https://completemarkets.com/company/colonialgeneral/Private-Investigative-Agencies-Insurance/
Policy Highlights for Private Investigative Agencies:
Colonial General Insurance Agency, Inc. offers a dedicated Private Investigative Agencies Insurance program designed for firms that provide armed or unarmed security personnel (with or without animals), private investigators, polygraphists, process servers, firearms training/certification schools, and claims adjusters with limited draft authority. Property and liability coverages are available on a monoline or package basis through admitted and surplus markets.
Overview of the Program from Colonial General
This program gives independent agents access to specialized underwriting for investigative and security-related operations across the Mountain West and Southwest. Coverage is placed through a mix of admitted and excess & surplus markets depending on exposure and state—Colonial General acts as a managing general agency and E&S broker to match accounts to appropriate markets.
Ideal Accounts and Appetite
Stand-alone private investigative firms providing surveillance, background checks, skip tracing, and process serving.
Security and patrol companies offering armed or unarmed guards, including K9 units.
Firearms training or certification schools, and instructors with documented curricula and safety procedures.
Claims adjusters operating with draft authority of $5,000 or less.
We typically favor businesses with formal policies, documented training, and clear limits on employee authority. Accounts with high-risk activities (e.g., private military contracting, high-value executive protection with weapons policy gaps, or significant guard force violence claims history) may be declined or require referrals to specialty markets.
Coverage Highlights and Advantages
Commercial General Liability available with primary limits up to $3,000,000 (occurrence and aggregate).
$5,000 Medical Payments coverage included.
Additional interests extended—$100 each.
Assault & Battery included at policy limits; sub-limits available with a rate adjustment.
Errors & Omissions (E&O) coverage part available to address professional liabilities.
Lost Key coverage—$25,000 limit on qualifying Security & Patrol accounts.
Property Damage Extension (care, custody & control) included at $5,000 / $25,000 limits on Security & Patrol Program placements.
Excess/umbrella capacity up to $25 million for larger aggregate needs.
Property options: Basic, Broad, or Special forms for building, contents, and business income; replacement cost or actual cash value available.
Crime coverage available for inside and outside the premises theft, robbery/safe burglary, and related exposures.
Underwriting Notes
Underwriters will review training programs, hiring and background screening procedures, use-of-force policies, vehicle operations, and contract language. Key factors that influence pricing and placement include:
Degree of armed operations and documented firearms training.
Claims and loss history, especially related to assault, battery, or weapons incidents.
Whether patrols are stationary or mobile and if animals (K9) are used.
Contractual indemnities, client indemnification language, and hold-harmless agreements.
Because Colonial General works with both admitted and surplus markets in some states, placement may vary by state and account characteristics. Refer to the company’s underwriting guidelines for additional submission requirements.
Territories and Availability
This program is available in AZ, CA, CO, ID, NV, NM, UT, and WY. Availability may vary by carrier; some classes may be placed admitted where markets permit, while others will be placed non-admitted through E&S facilities.
Why Work With Colonial General on Private Investigative Business
Colonial General combines specialty underwriting relationships with program-level knowledge of investigative and security risks. Agents benefit from targeted coverage options (including assault & battery and lost key limits), access to excess capacity, and flexible property/crime combinations that fit the common exposures of this sector. A risk management/loss prevention brochure is available to help insureds reduce frequency and severity of losses.
Example Fits
You might have a mid-size private investigation firm that conducts surveillance and background checks with a small fleet of marked vehicles—this program can package GL, E&O, and business property on one placement.
A local firearms training school with certified instructors and written safety protocols may qualify for liability and premises property coverage, with options to add excess limits as class sizes grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of accounts are a good fit for Colonial General’s Private Investigative Agencies program?Firms providing private investigation, process serving, polygraph services, security and patrol (armed or unarmed), K9 units, firearms training schools, and claims adjusters with limited draft authority are good fits—especially those with formal training and documented procedures.
Are assault and battery exposures covered?Yes. Assault & battery coverage is included at policy limits; sub-limits may be available with an adjustment to pricing depending on the account’s risk profile and history.
Can I place property and crime coverages through this program?Yes. Property coverage (basic, broad, or special form) for building, contents, and business income is available, and crime forms include inside and outside premises theft and robbery/safe burglary options.
