Private Investigator Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a private investigator business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for private investigators and investigative agencies. Priorities reflect typical exposure; confirm against case types and surveillance methods.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Liability (E&O) | Covers invasion of privacy, defamation, and errors in investigations. | Core | |
| Commercial General Liability | Covers bodily injury and property damage during field work. | Core | |
| Cyber Liability | Covers case files and subject data. | Prevalent | |
| Hired & Non-Owned Auto | Covers investigators driving their own cars for surveillance. | Core | |
| Firearms / Armed Coverage | Needed if investigators carry — often excluded. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The most commonly missed gap for this class is professional liability that covers privacy claims. Surveillance methods that are legal in one state can be crimes in another — Oklahoma made covert GPS tracking a stalking offense after a legislator found an investigator's tracker on his truck, and he sued. Many policies exclude intentional acts or illegal surveillance. A written state-by-state compliance manual and screening of domestic cases are the core defenses.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your private investigator coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Private Investigator Insurance · Private Investigator Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a private investigator business need?
The core coverages for a private investigator business are Professional Liability (E&O), Commercial General Liability, Hired & Non-Owned Auto. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my private investigator coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.