Utility & Underground Contractor Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages an utility & underground contractor 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 water, sewer, gas-distribution, and underground utility contractors. Priorities reflect typical exposure.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Liability (No Underground Exclusion) | Covers damage to buried lines — confirm no explosion, collapse, or underground (XCU) exclusion. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation | Covers crews in trenches — collapse deaths rose again in 2025. | Core | |
| Commercial Auto | Covers trucks and equipment on the road. | Core | |
| Contractors Pollution | Covers sewage spills during bypass pumping and releases from damaged lines. | Prevalent | |
| Inland Marine (Equipment) | Covers excavators, drills, and trench boxes. | Prevalent | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Adds limits for a gas-line explosion or fatal collapse. | Prevalent |
The coverage gap most often missed
The most commonly missed gap for this class is the underground exclusion. Some general liability policies exclude or limit damage to buried property — the exact loss when a crew hits a water, gas, or power line — while buried-utility damage hit a record high in 2025. Contractors should confirm no XCU exclusion applies and add pollution coverage for sewer and bypass work.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your utility & underground contractor coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Utility & Underground Contractor Insurance · Utility & Underground Contractor Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does an utility & underground contractor business need?
The core coverages for an utility & underground contractor business are General Liability (No Underground Exclusion), Workers' Compensation, Commercial 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 utility & underground contractor 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.