Best Liability Insurance for Painters

We scored the top providers based on factors like cost and financial strength

By
Elizabeth Rivelli
Elizabeth Rivelli
Full Bio
Elizabeth Rivelli is an insurance writer passionate about helping people navigate the complex world of insurance to help them make empowered choices.
Learn about our editorial policies
Updated May 22, 2023
Fact checked by
J.R. Duren
Duren
Fact checked by J.R. Duren
Full Bio
J.R. Duren has more than 10 years of experience writing and editing for print and digital media outlets, serving in roles as a marketing writer, reporter, and freelance editor. He serves as an insurance editor for Dotdash Meredith's performance marketing department.
Learn about our editorial policies

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.

As a painter, having the right kind of insurance is important. Many commercial insurance companies sell general liability insurance for painters and other policies. But before you purchase insurance for painters, it’s important to compare a few insurers. To find the best insurance for painting contractors, you should look at factors like cost and financial strength.

We compared eight commercial painting insurance companies and evaluated each provider based on the rate at which the company provides quotes via Insureon (50%), average premium (20%), National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) index (20%), and AM Best rating (10%). See which companies offer the best painter liability insurance. 

Best Liability Insurance for Painters of 2023

Best for Low-Premium Interior/Exterior Policy : Nationwide

Nationwide insurance name and logo, a blue N with an eagle flying in front of it
Get a Quote
Why We Chose It

Out of the eight insurance companies we analyzed, Nationwide had the lowest average premium for policies that cover interior and exterior painting.

Pros & Cons
Pros

  • Most affordable average interior/exterior premiums

  • A+ AM Best rating

  • Lower complaint rate than expected for a company of its size

Cons

  • Average quote rate

Overview

Nationwide has the cheapest average premiums for interior/exterior liability insurance for painters, according to data from Insureon. The average premium is $846 per year, which is considerably lower than all but one other insurance company we researched.

Nationwide also stands out for its third-party ratings. Nationwide has an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best and an NAIC index of 0.62 for liability insurance, which means it has fewer complaints than expected for its size.

Nationwide’s quote rate for interior/exterior policies is 65%, which falls somewhere in the middle compared to the other seven companies we scored that offer interior/exterior policies.

Plan Pricing

Below is the average Nationwide annual premium for painters insurance, according to data from Insureon:

  • Interior/exterior policy: $846

Best for Exterior Painters Policies : Rockingham Casualty Company

Rockingham Casualty Company
Rockingham Casualty Company.
Get a Quote
Why We Chose It

Rockingham Casualty Company has the highest quote rate for its exterior-only painters liability insurance policies.

Pros & Cons
Pros

  • Lower rate of complaints than expected

  • Affordable average premium

  • High quote rate

Cons

  • Lower AM Best score than other insurers

Overview 

Rockingham Casualty Company is the best option for painters who want an exterior-only general liability insurance policy. Its quote rate for exterior policies is 75%, which was the second highest among the six companies we reviewed that offer exterior-only policies.

The company also has fewer complaints than expected for its size and relatively affordable premiums. The average premium for an exterior-only policy is $1,380 per year, which was the second-lowest average premium in the exterior-only group we analyzed. 

Rockingham Casualty has an A- (Excellent) financial strength rating from AM Best. While this rating is still considered good, it’s a lower rating than the other best painters liability insurance companies we reviewed.

Plan Pricing

Below are average Rockingham annual premiums, according to data from Insureon:

  • Interior/exterior policy: $3,200
  • Interior-only policy: $4,606
  • Exterior-only policy: $1,380

Best for High Policy Quote Rate : Contractors Bonding and Insurance Company

RLI Insurance
RLI Insurance.
Get a Quote
Why We Chose It

Contractors Bonding and Insurance Company has the highest quote rate across the board for its painters general liability insurance policies. 

Pros & Cons
Pros

  • Very good quote rate

  • Excellent financial strength score

Cons

  • High complaint rate for a company of its size

  • Average premiums are high for interior-only plans

Overview

Contractors Bonding and Insurance Company (CBIC), which is owned by RLI, has the highest quote rate of the companies that sell insurance for painters. 

For interior/exterior policies, the company’s quote rate is 88%. For interior-only policies, the quote rate is 80%. The highest quote rate is for the company’s exterior-only policies, which is at 90%. It was the only company of the eight we analyzed that had an quote rate of at least 80%.

The cost of painters liability insurance from CBIC is average compared to the other insurers we reviewed. The company has an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best, but it has more than twice as many complaints as expected for its size.

