EXCAVATION INSURANCE GROUP
What GL Limits Do Most GCs Require for Excavation Subcontractors?
Excavation Insurance Group explains the typical $1M/$2M baseline and why excavation subcontractors get asked for higher limits more often than other trades.
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Quick answer: Most GCs request a baseline of $1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate, but excavation subcontractors are asked for higher limits far more often than other trades, frequently $2 million per occurrence or more, plus an Umbrella policy stacked on top. Excavation Insurance Group builds coverage to meet the limits your actual bid packets require, not just the industry-standard floor.
WHY EXCAVATION GETS ASKED FOR MORE
GCs and municipal risk managers know excavation carries higher-severity exposure than most trades: a utility strike or trench collapse can generate a claim that blows past a standard $1 million limit fast. That’s why it’s common to see municipal or public infrastructure contracts request $2 million or more, sometimes with a required Umbrella/Excess policy layered on top specifically because the underlying GL isn’t considered sufficient cushion on its own.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOUR LIMITS DON’T MATCH THE CONTRACT
A COI showing limits below what the contract specifies gets kicked back, often with no time left before a job start date to fix it. This is a coverage-design problem, not a paperwork problem: it means the policy wasn’t built with an eye toward the contracts the business is actually bidding.
Back to the General Liability Insurance for Excavation Contractors hub. See also: How Much Does General Liability Insurance Cost for Excavation Contractors?
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