What Insurance Covers Damage To Customer Property?
CGL may cover liability for accidental damage to customer property, but care-custody-control exclusions can apply.
Commercial general liability is generally the coverage line to examine for third-party bodily injury or property damage from premises or operations. The policy responds only when its insuring agreement, definitions, and covered-cause requirements are satisfied; the line name by itself does not establish that a loss qualifies. Damage to customer property can trigger CGL, but property being repaired, stored, or controlled by the contractor may meet a care-custody-control exclusion.
Common exceptions include exclusions, sublimits, deductibles, and conditions specific to the insured property, claimant, or event. Different forms can treat closely related losses differently, so a quote summary or certificate is not enough to establish the complete terms. The policy and endorsements control.
For this exposure, check insured locations, occurrence terms, exclusions, and liability limits. Ask the broker to point to the applicable grant and exception in the actual form, and verify who is insured, the policy period, limits, and claim-notice steps.
Related Coverage
Sources
- Commercial general liability insurance. Insurance Information Institute; Coverage A: Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Purchasing commercial general liability insurance; Directors and Officers liability. Accessed 2026-09-25.
- Commercial General Liability Coverage Form. ISO; specimen hosted by Hiscox; I.A.2.j–n pp.4–5; I.A.2.c–g pp.2–4; III pp.10. Accessed 2026-09-25.



