construction Business & Commercial

Contractor Insurance for Trades: Liability, Tools & Equipment

Get the certificate the general contractor or homeowner needs — fast.

Trades and contractors face bodily-injury and property-damage risks on every job site, and most commercial clients will not let you start without a certificate of insurance. Contractor packages combine CGL, tools and equipment floaters, installation coverage and commercial auto, priced by trade.

checkCGL limits up to $5 million+
checkTools & equipment floater
checkSame-day certificates of insurance in many cases
checkCoverage for subcontracted work

Instant estimate

No email needed

constructionContractor Insurance estimate

Coverage amount $500,000

$100k$1M$2M

Your age

YRS

Province / territory

smoke_freeTobacco / vaping in past 12 months?

Estimated premium

$139 /mo

Typical range $139–$241

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Example: Consulting / IT / professional in Ontario, $150,000 revenue, 1 employees, $2M CGL · as of October 2026. Estimate, not an offer.

Coverage options

Types of contractor insurance in Canada

Contractor reviewing plans with a homeowner on a job site

CGL

Third-party injury and property damage from your work.

Tools & equipment

Theft or damage to tools on site, in transit or in storage.

Installation floater

Materials you are installing until the job is accepted.

Commercial auto

Vans, trucks and trailers used for work.

Specialty coverage

More contractor coverage

construction Insurance for PlumbersLiability, tools and the certificate your clients ask for. construction Insurance for ElectriciansLiability, tools and the certificate your clients ask for. construction Insurance for HVAC ContractorsLiability, tools and the certificate your clients ask for. construction Insurance for LandscapersLiability, tools and the certificate your clients ask for. construction Insurance for Cleaning BusinessesLiability, tools and the certificate your clients ask for. construction Insurance for RoofersLiability, tools and the certificate your clients ask for.

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What affects your price

Tradesperson loading tools into a work van

1Trade and type of work
2Revenue and subcontracting
3Claims history
4Required limits

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Your instant estimate

Estimates start from about

$139/mo

Example: Consulting / IT / professional in Ontario, $150,000 revenue, 1 employees, $2M CGL · as of October 2026. Not a quote — your price depends on your details and the insurer.

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Local rules & pricing

Contractor Insurance by province

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Learn before you buy

Contractor guides

All guides →

Small shop owner and insurance adviser reviewing liability coverage paperwork at a shop counter — AI-generated illustrative image

Business insurance 8 min read

Updated Oct 12, 2026

How Much Is General Liability Insurance in Canada? Costs by Limit and Business Type

For a $2 million limit, Instasure's estimate tool puts general liability (CGL) cost at $386 a year for an example consulting firm and $1,924 for an example restaurant, as of October 2026. Here's the full table by limit and business type, and what moves your price.

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Electrician in safety gear reviewing a job clipboard beside a tool case at a tidy residential renovation site — AI-generated illustrative image

Business insurance 9 min read

Updated Oct 12, 2026

Contractor Insurance Cost in Canada by Trade: Example Estimates and Price Factors

For a solo trade contractor in Ontario with $150,000 in revenue and $2 million of liability, Instasure's model estimates about $136 to $236 a month, as of October 2026. Here's how crew size, limits, your trade, claims and tools move the price.

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Bakery owner arranging bread in her shop window

Business insurance 5 min read

Updated Oct 3, 2026

How Much Does Small Business Insurance Cost in Canada?

Small business insurance in Canada can cost a few hundred dollars a year for a low-risk consultant or several thousand for a contractor or restaurant. Here's what drives the price, which coverages matter and how to lower your premium.

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quiz Straight answers

Contractor Insurance FAQ

policyHave a complaint about an insurer?

Start with the insurer’s complaint officer. Unresolved home, auto and business disputes can go to the General Insurance OmbudService; life and health disputes to the OmbudService for Life & Health Insurance.

Do contractors need insurance in Canada?

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General liability is not required by law for most trades, but clients, general contractors, property managers and many municipalities require proof of coverage. Workplace safety coverage (e.g. WSIB, WorkSafeBC) is a separate provincial requirement for many employers.

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Licensed Michael Le Chi, CFP Certified Financial Planner · Contributing author

Talk it through with a licensed contractor advisor

Every request is matched with an advisor licensed in your province who compares insurers for you, explains the fine print and handles the application. No cost to you and no obligation to buy.

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