Tell us about your operations
Start with the business quote form. A request is not an instant price, policy or confirmation of coverage.
Request a CGL insurance quote Your broker will confirm the next steps.Commercial general liability • British Columbia
CGL insurance in British Columbia.
For the risks of doing business.
A customer slips at your shop. Your crew accidentally damages a client’s property. Commercial general liability (CGL) insurance may help with covered third-party claims, so you can focus on running your business.
The online form starts a quote request. A broker may contact you to review your operations; coverage is not activated by submitting it.
Prefer to talk? 1-833-660-9926
Everyday business. Real-world Coverage.Retail • trades • services • hospitality
Third-party claimsInjury and property damage
BC business contextOperations, premises and contracts
Broker guidanceCompare limits and exclusions
Start with a conversation
Request CGL insurance options
Share your business activities and contact details. Western Coast can review available insurer options, ask follow-up questions and explain differences in limits, deductibles and exclusions.
Discuss your liability exposures
Explain your premises, products, customers, contracts and any previous claims.
Call 1-833-660-9926Find advice near you
Browse local Western Coast branches and confirm commercial insurance support before visiting.
Find a branchWhat should I have ready for a CGL quote?
- Legal business name, address, years operating and business activities
- Estimated annual revenue, payroll and employee count
- Premises, customer visits, off-site work and products sold
- Subcontractors, claims history and current policy details
- Lease or client contract requirements and requested liability limits
Who it is for
CGL coverage across BC industries
CGL can matter wherever your business interacts with customers, suppliers, visitors or someone else’s property.
Contractors & trades
A renovation crew damages a client’s flooring while working. Discuss third-party property damage, subcontractors and contractual limits.
Discuss CGL coverage →Retail & e-commerce
A shopper is injured at a storefront or a sold product allegedly causes harm. Ask about premises and products liability.
Discuss CGL coverage →Restaurants & hospitality
A guest slips near an entrance or a visitor’s belongings are damaged. Review public-facing premises risks.
Discuss CGL coverage →Consultants & professionals
A client visits your office and trips. CGL may address premises injury, but advice-related financial losses usually call for E&O.
Discuss CGL coverage →Manufacturers & distributors
A product allegedly causes third-party injury or damage after sale. Review products-completed operations terms.
Discuss CGL coverage →Service & mobile businesses
Work at customer sites can create accidental damage and injury exposures. Describe every location and service to your broker.
Discuss CGL coverage →What CGL may protect
What does commercial general liability insurance cover?
Commercial general liability insurance may respond to covered third-party bodily injury, property damage and certain personal or advertising injury claims. These examples are illustrative, not guarantees of coverage.
Scroll horizontally on small screens to compare columns.
| Protection | Example | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury | A visitor slips on a wet shop floor and alleges an injury. | Review premises operations, limits and the circumstances of the claim. |
| Third-party property damage | A contractor accidentally damages a customer’s counter during a job. | Check completed operations, care/custody/control exclusions and deductibles. |
| Products & completed operations | A product sold or completed work allegedly injures someone or damages their property. | Check products exposure, operations, limits and insurer restrictions. |
| Personal & advertising injury | A covered allegation of libel or certain advertising injury arises. | Check the exact definition, intellectual property and publication exclusions. |
| Defence costs & settlements | Legal defence expenses and eligible damages from an insured liability claim. | Defence treatment, policy limits and exclusions vary by wording. |
| Tenant’s legal liability | Certain accidental damage to premises you rent may be covered. | Check whether this protection is included and its sublimits. |
All coverages are subject to insurer underwriting, policy wording, limits, exclusions and deductibles. Medical payments and tenant’s legal liability are not universal inclusions.
Review available CGL optionsUnderstand the limits
What CGL generally does not cover
A CGL policy is important, but it is not an all-risk business policy. Ask about exclusions, endorsements and coverage gaps before signing a contract.
Professional mistakes
CGL generally does not replace professional liability or errors and omissions (E&O) insurance for advice, design or service errors causing financial loss.
