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Hiscox Review
Specialty insurer with Lloyd's roots going back to 1901, selling general liability, professional liability (E&O), BOP and cyber to US small businesses online and through brokers
Quick verdict
Hiscox is best for Contractors and trade businesses that need professional liability (E&O) alongside general liability, a BOP or cyber coverage, and want to buy online or through a broker. Quote speed: Online quote at hiscox.com (Hiscox advertises an instant quote) or through a broker. Pricing: Quoted per business. Workers' comp and some other coverage come from partner carriers, premiums only by quote, and trades with vehicles or large tool inventories need to check how those risks are covered.
About Hiscox
Hiscox is an international specialty insurance group listed on the London Stock Exchange. Its head office, Hiscox Ltd, is in Pembroke, Bermuda, and it has a large office in London. Hiscox says it traces its roots to 1901 in the Lloyd's market. It insured US customers through Lloyd's for many years before opening its own US insurance company in 2006, and it says it now works from ten US locations, including Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and New York, and insures customers anywhere in the country.
For US small businesses, Hiscox sells general liability, professional liability (also called errors and omissions, or E&O), business owner's policies (BOP) and cyber insurance, and it has pages aimed at contractors and construction businesses. Hiscox says other coverage, such as workers' compensation, is available through partnerships with other carriers, so that part of your insurance would be written by a different company.
Hiscox sells both online and through brokers. On hiscox.com you enter your zip code and answer questions about your business to get a quote. Its contractor pages focus on professional and general liability, and Hiscox describes its professional liability as protection for contractors against claims of negligence, faulty workmanship and more.
The trade-off: the policies Hiscox writes itself center on liability, professional liability, BOP and cyber. A trade business that also needs workers' comp, commercial auto or tools coverage may end up with more than one insurer, and premiums come only from a quote, so compare Hiscox with a carrier or broker that can quote the whole program.
How it works
Start a quote on hiscox.com by entering your zip code and answering questions about your business; Hiscox advertises an instant online quote. You can buy online or through a broker who places business with Hiscox. Hiscox writes general liability, professional liability, BOP and cyber itself; for workers' comp and some other coverage it offers policies from partner carriers. Before you buy, check the limits, additional insured options and exclusions against what your customers' contracts require.
Pros & cons
What works
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Long history
Hiscox traces its roots to 1901 in the Lloyd's market.
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Professional liability (E&O) for contractors
Hiscox sells professional liability alongside general liability and describes it as protecting contractors against claims of negligence and faulty workmanship. That is worth a look for design-build, inspection, consulting or project management work.
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Buy online or through a broker
Hiscox says its small business insurance is available online or through brokers, so you can buy yourself or get advice from a broker.
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BOP and cyber from the same insurer
Besides liability and E&O, Hiscox writes business owner's policies and cyber insurance, so an office-based or low-risk trade business can keep several policies with one company.
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Nationwide US reach
Hiscox opened its own US insurance company in 2006 and says it insures customers anywhere in the country.
What doesn't
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Workers' comp comes from partner carriers
Hiscox says coverage such as workers' compensation is available through partnerships with other carriers, so a shop with employees will deal with a second insurer for that policy.
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No published prices
Premiums come only from a quote, so compare Hiscox's price with other carriers or a broker for the same limits.
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Check vehicle and tools coverage
The lines Hiscox writes itself are general liability, professional liability, BOP and cyber. Shops that run vans or carry expensive tools should confirm how those risks would be covered and by which insurer.
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Confirm your trade is written
Hiscox's contractor pages focus on professional and general liability. Confirm during the quote that Hiscox writes your specific trade and the limits your contracts require.
Coverage
- Insurance lines
- general liabilityprofessional liabilitybopcyber
- Geographic coverage
- Hiscox says its US insurance company insures customers anywhere in the country; confirm during the quote that the line you need is offered for your trade and state
- Premiums
- Quoted per business
- Quote speed
- Online quote at hiscox.com (Hiscox advertises an instant quote) or through a broker
- Trade coverage
- General ContractorsElectricalPlumbingHandyman ServicesLandscaping & Lawn CareCleaning ServicesPest Control
- Affiliate program
- cj. ~$25 per qualified quote via Commission Junction, 30-day cookie.
Reviews and complaints at the source
We do not copy third-party review scores onto this page: they change often and we could not verify them. Read Hiscox's current reviews at the source.
Frequently asked
Who is Hiscox?
Hiscox is an international specialty insurance group listed on the London Stock Exchange, with its head office in Pembroke, Bermuda. It traces its roots to 1901 in the Lloyd's market and opened its own US insurance company in 2006.
What coverage can a contractor buy from Hiscox?
Hiscox writes general liability, professional liability (E&O), business owner's policies and cyber insurance for US small businesses. It says workers' compensation and some other coverage are available through partner carriers.
How much does Hiscox cost?
Hiscox quotes premiums per business. Get a quote online or through a broker and compare it with other carriers for the same limits.
How is Hiscox different from ERGO NEXT?
Both sell small-business insurance online. Hiscox writes general liability, professional liability, BOP and cyber itself and offers workers' comp through partner carriers; ERGO NEXT's company description lists general liability, BOP, workers' comp and professional liability. Get quotes from both for the same limits and compare the coverage, not only the price.
Other insurance providers
ERGO NEXT (formerly NEXT Insurance)
Tier ADigital small-business insurer, renamed ERGO NEXT in 2026 and owned by Munich Re's ERGO, selling general liability, BOP, workers' comp and professional liability online and through agents
Simply Business
Tier AOnline insurance marketplace owned by Travelers: one application, quotes from several carriers, buy online
Insureon
Tier AOnline insurance agency owned by Hub International since 2022: one application, quotes from several carriers, licensed agents on call
Thimble
Tier ADigital MGA owned by Arch Insurance since 2023: liability coverage by the job, month or year, bought online, in its app or by phone
The Hartford
Tier AHartford, Connecticut insurer dating to 1810 that sells small business policies online, by phone and through independent agents
Travelers
Tier APublicly traded property and casualty insurer (NYSE: TRV) that sells business insurance through independent agents and brokers, and owns the online broker Simply Business