Carrier comparison
Liberty Mutual vs. Markel for Workers' Comp
Liberty Mutual and Markel are two workers' compensation carriers we can quote side by side through Provident Financial Group, an independent agency. On one application we present every carrier we can access, ranked, so you can compare and purchase online.
Liberty Mutual and Markel take different approaches to workers' compensation for small businesses. The details below come directly from each carrier's record on this site — we present the facts we have verified so you can compare them directly, then request quotes through our agency. We do not rank one carrier above another; we show every option side by side.
When you submit one application through US Workers Comp Insure, we request quotes from every carrier we can access for your class code and state, including both Liberty Mutual and Markel where each carrier's appetite and underwriting criteria allow it. A carrier that declines is shown honestly rather than hidden, and a licensed agent at Provident Financial Group can explain why and what alternatives remain.
The two carriers
Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual is a Boston-based mutual insurer founded in 1912 and ranked among the largest property-casualty insurers in the world. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company carries an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent), affirmed September 10, 2025, and it writes workers' compensation across a broad range of account sizes.
- AM Best rating:
- A (Excellent) (as of 2025-09)
- How it’s quoted:
- Through our agency, alongside other carriers
Workers’ comp highlights
- AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent); Long-Term ICR a (Excellent), affirmed September 10, 2025
- Founded 1912 in Boston, Massachusetts; a policyholder-owned mutual insurer
- Ranks among the largest property-casualty insurers in the world
- Writes workers' compensation from small commercial accounts through large national programs
- Dedicated risk-control and claims resources for commercial policyholders
- Distributed through independent agents and brokers
Typical fit
- Small to large commercial employers seeking a top-ten U.S. carrier
- Businesses that value a mutual (policyholder-owned) company structure
- Multi-state or growing accounts that may need scale as they expand
- Employers wanting formal risk-control and claims support
Markel
Markel is a specialty insurer founded in 1930 by Samuel A. Markel in Norfolk, Virginia, now headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Its major insurance subsidiaries carry an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent), and its Markel Specialty division includes a small-business workers' compensation offering.
- AM Best rating:
- A (Excellent) (as of 2026-09)
- How it’s quoted:
- Through our agency, alongside other carriers
Workers’ comp highlights
- AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) for major operating entities, as of September 15, 2026
- Founded 1930 by Samuel A. Markel in Norfolk, Virginia
- Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, with offices across 18 countries
- Markel Specialty division offers workers' compensation for small businesses
- Built around specialty and non-standard commercial risks
- Distributed exclusively through independent agents
Typical fit
- Small businesses with specialty or non-standard risk characteristics
- Accounts that may not fit a standard-market carrier's appetite
- Employers already working with Markel for other specialty coverage lines
- Businesses comfortable with an agent-distributed specialty carrier
Compare up to 10 carriers in minutes.
One application goes out to every carrier we can access for your class of business. You get a ranked comparison you can review and purchase online — with a licensed agent available whenever you want one.
Mon–Fri, 8:00am–6:00pm ET · Independent agency licensed in 23 states
Side by side
| Attribute | Liberty Mutual | Markel |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier | Liberty Mutual | Markel |
| AM Best financial strength rating | A (Excellent) (as of 2025-09) | A (Excellent) (as of 2026-09) |
| How it's quoted | Through our agency, alongside other carriers | Through our agency, alongside other carriers |
| Typical account fit | Small to large commercial employers seeking a top-ten U.S. carrier; Businesses that value a mutual (policyholder-owned) company structure; Multi-state or growing accounts that may need scale as they expand | Small businesses with specialty or non-standard risk characteristics; Accounts that may not fit a standard-market carrier's appetite; Employers already working with Markel for other specialty coverage lines |
| Overview | Liberty Mutual is a Boston-based mutual insurer founded in 1912 and ranked among the largest property-casualty insurers in the world. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company carries an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent), affirmed September 10, 2025, and it writes workers' compensation across a broad range of account sizes. | Markel is a specialty insurer founded in 1930 by Samuel A. Markel in Norfolk, Virginia, now headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Its major insurance subsidiaries carry an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent), and its Markel Specialty division includes a small-business workers' compensation offering. |
How each is quoted through our agency
Liberty Mutual
Quoted through our agency alongside other carriers; we present every option side by side so you can compare and purchase online.
