INSURANCE FOR CONTRACTORS AND SKILLED TRADES
Contractor and Trades Insurance in Michigan
Coverage Built for Work That Moves From Job to Job
Contractors face changing job sites, contract requirements, subcontractor exposure, expensive tools, work vehicles, and claims that can surface after the work is complete. We help Michigan contractors build insurance programs around the actual trades performed—not a generic description on an application.
General Liability
Tools and Equipment
Commercial Auto
Workers’ Compensation
Contractor Insurance Should Follow the Work, Equipment, and Contracts
An electrician, plumber, HVAC contractor, remodeler, landscaper, and excavation company do not create the same risk. Carrier eligibility and pricing can change based on the trade, payroll, receipts, height exposure, excavation, hot work, subcontracted cost, new construction versus remodeling, and the percentage of work performed away from your premises.
We compare more than price. We review general liability classifications, products-completed operations, additional-insured requirements, tools and mobile equipment, commercial auto, workers’ compensation, umbrella limits, and bonds.
Liability and Completed Operations
Coverage needs to contemplate the work you perform now and claims that may arise after completion. We look for restrictive classifications, residential-work limitations, subcontractor exclusions, height limitations, and other terms that can quietly narrow protection.
Tools, Equipment, and Installation
Inland marine coverage can protect portable tools, rented equipment, materials in transit, and property awaiting installation. Limits should reflect the equipment actually exposed at job sites and in vehicles.
Work Trucks and Trailers
Personal auto policies are not designed for many business uses. We review owned autos, trailers, attached equipment, hired and non-owned auto exposure, drivers, radius, and how vehicles are titled and used.
Certificates, Contracts, and Bonds
A certificate does not create coverage. We compare written requirements with the policy’s additional-insured, primary and noncontributory, waiver, and completed-operations wording, then discuss bid, performance, license, or permit bonds when required.
Local Insurance Guidance for Michigan Contractors
Customers First Insurance Group works from Clear Creek Plaza in Chesterfield and serves New Baltimore, Macomb County, Metro Detroit, and businesses throughout Michigan. Owner Michael Vereecke has worked in insurance since 2009 and holds the Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist (CLCS) designation.
We work with contractors and trades across Michigan and understand that small operational details can decide whether a carrier is comfortable with an account. Clear information about trade mix, subcontractor controls, contracts, payroll, receipts, job types, driving, and loss history helps us approach the right markets and explain meaningful differences between proposals.
Contractor Insurance Questions
What insurance does a contractor usually need?
Common coverages include general liability, commercial auto, workers’ compensation, inland marine for tools and equipment, property, umbrella or excess liability, and bonds. The exact program depends on the trade, employees, vehicles, equipment, contracts, and projects.
Are subcontractors covered by my general liability policy?
Not automatically in every situation. Policies may contain subcontractor conditions or exclusions, and carriers often require certificates, written contracts, and proof of insurance. Your completed-operations exposure can remain even after a subcontractor finishes the work.
Does contractor insurance cover tools stolen from a truck or job site?
Tools are generally insured through contractors equipment or another inland marine form, not automatically by general liability. Coverage depends on the causes of loss, limits, deductibles, security requirements, and whether items must be scheduled.
Why do contracts require additional-insured status?
Owners and general contractors often require protection under your liability policy for claims connected to your work. The actual endorsement and written contract—not the certificate alone—determine the scope of that protection.