Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs 
Markel Insurance: How Do They Compare for Builders Risk Insurance?
What Is Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance?
BHSI provides commercial and specialty insurance in the U.S., with product-specific industry lists that include healthcare, energy and technology. Online quote and application submissions are nonbinding. 1,2,3,4
Read the Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance profile
Read the Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Builders Risk Insurance page
Markel Insurance: Specialty Business and Products
Markel Insurance is Markel Group's specialty and small-business insurance business, with offerings across packages, workers' compensation, cyber, professional and management liability, property, marine, and surety. Products use different insurers and distribution routes, so compare the issuer and terms shown on the specific quote. 7,8
What Is Builders Risk Insurance?
Builders risk protects the project you are building, including materials meant for it, against physical loss until construction ends. The gaps that cost owners money are materials in storage or transit, the existing building in a renovation, and coverage ending when you occupy early. 10,11,12,13
What Are the Key Differences Between Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Markel Insurance Builders Risk Insurance?
How the Placement Is Structured
BHSI describes primary and excess placements and says single-peril or difference-in-conditions forms sit alongside its all-risk product. It also lists its own Builder's Risk Form, follow-form quota-share or excess forms, and broker manuscript forms. 5 6 Markel's page frames its offer differently: it may write 100% of a project or participate as a subscriber, and it says project-specific capacity must be confirmed. 9
Markel states coverage periods may extend up to 60 months and that it may write 100% or participate as a subscriber; project-specific capacity must be confirmed. 9Company-reported. Program capability, not a commitment for an individual risk.
Project Types Each Targets
Markel names civil and mechanical engineering exposures, including bridges, dams, tunnels and power facilities, and says its range runs from basic four-wall risks to complex infrastructure. 9 BHSI instead separates its EAR and CAR target categories and says Master Builder's Risk is considered selectively. 5
What Underwriters Ask For
BHSI lists a project description, coverage specifications, contractor loss experience and a construction schedule as items underwriting may request. 6 The reviewed Markel page publishes no submission checklist.
What Should You Confirm in Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Markel Insurance Builders Risk Insurance Quotes?
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Markel Insurance Review Scores
These averages can combine ratings for different products, locations, and customer groups, including approximate BBB grade conversions. Read each review for the sources, scope, and calculation.
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Review Score
Review Score
No reviews found
The public ratings for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance are low but thin: Trustpilot shows 2.1 out of 5 from 9 reviews and BBB shows 1 out of 5 from 6. Both mix travel and commercial customers, so we don't count them in a score.[5][7]
Read Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance reviewsMarkel Insurance Review Score
Review Score
2 rated sources
There is little public customer feedback on Markel. Trustpilot shows 2.5 out of 5 from just 5 reviews, and BBB lists 12 complaints closed in the last three years.[4][3]
Read Markel Insurance reviewsBerkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Markel Insurance Builders Risk Compared
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Markel Insurance: Builders Risk Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Builder’s Risk | Markel builders risk |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | BHSI describes primary and excess options for its Builder’s Risk products, along with single-peril and difference-in-conditions choices. 5Company-reported. These are marketed placement options, not a commitment to provide any layer or a statement about how a specific project is insured. | Markel offers builders-risk coverage for construction projects from basic four-wall risks to complex infrastructure and power projects. 9Company-reported. Large builders-risk page; specific project underwriting applies. |
| Who It’s For | BHSI separates its EAR and CAR target categories; it says Master Builder’s Risk is considered selectively. 5Company-reported. The published target categories guide submission discussions; they do not guarantee eligibility or acceptance. | Targeted exposures include civil engineering, mechanical engineering and completed civil engineering projects, including bridges, dams, tunnels and power facilities. 9Company-reported. Published target examples; no eligibility guarantee. |
