Best Independent Contractor Insurance Companies of June 2023

Next offers a same-day application process, plus low premiums and discounts, making liability coverage accessible to the most cash-strapped independent contractors. Professional liability insurance costs as little as $220 per year, and some low-risk independent contractors can get general liability for as low as $11 per month. And you can save up to 25% on your premiums with a variety of discounts from Next, including a 10% discount for bundling two policies.

Next offers general liability, professional liability, and a business owner’s policy, but it doesn’t offer as many endorsements as other companies. You can’t get cyber liability coverage from the company. Next has an A- (Excellent) financial strength rating from AM Best and had fewer complaints with the NAIC over a two-year period based on the company’s size.

biBERK is part of the Berkshire Hathaway Group, and all its subsidiaries are rated A++ (Superior) for financial strength by AM Best so you can count on the company to have the resources to pay claims. biERK also offers excellent pricing, with professional liability policies starting at around $300 per year. biBERK makes it easy to get a quote and apply for instant coverage with only a few simple questions. And customer reviews about the company on third-party sites are excellent. 

You can get professional liability, general liability, and cyber liability from biBERK, and you can also tailor a business owner’s policy to meet your needs if you have a business premises. Dozens of endorsements are available. biBERK makes it easy to access your certificate of insurance, but adding an insured can result in an additional premium. Some other companies allow you to add unlimited insureds for free. 

Media professionals, lawyers, public officials, tech professionals, educators, and contractors can all get specialized coverage from Chubb. Chubb offers general liability insurance as well, and you can purchase your policy either as occurrence-form or claims-made, depending on your needs.

But Chubb doesn't offer a streamlined digital application process, unlike some other insurers we reviewed. You’ll have to speak with an agent to start your policy, but working with an agent is often a good idea if you have high or niche coverage needs.

Chubb has very strong ratings, with an A++ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best and high customer satisfaction ratings. The company was ranked second in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Small Commercial Insurance Study and received fewer complaints than expected with the NAIC over a three-year period. The company is a great option for a business owner’s policy (BOP) due to the wide range of coverages it offers. 

You can get an on-demand general liability policy from Thimble starting at just $5 per hour or $17 per month. This is great for certain types of coverage, like insurance for photographers with event-based coverage needs. Thimble also offers a freelancer’s package that includes both general and professional liability insurance, and you can add other coverages as well, including cyber insurance and business equipment insurance.

Coverage from Thimble is occurrence-form, so you’re covered no matter when you bring the claim as long as a covered incident occurred while your policy was in effect.

Thimble’s site is packed with educational resources you can use to make decisions about the type of coverage your business needs. The company has excellent customer service reviews with the Better Business Bureau and on Trustpilot. Thimble works with several insurers to provide its policies, but each has at least an A- (Excellent) financial strength rating with AM Best.

Most coverages are available in all states, but a few states are excluded from event insurance coverage.

Hiscox offers both professional liability (E&O) and medical malpractice insurance for a variety of professionals. It offers aggregate limits that are relatively high compared to other companies, and you can add umbrella coverage through CyberPolicy for an extra layer of protection. Independent contractors who need cyber liability, general liability, or a business owner’s policy can get those coverages from the company as well. 

You can get a quote and buy coverage online, or you can get help from a licensed insurance agent by phone. You can also manage your policy and start a claim online when you’re a policyholder.

Hiscox holds an A (Excellent) financial strength rating from AM Best, highlighting excellent reliability when it comes to paying claims. The insurer also has positive customer reviews on other websites, such as Trustpilot and ConsumerAffairs, but it received a higher number of complaints than expected over a period of two years. This indicates the company may have some issues with customer satisfaction. 

You can get a quote from Huckleberry in just five minutes and apply for coverage entirely online. Policyholders have great things to say about the process on Trustpilot.

Liability policies from Huckleberry are underwritten by Markel, which has an A (Excellent) financial strength rating with AM Best, or Chubb, which is rated A++ (Superior). Depending on your underwriter, however, you may not be able to pay your premiums in monthly payments.

Huckleberry isn't available in Ohio, North Dakota, Wyoming, or Washington.