Pennsylvania Business Insurance Guide 2026

Who must carry it: 1 or more employees (PA Department of Labor & Industry, Workers' Compensation Compliance).

Exemptions and exclusions

An employer is excused only if all of its workers fall into excluded categories, such as federal workers, longshoremen and railroad workers; casual workers outside the regular course of business; certain home-based piece workers; agricultural laborers earning under $1,200 a year and working under 30 days; domestic workers who have not elected coverage; sole proprietors or general partners; workers with an approved religious exemption; approved executive officer exclusions; and certain commission-only real estate and insurance agents. Part-time workers and family members, such as a spouse or children, are not excluded (PA Department of Labor & Industry, Workers' Compensation Compliance).

Coverage can come from the State Workers' Insurance Fund (SWIF), a private insurer or approved self-insurance (PA Department of Labor & Industry, Workers' Compensation Compliance).

The agency to ask is the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, Bureau of Workers' Compensation. To check a proposal's payroll arithmetic, use the workers' comp calculator; the workers' compensation guide explains what the coverage pays for.

Pennsylvania's minimum auto liability limits:

• Bodily injury liability: $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident
• Property damage liability: $5,000 per accident
• Start date: not stated in the source; confirmed in force on October 3, 2026
• Source: 75 Pa.C.S. § 1702, definition of "Financial responsibility" (Pennsylvania General Assembly, Title 75 Chapter 17)

Insurers must also include a $5,000 first-party medical benefit on liability policies for vehicles required to be registered in Pennsylvania (75 Pa.C.S. § 1702, definition of "Financial responsibility" (Pennsylvania General Assembly, Title 75 Chapter 17)). Ask your insurer whether these also apply to your commercial and fleet policies.

Commercial and for-hire vehicles can face different or higher federal or state requirements, and leases, lenders and clients can ask for more; see our commercial auto guide.

According to NCSL's table, last updated November 7, 2025 (NCSL: state family and medical leave laws), cross-checked on October 3, 2026 with the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau, Pennsylvania has no state paid family and medical leave insurance program and no state temporary disability insurance program.

Compilations can lag new laws, as Virginia's 2026 program shows (Code of Virginia § 60.2-801). Before planning Pennsylvania payroll for a future year, confirm the position with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.

Contracts and licenses can add their own conditions: a Pennsylvania license, a lease or a client agreement can name general liability limits or certificate wording. The certificate of insurance checklist tracks them, and the requirements-by-state guide covers other states.

• Workers' compensation: Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, Bureau of Workers' Compensation
• Auto liability minimums: 75 Pa.C.S. § 1702, definition of "Financial responsibility" (Pennsylvania General Assembly, Title 75 Chapter 17)
• Paid leave and disability insurance: NCSL state family and medical leave laws and the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau

To prepare, run the state requirements checklist with your employee count and vehicle use; for a PolicyBenchmark follow-up, request coverage help.