| Coverage Features | BHSI describes Builder’s Risk as project property coverage and lists hot testing/commissioning, delay and soft-cost features. 5Company-reported. U.S. product-page marketing summary; does not establish that each extension is included in every project policy. The page describes primary and excess placements and single-peril or difference-in-conditions options alongside its all-risk product description. 5Company-reported. These are marketed options, not a statement that a particular quote includes them. BHSI lists its Builder’s Risk Form, follow-form quota-share or excess forms, and broker manuscript forms as options. 6Company-reported. A form being listed does not establish that it will be used for a project or what its final terms contain. | Confirm in your quote. |
| Limits and Retentions | Confirm in your quote. | Markel states coverage periods may extend up to 60 months and that it may write 100% or participate as a subscriber; project-specific capacity must be confirmed. 9Company-reported. Program capability, not a commitment for an individual risk. |
| How to Apply | BHSI says underwriting may request coverage specifications, a project description, contractor loss experience and a construction schedule, among other project details. 6Company-reported. The guide gives examples rather than a universal or complete checklist; requirements depend on the submission. | Confirm in your quote. |
Related Pages for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Markel Insurance
Builders Risk Pages for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Markel Insurance
Other Coverage Lines Compared for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Markel Insurance
Other Builders Risk Insurance Provider Comparisons
Sources for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Markel Insurance
Sources About Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
- At A Glance. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; United States section, zero-based PDF pages 49–53 (viewer pages 50–54): product/industry lists on pages 49–50; U.S. disclosure/version footer on page 53 is 2026-8-03 A. The 2026-09-14 A footer is on preceding European page 48, not the U.S. section. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- About Us. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; About BHSI; company profile page re-opened through official site on 2026-09-28; company says it is part of National Indemnity group. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Terms of Service. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Important Information Concerning Use of this Web Site, paragraphs 2–4; nonbinding submissions, contracted-agent authority, state variation, product availability and policy-specific terms. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Public Disclosure — Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Singapore Branch. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Singapore branch public disclosure, Company Profile ¶¶ 1–2; direct page opened 2026-09-28. ¶ 1 identifies BHSIC as a Nebraska-domiciled direct P&C insurer; ¶ 2 states BHSIC is wholly owned by National Indemnity Company, itself wholly owned by Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Builder’s Risk. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Retained canonical source record locator: current U.S. product page, lines 6–35: all-risk project coverage, hot testing/commissioning, delay/startup/soft costs, single-peril/DIC primary/excess, EAR/CAR target categories and selectively considered Master Builder’s Risk. Prior actual access 2026-09-28; direct re-open failed in this session. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Builder’s Risk Appetite Guide. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; U.S. guide pp. 1–2: marketed coverage/participation and targeted classes, lines 0–35; listed BHSI, follow-form and broker-manuscript policy forms, plus example submission information, lines 39–53; dated 2026-01-30 A; all coverage remains subject to the actual policy, lines 63–65. Accessed 2026-09-30.
Sources About Markel Insurance
- About us. Markel; Markel at a glance; description of Markel Insurance within Markel Group Inc. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Markel Group Inc. 2025 Form 10-K. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; filed by Markel Group Inc.; Cover page; Part I, Item 1 Business—Markel Insurance, U.S. Wholesale and Specialty, Programs and Solutions; Part II, Item 7/8 for group and segment risks. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Builders Risk Insurance. Markel; Coverage features; construction projects and builders-risk scope. Accessed 2026-09-29.
Sources for the Builders Risk Insurance Guide
- Glossary of Insurance Terms. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Builders’ Risk Policies; Ocean Marine; Auto Physical Damage; All-Risk. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Commercial Insurance Guide. California Department of Insurance; Commercial Property; Inland Marine; What Should I Expect from a Broker-Agent. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Builders Risk Coverage Form. Insurance Services Office, Inc.; hosted by Touchpoint Markets; A.1–3 p.1; B.3.c p.11; C,D,E p.12. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Builders Risk Application Tip Sheet. US Assure; General policy application tips p.1; Remodeling tips p.2. Accessed 2026-09-16.
