Your personal auto policy won't cover your service van or truck used for plumbing jobs. Commercial auto covers vehicles used for business: liability if you're at fault in an accident, physical damage to your work truck, and tools in transit.

🔧

Tools & Equipment

Highly Recommended

Covers stolen or damaged tools and plumbing equipment: pipe cameras, drain snakes, hydro-jetters, and specialty tools. A single theft from your van can mean $5,000–$20,000 in replacement costs. Often added to GL or BOP as an endorsement.

☂️

Umbrella / Excess Liability

Recommended

For major flood losses — a slab leak or main line failure in a commercial building can cause hundreds of thousands in damage. An umbrella extends your GL limits at low cost. Especially important for commercial plumbing contractors.

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What You Need to Know

→State plumbing licenses in most states require proof of GL insurance — typically $500,000–$1M per occurrence. No certificate, no license renewal.
→Completed operations coverage is critical — plumbing failures often manifest days or weeks after the job. Your GL policy must cover that post-completion window.
→Water damage is the #1 plumbing liability claim. A burst supply line or improperly soldered joint can cause $50,000–$300,000 in damage to a finished home or commercial space.
→Your work van is not covered by your personal auto policy for business use. A single at-fault accident in your uninsured work truck can end your business.
→Most GC and property management contracts require you to carry $1M GL and add them as additional insured. Keep your certificate of insurance current and ready to email — you'll need it constantly.

What Does It Cost?

$85–$250per month

Solo licensed plumber: $85–$150/month for GL. Add WC (1 employee): +$80–$150/month. Commercial auto: +$120–$200/month per vehicle. Full package (solo): $200–$350/month.

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Frequently Asked Questions

In most states, yes — proof of general liability insurance is a condition of obtaining or renewing a plumbing contractor license. Even where not legally mandated, every GC, property manager, and commercial client will require a current certificate of insurance before allowing you to work. The standard market requirement is $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate GL with completed operations coverage. Check your specific state licensing board requirements.

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