Plan Pricing

Below are average CBIC annual premiums, according to data from Insureon:

  • Interior/exterior policy: $1,699
  • Interior-only policy: $2,002
  • Exterior-only policy: $1,659

Best for Interior Painters Policies : Acuity

Acuity
Acuity.
Get a Quote
Why We Chose It

If you’re looking for interior-only painters liability insurance, Acuity is a good provider to consider because it has low average premiums and few company complaints.

Pros & Cons
Pros

  • Lowest NAIC index

  • Cheapest average rates for interior-only policies

  • Good financial strength rating

Cons

  • Low quote rate

Overview

Acuity is an excellent provider to consider if you want an interior-only painters liability insurance policy. It had the lowest average premiums for interior-only coverage out of the companies we reviewed.

On average, an interior-only painters general liability insurance policy costs $956 per year. Acuity also has the lowest rates for exterior-only policies, with an average rate of $944 per year.

Another benefit of Acuity is that it has the lowest complaint index of the six insurers we reviewed for exterior policies. Acuity’s complaint index is .52, which is much lower than the industry average of 1.0. It has also an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best.

The biggest downside of Acuity is that it doesn’t have the best quote rate—41% for interior/exterior and exterior-only policies, and 43% for interior-only policies.

Plan Pricing

Below are average Acuity annual premiums, according to data from Insureon:

  • Interior/exterior policy: $946
  • Interior-only policy: $956
  • Exterior-only policy: $944

Final Verdict

Finding the best insurance for a painting company requires researching and comparing a few different companies. Every painter has different insurance needs, so the best painters liability insurance will be different for every business or contractor.

For example, if you want an interior/exterior policy, Nationwide is a good provider to consider. It has the lowest rates for interior/exterior coverage, and it has few complaints. However, if you want an exterior-only policy, Rockingham Casualty Company has the cheapest rates and the best quote rate. And, if you’re looking for a company that gives you the best chance at getting a policy, Contractors Bonding and Insurance Company may be a good choice.

More Ratings of Top Commercial Insurance Companies


Frequently Asked Questions

  • How Do You Get Painters Insurance?

    You can purchase painters insurance from a company that sells commercial insurance policies. Many insurance companies allow you to get a quote and apply for painters insurance online. After submitting information about your business, you can choose your coverage types and policy limits and purchase coverage. 

  • What Insurance Do You Need as a Painter?

    Painters are often required to have certain types of insurance. For example, if your business has employees, you must carry workers’ compensation. If you drive to jobs in a business-owned vehicle, you may need to get commercial auto insurance. Other types of coverage, like tools and equipment insurance, may be optional.

  • How Much Is Liability Insurance for Painters?

    The cost of painters liability insurance depends on the type of policy you choose (interior, exterior, or both in one), your coverage limits, and the insurance company. Based on our sample rate quotes from Insureon, the average premium for an interior/exterior policy ranges from $846 to $3,200 per year. For comparison, the average premium for an interior-only policy ranges from $956 to $4,606 per year.

  • Do Painters Need to Be Licensed and Insured?

    Some states and local municipalities require a license and insurance for all painters. In other states, painters are only required to be licensed and insured if they’re getting paid over a certain amount of money for a project.

Methodology

To find the best liability insurance for painters, we reviewed eight insurance companies using our unique scoring system. We identified important categories and assigned a weighted percentage to each category. The criteria we looked at included:

Quote Rate Score (50%)

We considered the quote rate for each company’s painters insurance policies. We gathered ratings for interior/exterior, interior-only, and exterior-only policies.

Average Premium (20%)

When shopping for painters liability insurance, cost is usually one of the biggest considerations. We collected average rates for exterior/interior policies, interior-only policies, and exterior-only policies for each company.

NAIC Index (20%)

The (NAIC) Complaint Index measures the share of complaints an insurer has in its industry against the share of complaints it receives in its industry.

AM Best Rating (10%)

AM Best is a credit rating agency that assigns letter grades to companies based on their financial stability. For an insurance company, a good AM Best rating indicates that the company can repay policyholders after a claim.

Manual worker painting wall

Tetra Images / Getty Images
Article Sources
Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.

  1. AM Best. “AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Its Key Operating Subsidiaries.”

  2. AM Best. “A.M. Best Upgrades Ratings of Rockingham Casualty Company.”

  3. RLI Corp. “AM Best Affirms A+ (Superior) Rating for RLI Corp., RLI Insurance Co., Mt. Hawley Insurance Co. and Contractors Bonding and Insurance Co.”

  4. AM Best. “AM Best Affirms Financial Strength Credit Rating for Acuity, A Mutual Insurance Company; Revises ICR Outlook to Negative.”

  5. Small Business Administration. “Get Business Insurance.”