Markel
Quoted through our agency alongside other carriers; we present every option side by side so you can compare and purchase online.
The bottom line
There is no single "best" carrier between Liberty Mutual and Markel. The right fit depends on your operation, class codes, payroll and how each carrier's underwriting appetite lines up with your account — and that is exactly what one application, sent to every carrier we can access, is built to show you.
Rather than choosing one carrier up front, US Workers Comp Insure requests quotes from every carrier we can access for your state and class code, including Liberty Mutual and Markel where each carrier's criteria allow it, and presents them ranked side by side. A carrier that declines is shown honestly rather than hidden, and a licensed agent at Provident Financial Group can explain why and what alternatives remain.
Frequently asked questions
Are Liberty Mutual and Markel both available through your agency?
Yes. Both are carriers we can present side by side when you request workers' compensation quotes through our agency, alongside the other carriers we can access for your state and class code.
How do Liberty Mutual and Markel compare on AM Best rating?
Liberty Mutual carries an AM Best financial strength rating of A (Excellent) (as of 2025-09), and Markel carries A (Excellent) (as of 2026-09). Ratings are for identification only and do not imply an endorsement.
Which should I choose, Liberty Mutual or Markel?
There is no single best answer. The right carrier depends on your operation, class codes, payroll and how each carrier's underwriting appetite fits your account. Rather than picking one up front, we request quotes from every carrier we can access and show you a ranked comparison so you can decide.
Do I have to choose only one carrier to get a quote?
No. You submit one application and we request quotes from every carrier we can access for your account — including Liberty Mutual and Markel where each carrier's criteria allow it — then present them ranked side by side.
Is Liberty Mutual a mutual or a stock company?
Liberty Mutual is a mutual insurance company, meaning it is owned by its policyholders rather than shareholders.
What is Liberty Mutual's AM Best rating?
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company carries an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a (Excellent), affirmed September 10, 2025.
When was Markel founded?
Markel was founded in 1930 by Samuel A. Markel in Norfolk, Virginia.
What is Markel's AM Best rating?
Markel's major insurance-operating entities carry an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent), as of September 15, 2026, per Markel's own financial-strength disclosures.
Sources
- ratings.ambest.com — https://ratings.ambest.com/DisclosurePDF.aspx?AMBNum=2283
- libertymutual.com — https://www.libertymutual.com/awards-and-recognition
- markel.com — https://www.markel.com/about-us/financial-strength
- markel.com — https://www.markel.com/us/commercial/small-business/workers-compensation
- en.wikipedia.org — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markel_Group
Last reviewed · Reviewed by Provident Financial Group licensed agents
Carrier names are used for identification only; we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any carrier. Quotes are not offers of insurance; coverage and pricing are determined by each carrier’s underwriting.
US Workers Comp Insure is a brand of Provident Financial Group, a licensed independent insurance agency. NJ resident license; licensed in 23 states — NJ, NY, CT, VT, OH, MI, VA, PA, DE, MD, NC, SC, GA, FL, TX, KY, KS, CA, IN, AZ, DC, MA and NV. State license numbers available on request. We are an independent agency, not an insurer; coverage is underwritten by the issuing carrier and is subject to that policy's terms, conditions, limits and exclusions. Quotes are not offers of insurance, and no coverage is bound until confirmed in writing by a licensed agent. Carrier names are used for identification only; we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any carrier named on this site.
View this comparison at https://usworkerscompinsure.com/compare/liberty-mutual-vs-markel-workers-comp
Compare up to 10 carriers in minutes.
One application goes out to every carrier we can access for your class of business. You get a ranked comparison you can review and purchase online — with a licensed agent available whenever you want one.
Mon–Fri, 8:00am–6:00pm ET · Independent agency licensed in 23 states