Contractor Insurance in Austin, Texas

Whether you're painting homes in East Austin, remodeling kitchens in Allandale or framing new houses out in Leander and Georgetown, your insurance does two jobs. It lets you register and pull permits with the city, and it gets you onto job sites where the general contractor wants proof of coverage before you unload a tool. Here's what Travis and Williamson County contractors need for both.

Step 1: Register with the City of Austin

Texas has no state license for general contractors, painters, carpenters or drywall installers. But the City of Austin requires every contractor to register before being assigned to a building or trade permit:

• General contractors: a one-time registration in the Austin Build + Connect portal, no state license needed.

• Electricians, plumbers and HVAC: a state trade license plus city registration, updated every year.

• TDLR-licensed electrical contractors: general liability of at least $300,000 per occurrence, $600,000 aggregate and $300,000 products and completed operations.

• Sidewalks, driveways and excavation in the public right-of-way: a city ROW license with a $10,000 bond and $500,000 per occurrence general liability that includes XCU and names the city as additional insured.

• Irrigation systems: Texas requires a TCEQ-licensed irrigator.

We prepare the certificate each registration asks for and track your renewal dates.

Step 2: Meet what general contractors ask for

City registration lets you work. It rarely wins you the contract. Most Austin-area builders and general contractors ask subs for:

• $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate general liability

• Additional insured status for the GC (and often the owner)

• A waiver of subrogation and primary/non-contributory wording

• Proof of workers' comp, even though Texas doesn't require it

We quote both minimum and contract-ready limits so you can compare the cost of each.

Step 3: Workers' comp in Texas

Texas is the only state where most private employers can choose not to carry workers' comp. Without it, you lose key legal defenses if an injured worker sues, and you have to notify the state and your employees. Most Austin builders require it anyway, and on public projects every sub must certify coverage in writing. We compare private carriers, with Texas Mutual as the backstop for trades others won't write.

Step 4: The coverage that protects your trucks and tools

• Commercial auto. Your personal policy may not cover an accident while you're driving for work, including that daily run on I-35, MoPac or 183.

• Tools and equipment (inland marine). Covers theft of your generator, compressor and hand tools from the job site or your truck, which is common on new subdivision sites.

• Builders risk. Protects the structure and materials during construction, including hail, which damages Central Texas job sites every spring.

Contractor insurance by trade in Austin

• General contractors and remodelers: general liability with completed operations, builders risk and certificates for each builder.

• Painters: general liability that covers overspray and damage to the client's property, plus help with the EPA's lead paint rules on homes built before 1978.

• Carpenters and framers: fairly priced workers' comp with the right classification, since falls drive the premium.

• Electricians: a policy that meets TDLR minimums and each builder's requirements.

• Drywall: general liability and workers' comp for crews working several sites at once.

• Landscaping and irrigation: general liability, commercial auto for trailers and equipment, and certificates for HOAs.

• Roofers: one of the hardest trades to insure; we work with carriers that want roofing.

Get covered in Austin

Hard Hat Insurance is the marketing division of Bearstar Insurance Services, licensed in Texas (#2964780). Get a free quote or call (949) 868-7350. Se habla español.

Related: Texas contractor insurance · Texas roofing contractor insurance · Texas excavation contractor insurance

Contact

(949) 868-7350

Email

Call

info@hardhatinsurance.net

Hard Hat Insurance is a specialized marketing division of Bearstar Insurance Services.
Insurance services provided by Bearstar Insurance Services.
Jesus Galvan is a licensed insurance broker in CA, ID, NV, OR, TX and WA, serving contractors in AZ, CO and across the western U.S. California License #4291921.
Other license numbers available upon request. Coverage availability varies by state.

© 2026. All rights reserved.

Se habla español: ver el sitio en español