Non-renewed by your carrier in SC? Hit with a 40% renewal? Declined by every standard market? You’re not alone, and there are specialty carriers still writing — if you know who to call.
The 2024 SC Tort Reform Act modified joint-and-several liability and damages rules, but several specialty carriers had already exited or restricted SC contractor lines, and replacement capacity is still rebuilding through 2026. The result: SC contractors face 25-50% premium increases and outright non-renewals on accounts that bound easily two years ago.
If you’ve received a non-renewal notice, every day matters. Here’s the order:
| Carrier | Sweet spot | Tight on |
|---|---|---|
| Markel | Specialty, mid-market, distressed at a premium | Nothing — they write most things at the right price |
| Westchester (Chubb) | Mid-market and upper-tier, $50K+ premium | Residential defect exposure |
| ICW Group | Selective civil and commercial contracting | Residential, prior claims, coastal Tier 1 |
| Builders Mutual | SE construction, still active | Tighter underwriting; needs clean OSHA |
| AmTrust | Smaller accounts under 30 employees | Mod above 1.10, prior claims |
| Auto-Owners | Multi-line bundles | Standalone WC, residential |
| FCCI Insurance Group | SE focused, selective | Coastal, residential defect |
| Surplus lines (CRC, AmWINS, Burns & Wilcox) | Distressed risks, manuscript endorsements | Premium 50-150% above admitted |
The 2024 SC Tort Reform Act modified joint-and-several liability and damages rules. Several specialty carriers had already exited or restricted SC contractor lines, and replacement capacity is still rebuilding through 2026. The result: SC contractors face 25-50% premium increases and outright non-renewals on accounts that bound easily two years ago. Residential exposure is hit hardest.
Active 2026 SC markets: Markel, Westchester (Chubb), ICW Group, Builders Mutual, AmTrust, Auto-Owners, FCCI, and select surplus lines via CRC, AmWINS, and Burns & Wilcox. Standard markets like Travelers and Hartford are declining residential exposure outright. The SC State Fund is the WC last-resort.
Pull complete loss runs from the outgoing carrier same day. Get current CPA-prepared financials and 3 years of OSHA 300 logs ready. Inventory subcontractor COIs. Contact an independent agency with active SC specialty relationships within 7 days. Plan for a 30-50% premium increase as baseline. Distressed accounts with ex-mod above 1.20 may need surplus lines placement at 75-150% above the prior premium.