Basic personal trainer liability insurance probably costs less than you think. With many companies, it’s just under $200 per year (at Insurance Canopy it’s even less). And yes, it is worth the cost.
You might be thinking, “Of course you’d say that, you’re an insurance company.” And you’d be right. But I’m also saying it because I am a personal trainer, and it’s true. To prove it, I will explain how much trainer insurance costs, what determines the price, and why it’s worth it.
What Is Personal Trainer Insurance and What Does It Cover?
Personal trainer insurance is your financial safety net, designed to keep you from falling into debt due to liability claims and lawsuits. It protects your business if a client gets hurt, someone’s property is damaged, or you’re named in a lawsuit.
Here’s a quick look at what personal trainer liability insurance covers:
- Costs of physical injuries and other harm done to others
- Costs to repair or replace property damage caused to others
- Legal defense costs like attorney’s fees, court costs, and settlements
What Is the Average Cost of Personal Trainer Insurance?
Most personal trainer liability policies cost between $160-$400 per year.
Personal trainer liability insurance from Insurance Canopy costs $159/year or $15/month, making it the most affordable plan on the market.
Starting Costs of Personal Trainer Liability Insurance by Company*
| Insurance Provider | Coverage | Limits | Estimated Monthly Cost | Estimated Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Insurance Canopy |
General + Professional Liability |
$3 million total |
$15 |
$159 |
|
Insure Fitness Group |
General + Professional Liability |
$3 million total |
~$17.78 |
$189 |
|
NEXT Insurance |
General + Professional Liability |
$1.5 million general limit $1.5 million professional limit |
~$18.34 |
$220.00 |
|
PHLY (Philadelphia) |
General + Professional Liability |
$3 million |
No monthly payment options |
$172 |
|
Thimble |
General + Professional Liability |
$1 million general limit $1 million professional limit |
~$75.27 |
$873.24 |
*Based on a personal trainer in Ohio, earning $50,000 or less, with no employees. Information pulled August 2025.
At Insurance Canopy, most fitness policyholders — including 74% of our yoga instructors — pay just $15/month for liability insurance. In return, Canopy policyholders receive:
- Protection against bodily injury, property damage, and negligence claims
- Protection against copyright, invasion of privacy, and defamation allegations
- Financial assistance for accidental damage done to spaces you rent for work
- Coverage for medical bills of others, regardless of fault
The Real Cost of Personal Trainer Insurance (& Why It’s Worth It)
Most personal trainer liability policies cost less than $20 a month. In comparison, medical care, insurance claims, and attorney rates start in the hundreds (and quickly escalate).
- The average urgent care visit: $180
- The average ER visit: $1,000-$2,000
- Average attorney rates: $200+ per hour
- Real personal trainer liability claims: $3,000-$200,000+
Look at it this way:
One average ER visit ($1,000) costs more than six years of insurance premiums ($159/year x 6 years = $954).
On top of these potential costs, consider this: since 2020, Canopy’s average payout for defending a personal trainer liability claim is $31,218. Most personal trainers don’t have an extra $1,000 lying around, let alone $30,000+.
In addition to the monetary risks of working uninsured, you also risk losing your clients’ trust and your overall reputation. If a client gets hurt while training with you and learns you don’t have liability insurance, how likely are they to recommend you to others? Probably not likely.
So, is personal trainer insurance really worth the cost? As both a personal trainer and a licensed insurance professional, I’m here to tell you: yes! Liability insurance for fitness instructors is absolutely worth it.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Personal Trainer Insurance: Explained
Several things contribute to the cost of personal trainer insurance. These typically include:
- What you teach and the other services you provide
- Where you work
- Your claims history
- The size of your business
- Your coverage limits
- Optional added coverages
Training Styles and Services
Some exercise styles or classes are considered more risky than others. For example, some training programs, like CrossFit, are considered high-impact and have a higher injury risk, while restorative yoga is considered less risky.
Some activities, like martial arts programs, are often seen as very high-impact and therefore very high risk to insurance carriers — which means carriers will charge even more to cover these programs or might exclude them from coverage altogether.
When activities are seen as more or less risky, insurance carriers may adjust the cost of premiums to match. Offering multiple services or teaching multiple exercise styles may also influence your policy premiums, since more services can mean more risk exposures.