Which states are eligible for this program?The program writes in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Placement availability (admitted vs. non-admitted) varies by state and carrier.
What information should I include with a submission?Provide a current application, loss history, employee screening and training procedures, sample contracts, and details on armed operations or K9 use. Specific requirements are available from Colonial General’s underwriting team.
Need help placing an account? Connect with a market specialist.
https://completemarkets.com/company/colonialgeneral/Detective-Agency-Insurance/
Policy Highlights:
Colonial General Insurance Agency, Inc. provides a dedicated Detective Agency Insurance program for agents placing private investigators, security firms, and related exposures. The program is built to address the specialized risks of private investigators, armed and unarmed security guards, K-9 units, polygraphists, process servers, firearms trainers/certification schools, and claims adjusters with limited draft authority (up to $5,000). It combines flexible liability limits, optional E&O, property and crime solutions, and excess capacity to help you place complex or niche accounts.
Ideal Accounts and Appetite
This program is well-suited for a range of investigative and security operations, including:
Private investigation firms performing surveillance, background checks, skip tracing, or witness location
Security companies providing on-site armed or unarmed guard services
Organizations using trained animals for patrol or detection duties (K-9 units)
Process serving and legal support services
Firearms training and certification schools or instructors
Claims adjusters with limited draft authority (typically up to $5,000)
Colonial General can place both new startups and established firms. Typical fits are operations with formal training, written procedures, and reasonable loss-control measures. Higher-risk operations (e.g., contractors with extensive use of force, high-value executive protection with complex travel exposures, or accounts with significant regulatory or disciplinary history) may require additional underwriting review or alternative placement.
Coverage Highlights and Advantages
Commercial General Liability Coverage:
Primary limits up to $3,000,000 per occurrence and aggregate
$5,000 Medical Payments included
Assault and Battery coverage included at policy limits; sub-limits can be selected for premium savings
Errors & Omissions (E&O) Coverage Part available to address professional liability exposures
Lost Key Coverage—$25,000 limit included for eligible Security and Patrol accounts
Property Damage Extension for Care, Custody & Control—options such as $5,000 / $25,000 limits
Additional interest reporting—$100 each
Excess and umbrella capacity available up to $25 million
Access to loss prevention resources and underwriting guidance
Property Coverage:
Available on Basic, Broad, or Special forms
Options for Building, Contents and Business Income coverage
Choice of Replacement Cost or Actual Cash Value valuation
Crime Coverage:
Theft of Money and Securities (inside the premises)
Robbery or safe burglary of other property (inside the premises)
Coverage for specified loss exposures occurring outside the premises
Underwriting Notes and Minimum Premiums
Colonial General underwrites these accounts with flexibility and a focus on operational controls. Underwriters evaluate each risk based on operations, training, weapon/force usage, hiring practices, contract wording, loss history, and geographic exposures. Minimum premiums and binding requirements vary by class and state; accounts are reviewed case-by-case to determine the appropriate structure and pricing.
Helpful submission items: current applications, sample contracts, client training and hiring policies, loss runs, and details on weapons handling or K-9 certification where applicable.
Territories and Availability
This Detective Agency Insurance program is currently available in the Western states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Colonial General offers admitted and non-admitted placement options depending on the state, risk characteristics, and capacity needs. Confirm availability for a specific account during submission.
Why Work With Colonial General?
As a Managing General Agency and Excess & Surplus Lines Broker, Colonial General brings deep niche expertise and broad market access for investigative and security risks. You gain:
Specialized underwriting that understands the operational nuances of private investigators and security firms
Access to multiple carriers and excess capacity—useful for layered limits or difficult-to-place exposures
Flexible package or monoline options to tailor coverage to each insured’s needs
Supportive placement process and loss-control resources to help mitigate exposures and improve insurability
Example scenarios that fit well: You might have a mid-sized security company that provides armed on-site guards and wants combined GL, assault & battery, and excess limits; or a private investigation firm that needs general liability plus E&O for surveillance and background-check services. Colonial General can evaluate those accounts and propose tailored solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of accounts are a good fit for this program?Private investigators, armed and unarmed security companies, K-9 units, process servers, polygraphists, firearms training schools, and claims adjusters with limited draft authority are typically a good fit.
Is Assault and Battery coverage included?Yes. Assault and Battery is included at policy limits; you can request sub-limits to reduce premium where appropriate.