Vehicles, employees & property
Commercial auto, workers’ compensation and damage to your own building, stock or equipment are separate insurance considerations.
Contractual & specialist exposures
Assumed contractual liability, pollution, cyber incidents, intentional acts and certain intellectual-property claims may be excluded or restricted.
Costs & value
What affects CGL insurance premiums?
There is no single CGL premium for all BC businesses. Underwriters consider your exposure and the policy terms you request.
- Work and industry
- Services, products, public access and jobsite activities.
- Business size
- Annual revenue, payroll, employee count and operating history.
- Claims and risk controls
- Prior losses, safety practices and subcontractor arrangements.
- Limits and deductibles
- Requested liability limits, contract requirements and endorsements.
Why Western Coast
Local knowledge.
More choice.
Advice that stays with you.
Western Coast is a broker. We help BC businesses explore available insurer options, understand liability limits and exclusions, and review coverage as their operations evolve.
Clear CGL comparisons
Understand how available policies differ in bodily injury, property damage, products coverage and defence costs.
BC business context
Discuss client contracts, leased premises, off-site work and the liability limits your business may need.
Support as you grow
Review protection when you hire, add services, take on new contracts or expand locations.
General customer service“Friendly, knowledgeable customer service!”
Clarke · Westshore, Victoria, BC
Find branch reviews ↗
Read local branch feedback about service, clarity and help with insurance questions.
Browse Western Coast branches ↗Explore branch reviews and confirm the most recent ratings directly with the branch.
Browse Western Coast branches ↗Find customer feedback about the experience of speaking with a Western Coast insurance representative at a BC branch.
Explore local branch reviews ↗Local advice, close to home
Find local advice about CGL insurance
Talk commercial liability insurance with a Western Coast team on Vancouver Island or in the Lower Mainland. Call ahead to confirm commercial insurance support.
View all branch hours & contact detailsVancouver Island
Lower Mainland
Looking for another location? Open the full branch locator or call 1-833-660-9926.
Frequently asked questions
CGL insurance questions, answered
What does CGL insurance cover in British Columbia?
A commercial general liability policy may cover eligible third-party bodily injury, property damage and certain personal or advertising injury claims arising from your operations. Defence costs, limits and exclusions depend on the wording.
Is CGL insurance mandatory for every BC business?
There is no single CGL requirement for every BC business. However, landlords, clients, project owners or contracts may require liability coverage and specified limits.
How much CGL coverage should my business carry?
The right limit depends on your operations, contracts, premises, products and risk tolerance. Some businesses request $1 million or $2 million or more, but a broker should review the specific requirements.
Does CGL cover professional mistakes or bad advice?
Generally not. Professional errors and omissions insurance may be needed for claims alleging negligent advice, design or services that cause financial loss.
Does CGL cover damage to a customer’s property?
It may cover accidental third-party property damage arising from insured operations, but exclusions can apply to property in your care, custody or control and to your own work.
Are my employees or business vehicles covered by CGL?
Employee workplace injuries and commercial vehicle accidents are generally addressed by separate arrangements, such as workers’ compensation and commercial auto insurance.
What affects the cost of CGL insurance?
Your industry, operations, revenue, employee count, location, claims experience, requested limits, deductibles and endorsements may all affect the premium.
What do I need to request a CGL quote?
Prepare your business name and location, description of work, revenue, employee count, years in business, claims history, current coverage and any lease or client contract limits.
Does the online quote form start my CGL coverage?
No. The online form starts a quote request. A broker and insurer must confirm eligibility, terms, acceptance and the effective date before coverage begins.
Keep exploring
Helpful guides for BC businesses
Your next step
Explore CGL coverage for the business you run.
Tell us what you do and what your contracts require. Western Coast can help you compare available liability insurance options.
Submitting a request does not activate insurance.
Coverage is subject to insurer eligibility, underwriting, policy terms, limits, conditions and exclusions. The policy wording governs.
Western Coast Insurance Services is a wholly owned division of Western Financial Group Ltd. Insurance products are underwritten by certain licensed insurance companies and are only available throughout British Columbia, Canada.