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Who insures it · 2 named markets · read 2026-10-28

Who insures Contractors with prior losses?

Contractors with prior losses is a risk most standard carriers decline on sight. The markets below say in their own published appetite or program pages that they write it; each line links to that page with the date it was read.

2 markets publicly write Contractors with prior losses: Kinsale Insurance, XINSURANCE. 1 E&S carrier, 1 wholesaler. 1 through surplus lines.

By Sam Alishahi, independent insurance broker

The markets

Who says they write it

From each market's own appetite, product or program page (or a trade article quoting it), read on the date shown. Appetites change: the linked page controls. A market listed here isn't necessarily one this agency is appointed with; a licensed broker reaches most of them directly or through a wholesaler.

MarketWhat they say they writeWherePaperSource
Kinsale Insurance
E&S carrier		Construction Division writes all types of commercial, industrial, residential and specialty trade contractors, including hard-to-place contractors with a poor loss history; five-year loss runs required.
“creatively underwriting your hard-to-place contractors that may have a poor loss history”		not statednot statedkinsaleins.com · read 2026-10-28
XINSURANCE
Wholesaler		Artisan contractor liability, including contractors that have been declined, canceled or non-renewed by an insurance company; product offered by an unlicensed surplus lines insurer.
“Yes, XINSURANCE can help you even if you've been declined, canceled, or non-renewed by an insurance company.”		not statedSurplus linesxinsurance.com · read 2026-10-28

Only 2 verified. Prime (artisan and roofing), BTIS, James River, Amwins, Burns & Wilcox, Nautilus, Western World and Atlas contractor pages name contractors but say nothing about prior losses. Pathfinder domain is parked for sale; Evolution Insurance Brokers (eibdirect.com) points to XINSURANCE; Markel and RPS pages unavailable; web search was unavailable this turn.

How Contractors with prior losses gets placed

Standard markets first where any will look at it; when they won't, the placement goes through surplus lines, where a licensed surplus lines broker places it with an eligible non-admitted insurer and files the state's surplus lines tax and stamping forms. In California, risks on the Department of Insurance export list can go to surplus lines without the usual diligent search of admitted carriers. Surplus lines policies aren't backed by a state guaranty fund, so the insurer's financial rating matters more.

What an underwriter will want before quoting: a full description of the operation, years in business and the owners' experience, revenue or payroll, loss runs (five years where available, currently valued), the contracts or venue requirements that set the limits, and photos or safety plans where the hazard is physical.

I'm licensed in 49 states and Washington, DC and your request stays with my agency, not passed to another agent. In Florida, where my licenses are still being issued, a partner agency in your state helps in the meantime.

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