Alishahi InsuranceIndependent Insurance Broker
Contractors installing a metal roof on a beachside structure
HVAC Contractor Insurance · C-20

HVAC insurance that keeps the license active.

Workers' compensation, general liability, tools, commercial auto and CSLB bonds for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning contractors.

By Sam Alishahi · CA Insurance License #4348151 · Reviewed October 2026 · How this page is researched

Get a Quote Call (424) 552-4545
How it works

C-20 licensees must carry workers' comp

California requires C-20 HVAC licensees to carry workers' compensation whether or not they have employees. Without it, the license is suspended.

HVAC work also brings liability exposures: fire from brazing, water damage from condensate lines, and carbon monoxide from furnace work. I place HVAC contractors with carriers that write the trade and keep the certificates coming.

  • Workers' compRequired for every C-20 license.
  • General liabilityDamage to customers' property and injuries.
  • Tools and equipmentGauges, recovery machines and inventory.
  • Commercial autoService vans and trucks.
Who I help

HVAC situations I'm called for

License suspended for no workers' comp

A policy bound and the certificate filed with CSLB. The 2028 workers’ comp change

Residential service and replacement

Liability rated for service work.

Commercial and rooftop units

Crane lifts and rooftop work disclosed.

Refrigeration

Commercial refrigeration contractors.

Tools and inventory

Equipment on the truck and at the shop. See details

License bond

CSLB contractor license bonds. See details

Before you call

What underwriters will ask

Having these ready means I can go to market on the first call. The quote form asks for the same things, and anything you don’t know yet can wait.

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  • License: CSLB number and classifications.
  • Work: residential, commercial, service or new installs.
  • Payroll: employees, payroll and subcontractor costs.
  • Vehicles: service vans and trucks.
  • Revenue: annual gross receipts.
  • History: current policies and loss runs.
Questions

HVAC contractor insurance, answered

Do HVAC contractors need workers' comp with no employees?

Yes. CSLB requires C-20 licensees to carry workers' compensation whether or not they have employees.

Does liability cover a water leak from my install?

Liability can cover damage to other property caused by your work. It typically doesn't pay to redo the work itself.

Are my tools covered in the van?

Only with tools and equipment coverage. Commercial auto covers the vehicle, not the tools inside it.

Can a new HVAC company get insurance?

Yes. Experience in the trade before starting your company helps.

Do you offer HVAC contractor insurance outside California?

Yes. Clients across the country send the same quote form. California policies are placed directly; outside California the request is handled together with a partner agency in your state, and the shopping across carriers works the same way. Rules, minimums and markets differ by state — see insurance requirements by state.

Related

Often placed alongside this

Coverage

Contractor insurance

Workers’ comp and liability that clear the contract.

See coverage Coverage

Workers’ comp insurance

Required coverage for California employers.

See coverage Coverage

Contractor license bonds

CSLB contractor bonds and related surety bonds.

See coverage

Questions people ask: What is additional insured on a contractor policy? Do subcontractors need their own insurance in California? What is a certificate of insurance?

Also covered with this: Plumber insurance

By state: Insurance requirements by state

CSLB’s license file lists 12,179 active California licenses with the C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning classification. C-20 is one of the classifications CSLB requires to carry workers’ comp even with no employees, and only 17 show an exemption. Workers’ comp by trade and county.

HVAC contractor insurance

Send your license number. I'll shop it.

Your CSLB number, payroll and revenue are enough to start.

Get a Quote Call (424) 552-4545

Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, California License #4348151. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage; coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued. Some policies may be placed with nonadmitted (surplus lines) insurers, which are not members of the California Insurance Guarantee Association (CIGA).

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Tell me how to reach you. I’ll take it from there.

Takes about 30 seconds. I review every request personally and call you back, usually the same day.

(424) 552-4545

Answered 24/7 · CA License #4348151

Only your name, phone and email are required; every question here is optional. Sending this form doesn’t bind coverage; coverage starts only when I confirm it in writing.

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