Shopping Berkshire Hathaway GUARD against AmTrust is a good instinct — they’re both legitimate options, and the honest answer to “which is better” is almost always “for which business?” As an independent agency we quote both, so you compare real numbers instead of reputations. Get multiple quotes within minutes.

How they compare

Two of the biggest names in main-street workers’ comp. GUARD (backed by Berkshire Hathaway’s balance sheet) is known for disciplined underwriting and strong pricing on the light-to-medium hazard classes it wants. AmTrust is one of the largest small-business comp writers in the country with famously wide appetite — niche and harder classes that other carriers decline often find a home there. Clean, low-hazard risk? Both will fight for it. Unusual class code? AmTrust is more likely to quote it; GUARD is more likely to be cheapest when it says yes.

What actually decides it

• Your class code: appetite differences between carriers dwarf brand differences — the “cheaper” carrier flips by class
• Your state: filed rates vary by state; a carrier that wins in NJ may lose in FL
• Your experience mod: a clean mod earns credits at both; a rough one changes who’ll even quote
• Billing fit: pay-as-you-go options differ — they matter for seasonal and variable payrolls

Read the full reviews

Deep-dives on each: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD workers’ comp review and AmTrust workers’ comp review. Or skip straight to numbers — we’ll quote both side by side.

Frequently asked questions

Is Berkshire Hathaway GUARD or AmTrust cheaper for workers’ comp?

It depends on your class code, state, and experience mod — each carrier’s filed rates and appetite differ enough that the winner flips business by business. The only reliable answer is quoting both, which we do in one pass.

Can I get quotes from both at once?

Yes — that’s the point of an independent agency. One submission, multiple carrier quotes, one side-by-side answer.

Stop guessing — see both prices. Get multiple quotes within minutes.