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Contractors All Risks (CAR) Insurance: Definition & Meaning

Updated: February 6, 2023

Contracting jobs come with plenty of risks. There’s always the possibility of accidental damage during these jobs. So there needs to exist insurance to cover the construction industry.

This is where Contractors’ All-Risks (CAR) Insurance comes in. This is a non-standard policy. It’s designed to provide coverage for third-party injury and damage claims. Construction projects often need three types of coverage:

  • Physical damage due to improper construction
  • Damages involving temporary work
  • Damage during renovations

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    KEY TAKEAWAYS

    • Contractors’ all-risks insurance covers damage to property and third-party injuries. These are the main types of risks associated with a construction project.
    • Property damage can stem from poor construction and damage during renovations or temporary work.
    • These policies also cover injuries to subcontractors and other third parties.

    What Is Contractors’ All Risks (CAR) Insurance?

    A Contractors’ All-Risk Insurance Policy protects contractors from lawsuits resulting from their work. The policy also covers any business associates and subcontractors. They are also subject to injury on the job site.

    Like most types of insurance, it can help protect you from financial ruin in the event that accidents occur on the job site and result in damages.

    Contractors and employers will usually take out a joint CAR policy. And because there is more than one party in the policy, each one can file their own claim against the insurer. That said, all parties must report injuries or damages that could be a claim to the insurer.

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    Why Is Contractors’ All-Risk Insurance Necessary?

    There are many potential damages and injuries that can occur on construction sites. Moreover, there are many variables that you must take into consideration. And there are many different types of projects that CAR covers. Some of these variables and projects include:

    • Damages caused by subcontractors
    • Sewage treatment facilities
    • Subcontractor injuries
    • Accidental damages
    • Water tanks
    • Flyovers
    • Airports

    Due to such potentialities, contractors need extensive insurance cover options. Contractors All-Risk Insurance provides that coverage and protects them in many instances. What’s more, many such instances aren’t covered by conventional insurance policies.

    So if an employee suffers a bodily injury in the construction sector, insurance will protect them. Moreover, you don’t need a separate policy for such injuries.

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    Summary

    Thanks to Contractors’ All-Risk Insurance, construction companies have legal protection. If there’s an accident and damages occur, the company has insurance coverage.

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    Frequently Asked Questions about Contractors' All-Risks Insurance

    Is contractors' all-risk insurance the same as liability insurance?

    Liability insurance can offer coverage to a construction company well after the completion of the job. All-risks insurance has limits by comparison. The latter ends when the job ends.

    How do I get a contractor all-risk policy?

    Ask your insurance company about insurance programs that cover your profession. Find out the extent of their coverage, as well. And make sure they offer an all-risk type of policy.

    What is not covered under all-risk insurance?

    War, earthquakes, pollution, infestation, and nuclear hazards. Lesser factors like normal wear and tear, market loss, and government seizure are also not covered.

    Is theft covered under contractors' all-risk insurance?

    Yes. Theft is part of contractors’ all-risk insurance. Also included are weather, fire, repairs to unfinished work, and vandalism.

    What insurances should a building contractor have?

    While not contractors will carry the same insurance, the most common include:

    • Equipment and tools
    • Professional liability
    • Commercial auto
    • General liability
    • Workers’ comp
    • Surety bonds
    • All-risks

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