Insurance for handymen and remodelers. Covered inside your clients' homes.
Handymen and remodelers work inside people's homes, around their plumbing, floors and belongings. We help you register with L&I, carry the coverage your clients and general contractors ask for, and understand what your policy does and doesn't cover.
- General liability and L&I bonds together
- Certificates and additional insureds for clients
- Tools, trailer and vehicle coverage
What handyman and remodeling insurance covers, in plain English
Coverage, limits and exclusions vary by carrier and policy. Your policy documents are what decide a claim, and we walk you through them before you buy.
Do you need to register?
Washington requires contractors who do construction, repair or remodeling work for others to register with L&I. The exemption for small, one-off jobs is narrow, and advertising your services generally means you need to register. L&I can confirm whether your work qualifies.
What L&I requires
General liability of at least $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or a $250,000 combined single limit, plus a contractor bond: $15,000 for specialty contractors or $30,000 for general contractors. L&I decides which category fits your work.
Electrical and plumbing
Electrical and plumbing work need their own state licenses or certifications. Insurance doesn't replace them, and work outside your license can create coverage problems.
Damage in your clients' homes
General liability covers injury to other people and damage to their property caused by your work, like a flooded floor after a fitting fails. Damage to the exact part you're working on, and redoing your own work, are often excluded.
Remodels and additions
On larger remodels, the homeowner's policy may limit coverage during construction. Builder's risk can cover the work in progress and materials on site.
Your vehicle and equipment
Tell your insurer if you use your vehicle for work, because many personal policies exclude business use. Tools and equipment need their own coverage.
Workers' comp and subcontractors
Workers' comp for employees comes from L&I. If you hire subcontractors, collect their certificates of insurance, or your carrier may charge you for them at audit.
Is this you?
- Handymen and small-repair businesses
- Kitchen and bath remodelers
- Painters, flooring and drywall installers
- Deck, fence and siding contractors
- New contractors registering with L&I
Why Rhino
- General liability and L&I bonds together
- Certificates and additional insureds for clients
- Tools, trailer and vehicle coverage
- Help in English, Russian and Ukrainian
Have this ready
- UBI and L&I registration number, if you have one
- The kinds of work you do and roughly how much of each
- Annual revenue, payroll and subcontractor costs
- Any client or general contractor insurance requirements
Three steps, one agent
- 1
Tell us what you need
Use the form, call or text. It takes a couple of minutes.
- 2
We shop several carriers
You see real prices side by side, not one company's offer.
- 3
You're covered
Pick a plan and we handle the paperwork, ID cards and certificates.
Handyman and remodeling questions
Do I need to register with L&I as a handyman?
In most cases, yes. Washington's exemption only covers very small, one-off jobs, and advertising as a handyman generally means you need to register. Check with L&I if you're unsure.
What insurance do I need to register?
General liability of at least $200,000 / $50,000 or a $250,000 combined single limit, plus a contractor bond. See our bond page and contractor bond guide.
If I break a pipe in a client's home, am I covered?
General liability often covers the resulting damage to the client's home, like floors and walls. Repairing the part you were working on, or redoing your own work, is often excluded. It depends on the policy.
My client wants to be an additional insured. Can you do that?
Yes, with an additional insured endorsement and a certificate of insurance. See our certificate of insurance guide.
Can I use my personal truck for jobs?
Tell your insurer. Many personal auto policies exclude or limit business use. A commercial auto policy may be needed. Read commercial vs. personal auto.
Do I need builder's risk for a remodel?
For bigger remodels and additions, often yes, because the homeowner's policy may not cover work in progress. See builder's risk.
Ready when you are.
Talk to a licensed agent at (800) 700-9181, Mon–Fri 9am–6pm PT.