Well Drilling Contractor Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a well drilling 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 well, geothermal, monitoring well, and pump service contractors. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual work and equipment.
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 (incl. | Completed Ops) Covers property damage and injury from drilling and finished wells. | Core | |
| Contractor's Pollution Liability | Covers aquifer contamination and drilling fluid releases — excluded from GL. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation / Employer's Liability | Covers drillers and helpers around rigs and power lines. | Core | |
| Commercial Auto | Covers rigs, water trucks, and pump hoists on public roads. | Core | |
| Contractor's Equipment (Inland Marine) | Covers drilling rigs and tooling against fire, rollover, and theft. | Core | |
| Underground Resources & Utility Damage | Covers strikes of buried utilities and damage to aquifers — often limited. | Prevalent | |
| Contractor's Professional Liability | Needed if you design wells or select pumps and treatment. | Situational | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Adds limits for serious accidents and municipal contracts. | Prevalent | |
| Downhole Tools / Lost-in-Hole | Covers tools lost or stuck in the borehole. | Situational | |
| Surety Bonds | License and performance bonds required in many states. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by well drillers is underground damage. General liability usually excludes pollution and may limit damage below the surface, so a contaminated aquifer or a neighbor's well that goes dry can fall outside coverage — eight Alabama residents sued after drilling struck the aquifer feeding their wells. Add contractor's pollution coverage, confirm underground resources coverage, and grout every well to state standards.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your well drilling contractor coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Well Drilling Contractor Insurance · Well Drilling Contractor Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a well drilling contractor business need?
The core coverages for a well drilling contractor business are General Liability (incl., Contractor's Pollution Liability, Workers' Compensation / Employer's Liability, Commercial Auto, Contractor's Equipment (Inland Marine). 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 well drilling 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.