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Selective Insurance Review
New Jersey commercial carrier, founded in 1926, that insures general, heavy and trade contractors through independent agents
Quick verdict
Selective Insurance is best for Contractors in Selective's 36 states and DC, from trade contractors to general and heavy contractors, who want coverage placed through an independent agent. Quote speed: Through a local independent agent. Pricing: Not published; quoted through an independent agent based on trade, payroll, vehicles and exposures. Agent-only with no online purchase, no published pricing, and standard business coverage limited to 36 states plus DC (not California, Texas or Florida).
About Selective Insurance
Selective Insurance is a property and casualty insurer founded in 1926 in Branchville, New Jersey, as Selected Risks Insurance Company. In 2026, its 100th year, it opened a new corporate headquarters in Short Hills, New Jersey. Selective describes itself as a holding company for 10 property and casualty insurance companies, and it sells through independent agents rather than directly to businesses.
Contractors are one of the industries Selective names on its business insurance pages. Its contractors page covers general, heavy and trade contractors, including carpenters, electricians and commercial roofers. The core coverages listed are general liability with blanket additional insured for ongoing and completed operations, commercial auto, inland marine (builders risk, contractor's equipment and installation floaters) and commercial property. Workers compensation, surety bonds, cyber liability, employment practices liability and management liability are listed as add-ons. Selective also offers a business owners policy and a commercial umbrella that it says starts at $1 million and goes up to $25 million.
Selective lists risk control services for contractors, including best-practices assessments, contractual liability consultation, workers compensation cost containment, driver and fleet safety programs, and OSHA 30-hour training. For harder-to-place risks, its affiliate Mesa Underwriters Specialty Insurance Company (MUSIC) writes excess and surplus lines business in all 50 states through wholesale general agents.
Standard business coverage is available only in the states Selective lists: 36 states and the District of Columbia as of September 2026. California, Texas and Florida are not among them, so contractors there cannot buy a standard Selective policy.
The trade-off: Selective is reached only through an independent agent, it does not publish premiums, and its standard commercial footprint leaves out several large states. For contractors in its states who want an agent-placed program with contractor risk control services, it is worth asking an agent to quote.
How it works
Selective sells business insurance through independent agents, and its site has an agent locator. The agent gathers details on your trade, payroll, vehicles, equipment and projects, then quotes coverage such as general liability, commercial auto, inland marine, commercial property, workers compensation, a business owners policy, a commercial umbrella and surety bonds. The agent handles binding, certificates and service. Contractors with complex or high-hazard exposures may instead be placed with Selective's E&S affiliate MUSIC through a wholesale general agent. Premiums are quoted per account; Selective does not publish rates.
Pros & cons
What works
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Dedicated contractor program
Selective's contractors page covers general, heavy and trade contractors, with general liability that includes blanket additional insured for ongoing and completed operations.
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Broad commercial lines
General liability, commercial auto, inland marine (builders risk, contractor's equipment, installation floaters), property, workers compensation, BOP, umbrella and surety bonds are all on Selective's product list.
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Contractor risk control services
Selective lists safety services such as driver and fleet safety programs, OSHA 30-hour training, contractual liability consultation and workers compensation cost containment.
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Long history
Founded in 1926, Selective marked its 100th anniversary and 50th year as a public company in 2026.
What doesn't
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Agent-only
Selective's business pages send buyers to a local independent agent; there is no self-serve online purchase.
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Not in every state
Standard business coverage is offered in 36 states plus DC; California, Texas and Florida are not on Selective's list.
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No published pricing
Premiums are quoted per account through an agent, so you cannot compare prices without an agent's quote.
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Hard-to-place risks go to a separate company
High-hazard or complex contractors may be written by MUSIC, Selective's excess and surplus lines affiliate, through wholesale channels rather than as a standard Selective policy.
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Service depends on the agent
Because Selective works only through independent agents, day-to-day service and certificates run through the agency that places your policy.
Coverage
- Insurance lines
- general liabilityworkers compcommercial autobopumbrellacommercial propertyinland marine
- Geographic coverage
- Standard business insurance in 36 states and the District of Columbia as of September 2026 (California, Texas and Florida are not on Selective's list); its E&S affiliate MUSIC writes in all 50 states through wholesale general agents
- Premiums
- Not published; quoted through an independent agent based on trade, payroll, vehicles and exposures
- Quote speed
- Through a local independent agent
- Trade coverage
- HVACPlumbingElectricalRoofingGeneral ContractorsLandscaping & Lawn CarePaintingHandyman Services
- Affiliate program
- Unknown. No public publisher affiliate program confirmed (agent-distributed carrier).
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 Selective Insurance's current reviews at the source.
Frequently asked
Does Selective Insurance cover contractors?
Yes. Selective's contractors page covers general, heavy and trade contractors, including carpenters, electricians and commercial roofers, with general liability, commercial auto, inland marine and property, plus add-ons such as workers compensation and surety bonds.
How do I get a Selective quote?
Through a local independent agent. Selective's business pages direct buyers to its agent locator rather than an online quote, and it does not publish premiums.
Which states does Selective cover?
For standard business insurance, 36 states and the District of Columbia as of September 2026, including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Georgia and Washington. California, Texas and Florida are not on the list. Its E&S affiliate MUSIC writes in all 50 states through wholesale general agents.
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