What is an experience modification rate (EMR), and why does it matter for tree care insurance?

An experience modification rate (EMR) compares your company's claims history to similar businesses. An EMR below 1.0 can reduce workers' compensation premiums, while an EMR above 1.0 can increase insurance costs.

Why Tree Care Insurance Is Essential for Professional Arborists

Q: Is tree care insurance legally required for arborists?

Workers' compensation is mandatory in 49 states once you hire employees. Commercial auto insurance is required in all states except New Hampshire. General liability insurance is not legally required but is commonly required by commercial clients and contracts.

Q: What is the difference between tree care insurance and general landscaping insurance?

Tree care insurance covers higher-risk operations such as climbing, aerial rigging, pruning, and tree removal. Standard landscaping insurance generally excludes many of these activities and is intended for lower-risk services like mowing and planting.

Q: What class code is used for tree trimming workers' compensation?

NCCI class code 0106 applies to tree trimming, pruning, spraying, and removal. Workers performing only ground-level duties may qualify for class code 0042, which generally carries lower workers' compensation rates.

Q: How can I reduce my tree care insurance premiums?

You can reduce premiums by maintaining a strong safety program, properly classifying employees, keeping a clean claims history, bundling insurance policies, and working with insurers that specialize in tree contractor insurance.

Q: Does general liability cover my crew if they get injured?

No. General liability insurance covers injuries or property damage involving third parties. Employee injuries are covered under workers' compensation insurance.

Q: What equipment is covered under tree care insurance programs?

Commercial auto insurance covers licensed work vehicles, while inland marine or equipment floater coverage protects chainsaws, stump grinders, chippers, bucket trucks, and other equipment used on and off job sites.

By Infinite | July 9, 2026

If you work in tree care and you do not have tree care insurance, you are running one of the most dangerous businesses in America with no safety net. That is not an exaggeration.

Tree care carries a fatality rate of 110 per 100,000 workers, making it one of the most hazardous occupations in the country, according to 1-800-Insurance's 2026 Tree Service Insurance Guide.

Tree care insurance is not a bureaucratic checkbox. It is the difference between a serious incident being a manageable business event and a company-ending catastrophe.

What Risks Make Tree Care Insurance Non-Negotiable?

Arborists regularly work 30 to 100 feet above the ground with chainsaws, ropes, and rigging systems on trees that can weigh ten tons or more.

A single miscalculation can result in severe injury or death, not just to workers but to bystanders and property owners nearby. That risk profile is why tree care insurance carriers treat this industry as a high-frequency, high-severity class.

The risks tree care businesses face daily include the following:

Falls from height, which remain the leading cause of fatal injuries in arborist work
Struck-by injuries from falling branches or sections of trunk
Chainsaw lacerations, amputations, and kickback injuries
Electrocution near utility lines
Equipment failure on cranes, chippers, and bucket trucks
Storm work is performed under time pressure in unstable conditions

In 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 222 workers in tree and landscape services suffering fatal workplace injuries, according to EG Bowman's New York Tree Service Insurance report. Any single one of those incidents, without adequate tree care insurance, could permanently end a business.

What Types of Coverage Make Up a Complete Tree Care Insurance Program?

Tree care insurance is not a single policy. It is a bundle of coverage types, each addressing a distinct risk exposure:

Coverage Type	What It Covers	Required?
General liability	Third-party property damage and bodily injury	Required by most clients and contracts
Workers' compensation	Employee injuries, medical costs, lost wages	Mandatory in 49 states
Commercial auto	Work vehicles, trailers, and attached equipment	Required in all states except New Hampshire
Inland marine / equipment floater	Chainsaws, chippers, stump grinders, bucket trucks	Highly recommended
Professional liability	Claims from arborist advice and tree health reports	Needed if you provide written reports
Umbrella / excess liability	Additional limits above primary policies	Strongly recommended for high-risk work

Tree contractor insurance programs that bundle general liability, workers' comp, and commercial auto under one carrier typically save 10 to 15 percent compared to buying policies separately.

Tree Service Insurance

Why is Tree Care Insurance More Expensive Than Other Landscaping Insurance?

Landscaping insurance for standard mowing, planting, and groundskeeping is generally rated at a much lower risk level than tree care insurance. The reason is simple: the severity and frequency of injuries is dramatically higher in tree work than in general landscaping.

The NCCI class code 0106, which covers tree trimming, pruning, and removal, is one of the higher-rated worker classifications in the entire workers' compensation system. Rates for class code 0106 can range from $8 to $15 per $100 of payroll, depending on state and claims history.

For workers performing only ground-level work, such as operating chippers, hauling brush, or driving trucks, the lower class code 0042 applies and carries meaningfully lower rates. Properly classifying all workers into the correct class code is one of the most direct ways to avoid overpaying for tree care insurance coverage.

How Does Claims History Affect Tree Care Insurance Costs?

Your experience modification rate (EMR or ex-mod) is the most direct reflection of your claims history, and it sits at the center of your workers' compensation pricing.

A strong safety record and low EMR can reduce workers' comp premiums by 20 to 40 percent. A poor record and high EMR can increase them by the same or more.

For tree contractor insurance, the practical steps that most consistently improve claims history and reduce premiums include:

Documented weekly safety tailgate meetings with sign-in records
Written pre-climb inspection protocols for all tree work
Equipment maintenance logs
Systematic onboarding training for new crew members
ANSI A300 and Z133 standards adherence documented in writing

Insurers that specialize in tree care insurance reward safety-focused businesses with better rates and coverage terms. Insurers who place your coverage as a side note to a broader landscaping portfolio typically do not.

What are the Costs of Tree Care Insurance for a Typical Operation?

Operation Size	Estimated Annual Tree Care Insurance Cost
Solo arborist (no employees)	$2,500 to $5,000 general liability
Small crew (2 to 4 workers)	$8,000 to $15,000 full program
Mid-size operation (5 to 10 workers)	$15,000 to $35,000 full program
Larger company (10+ workers, multiple vehicles)	$35,000 to $75,000+ full program

A comprehensive program covering general liability, workers' comp, commercial auto, and equipment runs approximately $489 per month for a typical tree service operation, according to 1-800-Insurance's 2026 Tree Service Guide. That figure rises with payroll, equipment value, and the specific types of work performed.

Tree Service

Get Your Tree Care Insurance Through e360 Insurance Services

Tree care insurance and tree contractor insurance require a specialist who understands the risk profile of this industry, has access to carriers who actually want to write arborist businesses, and can structure landscaping insurance programs that cover every aspect of your operation without gaps.

e360 Insurance Services works with tree care professionals to build coverage programs that protect your crew, your equipment, your clients, and your business against the real risks this industry faces every day.

Get a comprehensive tree care insurance review and competitive market quote.