Hiscox vs 
Markel Insurance: How Do They Compare for General Liability Insurance?
What Is Hiscox?
Hiscox suits eligible small businesses that want online GL, professional liability, cyber or BOP quotes; businesses needing other specialty products should compare brokers. Core Hiscox NOW policies are usually issued by its own insurer, while some products use partners. 1,2,3
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 General Liability Insurance?
General liability can protect your business when a customer or visitor claims you caused injury or damaged their property. It suits businesses serving customers or working on their premises; your own building, tools and stock need property coverage. 10,11,12
Key Differences in General Liability Insurance
Online Access and State Availability
Hiscox says eligible small businesses can apply online in 49 states and Washington, D.C.; Alaska is excluded from online sales, with a broker referral offered instead. It emails the policy and includes a certificate in the welcome documents after application. Markel’s page targets IT and technology services but asks prospects or brokers to contact its underwriting team and does not publish the same online purchase route. For an IT buyer, Hiscox documents direct access and a state carve-out, while Markel’s path begins with a conversation. 4 9
Technology Coverage and Claims Handling
Hiscox says its GL product adds an electronic-data-liability provision for IT and technology professions and lets policyholders report claims online 24/7 to a specialized claims professional. Markel names advertising and personal injury protection for technology classes and says occurrence or claims-made forms may be available; its reviewed claim does not describe an equivalent electronic-data provision or claims portal. Buyers should compare the data endorsement and trigger wording, then confirm each provider’s claim-reporting process. 4 6 9
What to Confirm in General Liability Insurance Quotes
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.
Hiscox
Review Score
4 rated sources
Hiscox’s review results are sharply divided: low Trustpilot and ConsumerAffairs scores contrast with strong Feefo feedback. Service quality deserves closer scrutiny before purchase.[1][4][5][6][7]
Read Hiscox reviewsMarkel Insurance
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 reviewsOffering Details
Hiscox vs Markel Insurance: General Liability Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Hiscox General Liability Insurance | Markel general liability (official overview) |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Hiscox Inc., a Delaware-based licensed insurance intermediary, sells general liability directly online to small businesses as part of its Hiscox NOW admitted small-business catalogue. 3,4Company-reported. Company-stated online small-business channel; broker-only sections of the Hiscox site are a separate, licensed-professional path not covered here. | Markel describes offering general liability for the audience stated on the cited product page. 9Company-reported. general liability marketed by markel; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| Issuing Insurer | Hiscox's appetite guide and About Hiscox US page name Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. (NAIC 10200), a Chicago-based insurer, as the underwriter of admitted Hiscox NOW general liability policies. 5,3Company-reported. Admitted small-business general liability as described in company materials; the exact contracting entity for a particular state or channel should be confirmed on the quote. | Confirm in your quote. |
| Who It’s For | Hiscox says it is currently licensed to sell general liability online in 49 states and the District of Columbia, with coverage unavailable in Alaska; it directs buyers in states where it does not sell online to a specialist broker instead. 4Company-reported. Company-stated jurisdiction for the online small-business catalogue; specific class or industry eligibility still depends on underwriting. | IT and technology service businesses, including software/SaaS, hardware businesses, and consultants listed by Markel. 9Company-reported. general liability marketed by markel; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| Coverage Features | Hiscox's general-liability product page adds an electronic-data-liability provision for IT and technology professions on top of its standard general-liability coverage. 4Company-reported. Product-page description; specific wording, limits and exclusions are set by the issued policy and declarations. | The cited product page describes general liability with advertising and personal injury coverage available on an occurrence or claims-made basis for the IT-professional classes on this page. Marketing description only; actual coverage, exclusions, conditions, limits, and availability depend on the issued policy and jurisdiction. 9Company-reported. general liability marketed by markel; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| Limits and Retentions | The general-liability page does not publish a standard limit amount; example California consultant pricing shown on the page is explicitly labeled illustrative rather than a quote. 4Not publicly disclosed. Public product page as previously reviewed; actual limits, retentions and pricing are quote-specific. | The cited overview does not set a universal limit or retention for this line. Ask for the proposed policy form, limits, retentions, exclusions, and conditions in the quote. 9Not publicly disclosed. Only the cited marketing page was reviewed for published limit and retention information; no policy-form entitlement is inferred. |
| How to Apply | Hiscox says eligible buyers can apply for general liability online, with the policy issued by email and a certificate of insurance included in the welcome documents once the application is complete; buyers can also pay annually or monthly with no additional fees. 4Company-reported. Company-described online application and billing options; eligibility and binding conditions require confirmation on the actual application. | The page invites prospective customers or brokers to contact Markel or the named underwriting team. The page does not establish a quote, bind, or coverage-effective timeline. 9Company-reported. general liability marketed by markel; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| Claims Support | Hiscox says general-liability policyholders can report a claim online 24/7, and describes assigning a specialized claims professional to validate coverage on reported claims. 4,6Company-reported. Company-described claims process; does not establish claim outcomes or turnaround time. | Confirm in your quote. |
Full Comparison
More Hiscox vs Markel Insurance Comparisons
Other General Liability Insurance Comparisons
Sources
Hiscox
- Website Terms & Conditions of Use. Hiscox; Last modified May 28, 2024; Hiscox Inc. as Delaware corporation headquartered in Atlanta, d/b/a Hiscox Insurance Agency in CA, licensed intermediary for admitted and surplus-lines business with Hiscox Insurance Company Inc., other domestic insurers, and Lloyd’s syndicates; small-business online path distinguished from broker-only site sections. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Get A Small Business Insurance Quote. Hiscox; States that Hiscox offers general liability, professional liability, cyber security and business owner’s policies online; zip-code quote field; licensed-agent hours Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–10 p.m. ET and Saturday–Sunday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- General Liability Insurance. Hiscox; Online quote; 49-state and D.C. availability with Alaska excluded; broker-referral if not sold online; payment annually or monthly with no additional fees; online 24/7 claim reporting; policy issued via email and certificate in welcome documents; electronic data liability for IT professions; coverage subject to underwriting. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Hiscox US Agent Appetite Guide. Hiscox; Hiscox NOW admitted GL, PL, cyber and BOP underwritten by Hiscox Insurance Company Inc.; footer underwriting disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Start a Business Insurance Claim Online, by Phone or Mail. Hiscox; Online claim filing; specialized claims professional assignment; coverage validation. Accessed 2026-09-16.
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.
- IT Professionals E&O Insurance. Markel; General liability section; occurrence or claims-made availability for advertising and personal injury; limited to IT-professional context. Accessed 2026-09-30.
General Liability Insurance Guide
- Commercial general liability insurance. Insurance Information Institute; Coverage A; Coverage B; Coverage C; Purchasing commercial general liability insurance. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Commercial Insurance Guide. California Department of Insurance; Commercial General Liability; Commercial Automobile; What Should I Expect from a Broker-Agent?; How Are Commercial Policies Rated? Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Commercial General Liability Coverage Form. ISO; specimen hosted by Hiscox; I.A pp.1–5; I.B pp.6–7; I.C pp.7–8; Supplementary Payments p.8; II pp.9–10; III p.10; IV pp.10–12. Accessed 2026-09-16.
