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Contractor insurance · California

Contractor and handyman insurance in Los Angeles

Remodels, repairs, painting, installs and odd jobs all happen in someone else's home or building. General liability pays when that work hurts someone or damages their property, and many clients ask to see it before you start. You can buy it online for one job or a whole year.

$1,000,000General liability limit on Thimble's contractor and handyman policy
$25,000Contractor license bond required by the CSLB
Jan 1, 2028All licensed contractors must carry workers' comp

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What contractor liability covers

Usually covered

Bodily injury: someone other than your workers is hurt because of your work, like a client tripping over your tools.
Property damage: you or your crew damage a client's or someone else's property.
Legal defense: lawyers and court costs if you are sued over a covered claim.
Medical payments: small medical bills for someone hurt at your work, without a lawsuit.

Usually not covered

Injuries to your own employees (that is workers' compensation)
Your own tools, equipment or vehicles
Damage to the work you are doing itself, in most cases

How Thimble coverage works

Coverage when you need it. Thimble sells these policies by the hour, the day, the month or the year, so a one-off job can be covered on its own.
Proof for your client. After you buy, you can download a certificate of insurance to show a client, landlord or venue.
You stay in control. Thimble lets you change, pause or cancel a policy online or in its app.

What a policy covers, its limits and its price depend on your business, your ZIP code, your crew size and how long you buy for. The policy itself is what decides a claim.

California rules for contractors

License bond: the Contractors State License Board requires a $25,000 contractor bond, and some licensees also need a $25,000 bond of qualifying individual.
Workers' comp: you need it with your first employee. Concrete (C-8), HVAC (C-20), asbestos (C-22), roofing (C-39) and tree service (D-49) contractors must carry it even with no employees.
Coming in 2028: every licensed contractor must carry workers' compensation starting January 1, 2028.

Get a quote online

Get a price and buy online below. Billy is the broker on these Thimble policies, so you can call him with questions before or after you buy.

Open the Thimble quote in a new tab

This quote tool is run by Thimble Insurance Services. What you type into it goes to Thimble and is covered by Thimble's privacy policy, not ours. Rather talk it through? Use the form on this page or call (323) 393-5077.

Cyber coverage

Thimble can add cyber coverage to its yearly general liability policy, with up to a $100,000 limit for a data breach, cyber crime or cyber extortion. It is not available in every case; see the business insurance guide for what it covers and leaves out.

What to have ready

What kind of work you do
Your ZIP code and where you work
How many people are on your crew
How long you need coverage: one job, a month or a year
Your client's name and address if they need to be listed on the certificate

Other trades

Billy also has pages for other trades Thimble covers:

Cleaning and janitorial

Liability for house cleaners, janitorial crews and commercial cleaners working in clients' homes and offices.

See cleaning and janitorial coverage

Landscaping and gardening

Liability for gardeners, lawn care and landscape crews, with notes on tree work and equipment.

See landscaping and gardening coverage

Event vendors and entertainers

General and professional liability for DJs, performers and vendors, with free additional insureds for venues.

See event vendors and entertainers coverage

Photographers

General and professional liability for portrait, event and wedding photographers.

See photographers coverage

Need something else, such as workers' compensation, a business owner's policy or commercial auto? The small business insurance guide covers those, and Billy can compare other companies for you.

Common questions

Do handymen need liability insurance in California?

The state does not require general liability for every handyman, but many clients, property managers and general contractors ask for a certificate of insurance before you start. One accident in a client's home can cost far more than the policy.

Can I insure just one job?

Yes. Thimble sells contractor and handyman liability by the hour, the day, the month or the year, so you can cover a single job and download the certificate for your client.

Does general liability cover my workers if they get hurt?

No. Injuries to your own employees are covered by workers' compensation, which California requires once you have one employee. Some contractor classifications must carry it even with no employees.