TL;DRTree service is among the hardest commercial classes to place. A 5-employee operation with $600K revenue pays $18K–$35K/year for GL + WC + commercial auto + inland marine. Height work (over 15 feet) and chipper operations are the biggest premium drivers. Most standard carriers (Acuity, Hartford) decline outright — this is an E&S class by default.
Why tree service is "hard to place"
Three factors: (1) height exposure — falls from elevated positions produce large bodily injury claims; (2) chainsaws and chippers — amputation-severity WC claims; (3) property damage frequency — trees fall the wrong way, onto houses, cars, power lines. Admitted carriers see the loss data and walk away. See our tree service insurance gaps breakdown.
The coverage stack
- General Liability. $1M/$2M standard. Property damage sublimit is where claims hit — verify no sub-limit below $500K.
- Workers Comp. Class code 0106 (tree pruning/removal). Rate 10–18 per $100 payroll in most SE states — one of the highest.
- Commercial Auto. Chip trucks, bucket trucks, skid steers in transit. $1M CSL.
- Inland Marine. Saws, chippers, stump grinders, climbing gear. Usually $50K–$250K schedule.
- Umbrella. $2M–$5M above GL and auto. Often required by HOA or municipal contracts.
Coverages to verify are NOT excluded
- Work above 15 feet. Many policies exclude or sublimit. Must have "work at heights" specifically scheduled.
- Felling operations. Some forms exclude "felling of trees" entirely — the core of your business.
- Stump grinding. Separate scheduling in most E&S forms.
- Utility line clearance. If you work around power lines, you need this endorsement; without it, electric-contact losses are uncovered.
- Use of cranes or lifts. Cranes >5 tons require a separate endorsement and certificate of operator training.
Workers comp strategies for tree service
At 10–18% of payroll, WC often exceeds GL. Strategies that work:
- Class-code splitting — ground crew (4042/landscape) vs climber (0106). Most agencies miss this.
- Safety documentation — ISA climber certification, PPE program, chainsaw operator training.
- Experience mod management — close claims fast, appeal reserves.
Carriers writing tree service
AmwinsJencapRT SpecialtyWholesureXS BrokersAmTrust (WC)Summit (WC)
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Get a Free Risk Review →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get tree service insurance through a captive agent?
Essentially never. State Farm, Allstate, Geico, and Nationwide all decline tree service by class code. You need an independent agency with E&S access — Jencap, RT Specialty, Amwins, or Wholesure.
How much does tree service insurance cost?
A 5-employee tree service with $600K revenue pays $18K–$35K/year — GL $5–10K, WC $12–20K, auto $3–6K, inland marine $1–3K. Larger operations ($2M+ revenue) can see $50K–$100K all-in. It's the highest-ratio insurance spend of any construction class.
What's the WC class code for tree service?
0106 (tree pruning, trimming, spraying, or repairing). Some operations qualify for split to 4042 (landscape gardening) for ground crews that don't climb. The split alone can cut WC by 30%.
Does my GL cover damage to the tree I'm removing?
No. The tree you're hired to cut is 'property in your care, custody, or control' and is excluded from most GL policies. You can buy a CCC endorsement to cover this, or exclude valuable trees from contracts with the homeowner's signature.
What about felling a tree onto a house?
Covered under GL property damage — that's the classic tree service claim. Verify your policy has at least $500K in property damage limits and that your GL does NOT exclude 'felling operations.'
Do I need a bucket truck endorsement?
Yes, on both commercial auto (for the truck) and inland marine (for the bucket/boom equipment itself). Many small carriers cap equipment value at $50K which is well below a new bucket truck's replacement cost.