Electrical contractor insurance in California

Fire is the claim electricians are insured for

Most electrical claims come down to one thing: fire. A loose connection, an overloaded circuit, or a wire nicked inside a wall can start a fire weeks or months later. By then the drywall is closed, the owner has moved in, and the loss can be the whole house.

The risks underwriters ask electricians about:

• Fire after the job. Bad terminations, wrong wire size, a panel overloaded by new circuits. This is why completed operations coverage matters so much in this trade.
• Shock and electrocution of others. A homeowner, a tenant or another trade on site touching a live circuit you left open.
• Property damage on site. Cutting into walls, ceilings and finished surfaces, and hitting plumbing or gas lines while drilling.
• Power surges and equipment damage. Damage to a customer's appliances, computers or business equipment after a service change or panel swap.
• Work at height. Ladders and lifts for lighting, service drops and commercial ceilings.

Low voltage, line voltage and service calls

The type of electrical work you do changes how a policy is written.

• Low voltage. Data, alarm, cameras, audio and lighting controls. Usually seen as lower risk than line voltage work, but tell the agent exactly what you install.
• Residential line voltage. Rewires, panel upgrades, service changes, EV chargers, remodels. Fire risk in occupied homes is the focus.
• Commercial and industrial. Higher voltage, bigger services, lifts and larger crews. GCs on these jobs want additional insured status and completed operations coverage.
• Service calls. Troubleshooting and repair in many different homes and businesses. Lots of small jobs means lots of exposure, and service and repair contracts carry their own insurance notice under California law.

Answer the quote questions the way you really work. A policy written for low voltage only will not fit a panel upgrade.

Solar work changes the conversation

If you install or service solar panels, batteries or inverters, say so up front. Solar work can affect which programs will write you and how the policy is priced. Roof penetrations bring roof leak and water claims into an electrical policy, and battery systems add fire questions.

Some programs exclude solar entirely, some limit it to a share of your work, and some write it with extra questions. A licensed agent can help match a solar contractor with a program that fits. Call or text (877) 940-4313, or start the online quote and mention it in your answers.

What GCs and homeowners ask electricians for

• A certificate of insurance (COI) showing your general liability and limits.
• $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate. The limits most GCs write into subcontracts.
• Additional insured. Being a certificate holder is not the same as being an additional insured. GCs usually want to be named additional insured, often with primary and non-contributory wording and a waiver of subrogation.
• Proof of workers' comp if you have employees, or the exemption you filed with CSLB if you do not.

Once your policy is in force, Aster sends the certificate to your GC. See our certificate of insurance guide.

Exclusions electricians should read for

• Solar or battery exclusions. Check whether solar, battery storage and roof work are covered, limited or excluded.
• Voltage limits. Some policies only cover work up to a certain voltage, or exclude utility-side and high-voltage work.
• Residential-only or commercial-only limits. Make sure the policy matches your jobs.
• Completed operations. Confirm it is included. Electrical fires often happen long after you finish.
• Subcontractor requirements. If you use subs, many policies require them to carry their own insurance.

GL never covers injuries to your own workers (workers' comp), your own tools and testers, your vans (commercial auto), or the cost to redo your own faulty work. It covers the damage your work causes to others. Every quote on the board lists what is included and excluded.

CSLB rules and the online quote for C-10 electricians

• Workers' comp. Every licensee files a workers' comp certificate or an exemption with CSLB. Workers' comp for all licensees is set for January 1, 2028. See our workers' comp 2028 guide.
• The $25,000 license bond. Every licensee carries it. It is not insurance.
• LLC licences. An LLC must carry liability insurance with at least a $1,000,000 aggregate if 5 or fewer people are on the licence, plus a $100,000 worker-wage bond. See the LLC requirement.
• Contract notice. Home improvement and service and repair contracts must state whether you carry commercial general liability insurance, with the insurer and phone number if you do.

For non-LLC electricians, CSLB does not require GL by law but strongly recommends it.

How the quote works: enter your C-10 license number and we find your business in the CSLB public record. Confirm you are the owner and answer about a minute of tap-to-answer questions. The quote board shops A-rated programs live, and prices arrive one by one with the deductible, limits, and what is included and excluded. Tap "Submit for approval" and a licensed agent handles it. Approval usually takes 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the insurance company. The final quote is emailed to sign. Nothing is bound until you sign. See what drives GL cost or compare other trades.