We analyzed over a dozen event liability insurance carriers/distributors in the U.S. (see full list at the end) for event liability insurance costs, user experience/design, policy endorsements and more.
We thought that the established insurers like Wedsure, eWed, and Wedsafe would come out on top, however we were pleasantly surprised with two new notable standouts.
Legend/Notes
- General liability limits when shown as $XM/$YM are the occurrence/aggregate limits
- DRP = Damage to rented premises
- Both desktop and mobile user experience was taken into consideration
- Based on common event types like weddings, birthday parties, social gatherings, etc.
Best Overall
GatherGuard
From pricing to coverage to design, GatherGuard by Intact really stood out. Great pricing, very accommodating for repeating events and the best option we could find if the Waiver of Subrogation and/or Primary Noncontributory endorsements are NOT required.
- $1M/$2M (occurrence/aggregate) policies starting at $75
- Minimum DRP included: $250,000
- No deductibles
- Host liquor liability always included
- Cancel up until the day before the event date for a full refund
- Sold directly by the insurer (no intermediaries)
SpecialInsurance.com
Special Insurance by GBLI is a hidden gem! Ideal for events requiring the Waiver of Subrogation and/or Primary Noncontributory endorsements. The pricing is very good considering that the two endorsements are included.
- $1M/$2M (occurrence/aggregate) policies starting at $160
- Minimum DRP included: $300,000
- No deductibles
- Host liquor liability included is most states
- Cancel up until the day before the event date for a full refund
- Sold directly by the insurer (no intermediaries)
Highest Liability Limits
Wedsure
- $2M/$5M available online starting at approximately $300
- Minimum $1,000 deductible on DRP
GatherGuard
- $2M/$2M available online starting at approximately $200
- $5M/$5M can be enabled with pre-approval of the venue/event location
EventHelper
- $3M/$5M available online
Both Wedsure and GatherGuard allow for higher coverages, but require some pre-approvals. Please call the insurers for further details.
Most Affordable Event Liability Insurance Costs
GatherGuard
Best options if the Waiver of Subrogation and/or Primary Noncontributory endorsements are NOT needed.
- $1M/$2M (occurrence/aggregate) policies starting at $75
- Minimum DRP included: $250,000
- No deductibles
- Host liquor liability always included
SpecialInsurance.com
Ideal for events requiring Waiver of Subrogation and/or Primary Noncontributory endorsements.
- $1M/$2M (occurrence/aggregate) policies starting at $160
- Minimum DRP included: $300,000
- No deductibles
- Host liquor liability included is most states
Highest Included DRP Limits
Markel
- DRP will match the aggregate GL limit. i.e. If the aggregate GL limit is $1M, then the DRP will be $1M
One Day Event
- $1M included in most plans
- We’re not a fan of the sneaky price listing that shows the $1M/$2M GL offering at almost 3x the price to make the $1M/$5M option seem like a great deal
- Note that GatherGuard provides $1M/$2M GL and $1M DRP for $100 (no medical included)
Best User Experience & Design
SpecialInsurance.com
- Very slick site
- Seems to require the least amount of steps and time to secure a policy
- Easy to use on mobile as well
- Pricing updates in real time so you don’t have to go all the way to the end just to see the price
Highest Medical Expense Limit
FLDean, eWed & Eventsured
- Provides the option for up to $10,000 in medical expense limit
Best Liquor Liability Option
GatherGuard
- Allows for upgrading from host liquor liability to liquor liability (learn about the differences here)
Most insurers automatically include host liquor liability, however if you are selling or distributing alcohol for a profit at your event, liquor liability is a must.
Non-Owned/Hired Auto Liability Providers
FLDean
- Up to $500,000 possible online
One Day Event
- Appears to offer it, however “Non-Owned/Hired Auto is subject to approval and will affect your quote & premium.”
- Unclear if the price quote includes auto liability or if there’s an additional charge after approval
Highest Number of Attendees Covered
GatherGuard
- Covers an event up to 5,000 people (wow!)
Best for Small Groups
EventHelper
- Great value starting at $66 until you hit more than 71 people then DRP coverage drops 90% from $1M to $100,000 and general pricing gets less competitive
Thimble Event Insurance
- Price changes per each attendee starting at $114 with primary noncontributory and waiver of subrogation endorsements included
Best for Repeating Events
GatherGuard
- It appears you can get unlimited coverage days within a 90 day period for the same type of event (i.e. recurring weekly meetings, games, sports, etc.)
- Pricing seems to be based on total attendance over the course of all days
- i.e. A meeting each Monday for the next 3 weeks with 20 people attending each day is still $75 (or $25/day!)
- Pricing seems to be based on total attendance over the course of all days
List of Insurers Analyzed For Event Liability Insurance Costs
Click on each to see more details:
Ewed – 2.5 out of 5 stars
Event Helper – 4 out of 5 stars
Eventsured – 3 out of 5 stars
FLDean – 2 out of 5 stars
GatherGuard – 4.5 out of 5 stars
K&K – 1 out of 5 stars
Markel (also provider for Allstate and Geico) – 2 out of 5 stars
One Day Event – 3.5 out of 5 stars
SpecialInsurance.com – 4.5 out of 5 stars
State Farm – N/A
Thimble – 4 out of 5 stars
Travelers – 1 out of 5 stars
Wedsafe – 1 out of 5 stars
Wedsure – 2 out of 5 stars
Analysis Criteria
Event Liability Insurance Costs
- Overall value to coverage
Included Coverages/Limits & Upgrade Options
- What coverages/limits are included in the base price
- What coverages/upgrades are available for an extra fee
User Experience & Design
Most of the time was spent here. Our thought is that nobody likes to have to get insurance (most people get it because they’re told to by the venue) so we focused on how easy each insurer made it for their users to find information and acquire coverage.
- General ease of use of the website on both desktop and mobile
- How easy was it to find basic information like:
- Sample policies
- Included endorsements, particularly primary noncontributory and waiver of subrogation endorsements
- Deductible information
- Refund/Cancellation policy
- Speed to obtaining the final/accurate price
- Choice/flexibility in coverages
- Ability to add additional insureds
FAQs
What is general liability insurance?
General liability coverage is a crucial component of event insurance that protects event organizers from financial losses due to third-party claims of bodily injury or property damage. This type of insurance typically covers:
- Bodily injury to event attendees
- Property damage to the venue or attendees’ belongings
- Medical expenses for injured parties
- Legal defense costs if sued
General liability insurance for events usually provides coverage limits ranging from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000. It safeguards against accidents such as slip-and-fall injuries or damage to rented premises. For example, if a platform collapses at your event and injures attendees, general liability insurance could cover their medical care and your legal defence if they sue .Some policies may also include additional coverages such as:
- Food and beverage product liability
- Non-owned auto coverage
- Employees/volunteers as additional insured
- Tenant’s legal liability
It’s important to note that general liability insurance does not cover intentional damages or accidents involving automobiles, aircraft, or watercraft.
What is damage to rented premises?
Damage to rented premises coverage, also known as Tenants Legal Liability, is a crucial component of event liability insurance. It provides protection for damages that may occur to a rented venue during your event. This coverage is typically included in special event insurance policies and offers financial protection if you’re found responsible for property damage to the rented space. Learn more here.
What are medical expense limits?
Refers to the maximum amount the policy will pay for reasonable medical costs resulting from bodily injuries caused by accidents during the event, regardless of fault. Learn more here.
What is liquor liability?
Event liquor liability insurance serves as a financial safety net for event organizers. It covers legal expenses, medical bills, and damages if an attendee causes an accident or injury while intoxicated. Learn the difference between host liquor liability and retail liquor liability here.