Hiring a Lawn Care Company: What Insurance Coverage Should They Have?

When homeowners search for professional lawn care services, they typically focus on service offerings, pricing, and scheduling availability. However, one critical aspect often overlooked is insurance coverage. Understanding what insurance a lawn care company should carry protects both the property owner and the service provider from potentially serious financial consequences.

The Basics: General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance serves as essential protection for any legitimate lawn care business. This coverage addresses accidents that might occur on a client’s property, such as damage to windows from rocks thrown by mowers, broken sprinkler heads during edging, or injuries sustained by visitors who trip over equipment left on walkways.

Every reputable lawn care company should maintain this coverage with limits of at least $1 million per occurrence. Homeowners shouldn’t hesitate to request proof of this insurance – established professionals expect this inquiry and typically provide documentation promptly.

Insurance professionals specializing in lawn care insurance recommend that homeowners verify coverage limits match the scale and scope of services being provided on their property.

A simple question like, “Can you provide a certificate of insurance showing your general liability coverage?” helps identify legitimate operations. Professional lawn care providers will readily share this information, while those who make excuses or show reluctance may be best avoided.

Worker Protection: What Happens If Someone Gets Hurt?

Consider this scenario: a lawn care worker slips on wet grass while operating equipment on a property. Without proper coverage, the homeowner could face significant liability. Workers’ compensation insurance covers medical expenses and lost wages for injured employees, protecting both the workers and the property owners.

Requirements for workers’ compensation vary by state and company size. Smaller operations with just the owner might be exempt in some jurisdictions, but any company with employees should maintain this coverage.

Many lawn care professionals acknowledge that while workers’ compensation policies represent a substantial business expense, they provide essential protection. One serious accident could financially devastate both a small company and potentially create legal complications for clients.

Vehicle Coverage: More Than Just Driving

Standard personal auto insurance typically excludes commercial use. When lawn care professionals bring trucks and equipment onto private property, they need comprehensive commercial auto insurance.

This distinction becomes critical when incidents occur, such as a trailer becoming unhitched and damaging property, or a company truck accidentally backing into a garage door. Personal auto policies generally deny claims involving business-related activities.

Homeowners should specifically ask: “Does your commercial auto policy cover damage that might happen on my property?” The answer should include mention of a business auto policy with appropriate coverage limits.

Specialized Coverage for Lawn Care Services

For comprehensive lawn care services, additional insurance types become relevant:

Equipment insurance: When a lawn care company’s mower, edger, or blower malfunctions during service, proper insurance helps them replace it quickly without causing service interruptions or cutting corners to manage costs.

Herbicide/pesticide application coverage: For companies that offer weed control or pest management services, specialized environmental liability insurance protects against accidental misapplication or drift that could damage ornamental plants, neighboring properties, or cause health concerns.

Completed operations coverage: This ensures protection against claims that arise after the lawn care service is completed, such as improper fertilization that later causes lawn damage or drainage problems from improper aeration.

Generally, lawn care providers with comprehensive insurance coverage often demonstrate higher standards of professionalism throughout their operations. The investment in proper insurance reflects a commitment to legitimate business practices that protect both the company and its clients.

Practical Tips for Verification

Homeowners can verify insurance coverage without creating uncomfortable situations by:

1. Addressing insurance requirements early in conversations with potential lawn care providers
2. Requesting a certificate of insurance – a standard document issued by insurance companies that lists coverage types, policy numbers, and expiration dates
3. Asking to be listed as an “additional insured” for regular service clients, which extends certain protections to the property owner
4. Watching for red flags including expired policies, inadequate coverage amounts (under $1 million for general liability), or reluctance to provide documentation

Dismissive responses like, “We’ve never had an accident” should immediately raise concerns about a company’s professionalism and reliability.

Understanding Cost Implications

Properly insured lawn care companies typically charge 10-15% more than those without comprehensive coverage. However, homeowners should consider the potential costs of hiring underinsured help:

• Out-of-pocket expenses for property damage
• Potential liability if someone sustains injuries
• Increased homeowner’s insurance premiums after filing claims
• Service interruptions resulting from equipment failures or accidents

When evaluating quotes, insurance coverage should factor into the overall value assessment, not just the price comparison.

Essential Checklist for Homeowners

Before hiring any lawn care company, homeowners should require:

• General liability insurance (minimum $1 million coverage)
• Workers’ compensation for all employees
• Commercial auto insurance
• Specialized coverage appropriate for specific services (chemical applications, etc.)
• Certificate of insurance naming the homeowner as an additional insured
• Current policies without coverage gaps

Maintaining digital or physical copies of these documents throughout the service agreement provides additional security.

Conclusion

While bargain pricing might seem attractive initially, the protection offered by properly insured lawn care professionals delivers genuine value and peace of mind. A lawn care company’s willingness to maintain appropriate insurance often reflects their overall commitment to professionalism and quality service.

The potential consequences of property damage or personal injury far outweigh any premium paid for properly insured services. When protecting their property and financial interests, homeowners should insist on verification of appropriate insurance coverage from any lawn care professional they hire. Legitimate professionals will respect this diligence rather than resent it.