Markel Insurance vs 
Nationwide: How Do They Compare for Builders Risk Insurance?
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. 1,2
What Is Nationwide?
Nationwide’s commercial catalogue includes common small-business policies and separate specialty products. A catalogue listing does not establish eligibility or policy terms; confirm the issuing company and coverage for your state and business. 4,5,6
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. 8,9,10,11
Key Differences in Builders Risk Insurance
Project Type and Duration
Markel highlights civil and mechanical engineering, bridges, dams, tunnels and power facilities, and says coverage periods may reach 60 months. Nationwide describes builders risk for construction projects through completion and identifies commercial or industrial construction among its target risks. For an infrastructure build with a long schedule, ask Markel to confirm its proposed term; for a commercial build, ask Nationwide how its completion milestone defines the end of coverage. 3 7
Property and Optional Protection
Nationwide lists property under construction, construction materials and temporary structures, with optional debris removal, earthquake, flood and business-income endorsements. Markel’s overview focuses on complex project types and capacity, without itemizing those property categories or options. Ask Nationwide which endorsements are available for your location and whether they change limits; ask Markel to show equivalent terms in its project-specific proposal if those exposures matter. 7 3
How Capacity Is Shown
Markel says it may write 100% or participate as a subscriber and that capacity depends on the project. Nationwide’s overview does not state a universal dollar limit. Request the quoted limit and each insurer’s share from both, especially if a lender or contract sets a minimum project value. 3 7
What to Confirm in Builders Risk Insurance Quotes
- Ask Nationwide to specify the project end point, endorsement availability, limits and deductibles for each location. 7
- Ask Markel for the actual period and limit and whether it is lead or subscriber. 3
- Compare covered property, temporary structures, debris removal and business-income triggers in the issued forms. 7 3
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.
Markel 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 reviewsNationwide
Review Score
4 rated sources
Experts like Nationwide more than customers do. NerdWallet gives it 4.5 out of 5 for business insurance, while small-business customers on ConsumerAffairs give it 2.5 out of 5 from 19 reviews.[1][10]
Read Nationwide reviewsOffering Details
Markel Insurance vs Nationwide: Builders Risk Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Markel builders risk | Nationwide builders risk (official overview) |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Markel offers builders-risk coverage for construction projects from basic four-wall risks to complex infrastructure and power projects. 3Company-reported. Large builders-risk page; specific project underwriting applies. | Nationwide describes offering builders risk for the audience stated on the cited product page. 7Company-reported. builders risk marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| Who It’s For | Targeted exposures include civil engineering, mechanical engineering and completed civil engineering projects, including bridges, dams, tunnels and power facilities. 3Company-reported. Published target examples; no eligibility guarantee. | Construction projects through completion; listed ideal risks include commercial/industrial construction and other named industries. 7Company-reported. builders risk marketed by nationwide; 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 | Confirm in your quote. | The cited product page describes property under construction, construction materials, and temporary structures, with optional endorsements such as debris removal, earthquake, flood, and business income. Marketing description only; actual coverage, exclusions, conditions, limits, and availability depend on the issued policy and jurisdiction. 7Company-reported. builders risk marketed by nationwide; 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 | 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. 3Company-reported. Program capability, not a commitment for an individual risk. | 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. 7Not publicly disclosed. Only the cited marketing page was reviewed for published limit and retention information; no policy-form entitlement is inferred. |
| How to Apply | Confirm in your quote. | The page directs prospective customers to contact an agent or request a quote. The page does not establish a quote, bind, or coverage-effective timeline. 7Company-reported. builders risk marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
Full Comparison
More Markel Insurance vs Nationwide Comparisons
Other Builders Risk Insurance Comparisons
Sources
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.
Nationwide
- Small Business Insurance. Nationwide; Small business products and solutions, lines 185–214: BOP, workers’ compensation, commercial auto, umbrella, EPLI, cyber and surety; purchase guidance lines 235–247. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Small Business Insurance Solutions for Agents. Nationwide; Specialized small commercial solutions: BOP, auto, workers’ compensation, cyber, EPLI, umbrella, inland marine and professional liability; page states appetite varies by state, lines 129–163, 191–193. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Terms and Conditions for Nationwide.com. Nationwide; P&C products not offered by all companies/states; policy/declarations control; NMI and affiliates may underwrite; each underwriter responsible for own products, lines 358–368 and 391–394. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Get Builder’s Risk Insurance - Nationwide. Nationwide; Additional builder's risk coverage; property under construction, materials, temporary structures, and endorsement examples. Accessed 2026-09-30.
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.