Are monoline and package policy options available?Yes. Colonial General offers both monoline and package policy structures to match the client’s coverage needs and budget.
In which states is this program offered?The program is available in AZ, CA, CO, ID, NV, NM, UT, and WY. Availability may vary by admitted vs. non-admitted options.
Can I get Excess or Umbrella coverage with this program?Yes. Excess and umbrella limits are available up to $25 million for qualifying accounts to provide layered liability protection.
Need help placing an account? Connect with a market specialist.
https://completemarkets.com/company/colonialgeneral/Process-Server-Insurance/
Policy Highlights
Colonial General Insurance Agency, Inc. provides a targeted insurance program for agencies and professionals in security and investigative services, with specific appetite for process servers. The program handles both armed and unarmed personnel and can be written monoline or packaged to include liability, property, crime, and professional liability exposures. Eligible classes also include private investigators, polygraphists, firearms training schools, and claims adjusters with limited draft authority.
Ideal Accounts and Appetite
This program is designed for agents placing high-liability businesses in the Western U.S. It works well for independent process servers and legal-support firms that need a combination of general liability, E&O, and optional property/crime protection. The program has particular strength in AZ, CA, CO, ID, NV, NM, UT, and WY.
Example placements you might submit:
A mid-sized Nevada legal support firm employing multiple process servers who handle civil service and court deliveries.
A Colorado-based solo process server who also performs basic investigative tasks and needs combined liability and property coverage.
Coverage Highlights and Advantages
Commercial General Liability for Process Servers
Primary limits available up to $3,000,000 occurrence and aggregate
$5,000 Medical Payments included at no extra cost
Assault and Battery coverage included at policy limits (optional sub-limits available to reduce premium)
Errors & Omissions (E&O) coverage included to address professional liability exposures
Additional Insureds available for $100 each
Lost Key Coverage—$25,000 limit available under the Security and Patrol Program
Property Damage Extension (Care, Custody, and Control)—$5,000 / $25,000 limits included
Excess / Umbrella limits available up to $25 million
Loss prevention brochure and risk-control resources to help reduce loss frequency and severity
Property Coverage Options
Available on Basic, Broad, or Special Form
Options for Building, Business Income, and Contents coverage
Valuation choices: Replacement Cost or Actual Cash Value
Crime Coverage
Theft of Money and Securities—Inside the Premises
Robbery or Safe Burglary—Inside the Premises
Outside the Premises coverage available
Underwriting Notes and Minimum Premiums
Colonial General places this business through multiple admitted and surplus markets, allowing flexibility on terms and pricing. Minimum premiums vary by carrier and account exposure; assault and battery sub-limits are commonly used for accounts where rate sensitivity is important. Underwriters will evaluate training, weapons policies, background screening, and loss history when considering submissions.
Territories and Availability
The program is available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Some admitted markets are available depending on the risk profile and coverages requested; non-admitted (E&S) placements are an option for harder-to-place risks.
Why Work With Colonial General
As a Managing General Agency and Excess & Surplus Lines broker, Colonial General combines niche underwriting expertise with access to multiple carriers that specialize in security, investigative, and high-liability services. Agents benefit from flexible structure (monoline or package), tailored assault & battery options, and the ability to place both small operations and larger multi-state firms.
From an agent’s perspective: you can use this program when a client needs higher limits, combined liability and E&O protection, or broader property/crime coverages that may be difficult to place in admitted markets. Colonial General provides underwriting guidance and loss-control materials to help your account qualify for the best terms available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of accounts are a good fit for this program?Process servers, private investigators, security firms, and legal support agencies operating in the Western U.S. are the primary focus.
Is Errors and Omissions (E&O) coverage included?Yes. E&O coverage is included as part of the liability package to address professional exposures common to process servers and investigators.
Are both armed and unarmed process servers eligible?Yes. The program covers both armed and unarmed personnel; terms reflect training, weapons policies, and background screening.
Can I get Assault and Battery coverage at full policy limits?Assault and Battery is included at policy limits by default. Sub-limits are available as a premium-saving option for eligible accounts.
Which states is this program available in?The program is offered in AZ, CA, CO, ID, NV, NM, UT, and WY.
Need help placing an account? Connect with a market specialist.