Pressure washing insurance, built for the trade

What coverage a pressure washer needs

General liability (GL) is the non-negotiable foundation. It pays for third-party bodily injury and property damage from your operations — the customer who slips on a wet driveway, the window cracked by a 0° tip, the siding you etched. Industry averages put GL around $70–$75/month for a small operation (see the cost guide for sources).

Then, depending on your operation:

• Equipment / inland marine (~$31–$35/mo) — your washers, surface cleaners, tanks, and hoses, covered in transit, on the job site, and in storage. Your rig is your revenue; it deserves its own line.
• Commercial auto (~$170–$195/mo per vehicle) — the moment your truck hauls equipment to a job site, your personal auto policy typically excludes it. Trailer included when it's listed.
• Workers' comp (~$102–$130/mo) — required in most states once you have employees, and many commercial clients won't let you on site without it.
• Pollution liability (~$52/mo) — wash water carrying chemicals and detergents into storm drains is a real exposure. Some cities fine operators for polluted runoff. If you soft-wash with chemicals, talk to your agent about this.
• Umbrella (~$63–$67/mo) — extra liability above your GL limits. Cheap peace of mind once you take commercial contracts.

The exclusions nobody warns you about

Honest talk: standard GL has limitations that matter a lot in this trade. We cover them in detail on our "what your GL actually covers" page, but the big three are:

• Care, custody, or control — property you're actively working on can fall into a gray zone. Know where the line is for your exact services.
• Faulty workmanship — if the damage comes from doing the job poorly rather than an accident, GL may not respond.
• Pollution — chemical runoff limitations in some forms. Soft-wash operators, this one is yours to understand.

This isn't fine print to fear — it's the map. Your WashCover agent walks through every one of these for your specific operation before you bind.

What moves your price

• Services: roof work, high-rise, and commercial flatwork price higher than residential driveways.
• Classification: some carriers classify pressure washing as janitorial, others as a contractor trade — different base rates. Getting classified correctly is half the battle, and a trade-fluent agent checks it.
• Revenue and volume: carriers price on gross receipts — more jobs, more exposure.
• Crew: payroll drives workers' comp; 1099 crews raise their own questions.
• Claims history: clean records earn better rates. Prior claims don't disqualify you — they change the conversation.

Do you need insurance to start a pressure washing business?

Legally, it varies by state — but practically, yes, from day one. Property managers, HOAs, and commercial clients routinely require a certificate of insurance before you touch their property. Many operators get their first policy because a job requires a COI by Friday. If you're forming the business, our starter checklist covers the full honest list: entity, EIN, permits, equipment, and insurance.