Where You Work
Like your auto insurance, where you live and work (city/state) may influence your liability insurance rates. If you teach in multiple locations, you may need to add each of those gyms to your policy as an additional insured, which may also raise your premium.
The Size of Your Business
The bigger your business, the more clients you have. More clients mean more risk. And more risk means higher insurance costs.
This typically applies more to gyms or studio owners with hundreds of clients (and a physical building), and is less of a concern for independent or part-time personal trainers.
Your Claims History
Insurance carriers use your claims history as an indicator of future risk, or how likely you are to have more claims. If you’ve had a large claim recently, your premiums may increase or you may be denied coverage altogether.
Frequent small claims can also raise red flags (and your rates). Insurers may see repeated claims as a pattern that indicates poor safety practices, potential fraud, or higher overall risk.
Your Coverage Limits
Coverage limits are the dollar amounts your policy will pay for certain things during the policy period. Some states, cities, or gyms might require you to have specific limits to work in that area. Or, you might want higher limits yourself because you have a lot of clients.
In most cases, higher limits translate to higher policy prices.
Optional Coverages
Depending on your needs, you may want to add additional coverage options, like cyber liability or equipment coverage. Any coverage you add on top of a base policy typically comes with a small extra charge.
That being said, Insurance Canopy does not raise your rates based on:
- Your city/state*
- Your business size
- How many locations you work
- How many fitness styles you teach
- If you work in person, online, or both
Note: Our personal trainer insurance covers up to $3 million per policy year and $2 million per claim. If you need higher limits, give us a call at 844.520.6993 and our agents can help you get even more coverage to suit your business needs.
*Currently not for sale in Missouri
Get Insurance That Fits Your Needs & Your Budget
The best way to keep your liability insurance affordable is to only pay for coverage that you need. All fitness instructors — personal trainers, yoga teachers, group exercise instructors — need at minimum general liability and professional liability insurance.
These coverages apply to client injuries, accidental property damage, mistakes made while coaching, and any claims or lawsuits that may follow.
You need general and professional liability insurance if you train virtually or provide exercise programs online, too. Virtual clients can still get hurt following your advice, and they can still sue even if you weren’t in the room with them at the time.
Other coverages for personal trainers and when you may need them are outlined in the following table.
| Coverage | When & Why You Need It | Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
If you’re accused of invasion of privacy, defamation, or copyright infringement. |
Included with general liability |
|
|
If you rent a space to train in and you or your client accidentally damage the space. |
Included |
|
|
If someone gets hurt and the fault is unclear, you can still help pay for medical bills. |
Included |
|
|
If you own and use your own equipment and need help replacing it if it breaks. |
$1.33 to $5.55/month |
|
|
If you process or store any client information digitally and want protection in case of data breaches and other cyber attacks. |
$8.25/month |
|
|
If you offer nutritional services or advice in addition to workouts or classes. |
$6.83/month |
|
|
Sexual Abuse and Molestation Coverage (SAM) |
If you want or need coverage for defense costs if you’re wrongly accused of sexual harassment or improper conduct |
$10.33/month |
|
If a facility, landlord, or gym owner needs you to add them to your policy (in case they’re sued in a lawsuit alongside you).
|
$15/year for one, $30/year for unlimited additional insureds
|
The best time to get personal trainer insurance is before you work with your first client. The second best is before your next one!
Fortunately, Insurance Canopy allows you to customize your personal trainer policy quickly and easily all online — no phone calls needed. Plus, coverage is available instantly after checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Cost of Personal Trainer Insurance
Is Personal Trainer Insurance Required by Law?
No, there is no federal law requiring personal trainers to carry insurance. However, most facilities require you to have your own insurance.
Are There Fees or Additional Costs to Be Aware of Beyond the Base Insurance Premium?
When purchasing insurance online, there may be a small processing fee at checkout. The actual dollar amount of that fee depends on the provider.
What Payment Options Are Available, and Do Payment Plans Affect Overall Cost?
Most providers offer monthly and annual payment plans. Some (like PHLY) only offer annual plans.
Typically, annual plans are cheaper for a 12-month period than paying month-to-month.
For example, Insurance Canopy’s monthly rate of $15 equals $180 for 12 months. Our annual policy is only $159, which equates to $13.25/month (a savings of $21 over 12 months).
