Last Updated: November 2, 2026
Quick Summary
To verify roofing contractor insurance, request the certificate of insurance in writing, then call the carrier directly to confirm the policy is active, the named insured matches, and roofing work is covered. Check license status and document every confirmation before signing.
- A certificate of insurance proves a policy existed on the issue date, not that it is still active.
- Call the carrier’s official number, not the one printed on the certificate.
- Confirm the policy’s classification includes roofing, since policies written for carpentry may exclude roof work.
- Ask for a contract clause requiring updated certificates before any renewal during the project.
- Treat any mid-project lapse as a stop-work event until the carrier confirms reinstatement in writing.
Table of Contents
- Why Roofing Contractor Insurance Verification Protects Your Home
- Step 1: Request the Roofing Contractor Certificate of Insurance
- Step 2: Verify Contractor Liability Insurance Limits and Dates
- Step 3: Confirm Roofing Contractor Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Step 4: Call the Insurance Carrier for Direct Confirmation
- Step 5: Check License Status and Good Standing
- Step 6: Ask a Roofing Contractor These Insurance Questions
- Step 7: Document Coverage and Handle Mid-Project Expiration
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Roofing Contractor Insurance Verification Protects Your Home
A roofing contractor’s insurance is the only thing standing between your home and a bill you never agreed to pay.
This guide walks through the seven steps a homeowner can take before signing anything. For the coverage conversation itself, see our step-by-step guide on how to negotiate roof replacement with insurance. Each step takes minutes. Together they close the gap between a contractor who says they’re insured and one who actually is.
The stakes are simple. Roofing is one of the most dangerous trades in residential construction, and work on your property creates liability the moment a crew arrives.
Below, we’ll show you exactly how to verify roofing contractor insurance, from the first document request to the final contract clause.
Step 1: Request the Roofing Contractor Certificate of Insurance
Start by asking for the roofing contractor certificate of insurance in writing before any work begins. A legitimate contractor will send it the same day, usually by email. Hesitation here is your first warning sign.
The certificate of insurance, often called a COI, is a one-page summary from the contractor’s insurance agent. It lists the carrier, policy numbers, coverage types, limits, and expiration dates.
What a COI Shows and What It Leaves Out
A COI proves a policy existed on the date it was issued. It does not prove the policy is still active, that premiums are paid, or that the coverage applies to roof work on your home.
That distinction matters. Certificates are generated by agents and can be issued for policies that later cancel for nonpayment. The document also won’t tell you about exclusions tucked into the policy itself.
Step 2: Verify Contractor Liability Insurance Limits and Dates
General liability insurance covers third-party bodily injury and property damage caused by the contractor’s work.
Coverage limits should be high enough to rebuild a home, not just patch a leak.
Watch out: a certificate that expires in the middle of your roof replacement leaves you exposed for the remainder of the job. Note the policy period and calendar the renewal date.
Step 3: Confirm Roofing Contractor Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Workers’ compensation insurance covers medical bills and lost wages when a roofing crew member is injured on your property.
Ask for the workers’ comp section of the certificate specifically. General liability alone does not cover employee injuries. If the contractor uses subcontractors, ask whether those crews carry their own coverage or fall under the contractor’s policy.
Best for: homeowners hiring a company with full-time crews.
Skip if: you’re only requesting a free inspection with no work performed.
Step 4: Call the Insurance Carrier for Direct Confirmation
Calling the carrier is a step that can separate a real verification from a paperwork glance. A certificate of insurance is evidence that coverage was reported to an agent on a given date, it is not the policy itself, and it does not guarantee the policy is in force, paid, or written to cover roof work on your home. The phone call closes that gap.
Source the carrier’s number independently
Do not dial the number printed on the certificate. Certificates are generated by agents and can carry a broker’s number or a stale number. Instead:
- Take the carrier’s legal name from the certificate (for example, the underwriting company, not the agency or the brand).
- Search the carrier’s official website for its claims or policyholder service line.
- Cross-check that the carrier is authorized to write policies in your state using the state department of insurance lookup, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance publishes a carrier search, and most states offer an equivalent.
If the carrier name on the certificate does not appear in the state’s authorized-carrier list, stop. A policy from an unauthorized carrier is difficult to enforce when a claim arrives.
What to ask the carrier representative
Ask for a policyholder services or underwriting representative, not the agent who wrote the certificate. Give them the policy number, the named insured (the contractor’s legal business name), and the effective date. Then confirm, in this order:
Schedule An Appointment Today →
- Status: Is the policy active today, and has any cancellation or non-renewal notice been filed? Ask for the cancellation effective date if one exists.
- Named insured: Does the legal business name match the contractor and the name on your contract exactly? A policy written to a different entity, a sister company, an individual owner, or a defunct LLC, may not respond to a claim.
- Coverage parts and limits: Confirm general liability and workers’ compensation limits match the certificate, and ask whether the general liability policy is written on an occurrence or claims-made basis. Occurrence policies respond to injuries that happen during the policy period even if the claim is filed later; claims-made policies may not.
A COI lists coverage types and limits but typically omits endorsements and exclusions. Two contractors can show identical certificates while one policy excludes residential roof replacement and the other covers it. The carrier call is where that difference surfaces.
Document the confirmation
Write down the date and time of the call, the representative’s name or reference number, the policy number, and each answer you received. Ask the representative to email a written confirmation if your state or the carrier allows it. Save that email with the certificate.
A common pattern is for homeowners to call once, hear “yes, active,” and stop there.
Step 5: Check License Status and Good Standing
A valid license and active insurance should match.
Tennessee requires home improvement contractors to register with the state, and the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors maintains public records you can search. Once the license and insurance check out, you can contact Covenant Roofing & Restoration to schedule a free roof inspection or estimate.
For a deeper look at credentials, read our guide on questions to ask before you hire a roofer. You can also read more about Covenant Roofing & Restoration before you proceed.
Federal Trade Commission consumer guidance on home improvement scams is worth a read before any major project. It covers the fraud warning signs that show up again and again.
Step 6: Ask a Roofing Contractor These Insurance Questions
Ask these questions out loud and write down the answers. A contractor who answers clearly and without delay is usually the one who has nothing to hide.
- Is the policy active today, and when does it renew?
- Does general liability cover roof replacement work specifically?
- Does workers’ comp cover every crew member who will be on my property?
Request documentation for any answer you don’t fully understand. The Insurance Information Institute explains how additional insured status works and why it matters to a homeowner.
Step 7: Document Coverage and Handle Mid-Project Expiration
Most guides stop at “get a certificate.” The harder problem is what happens after work starts, when a policy lapses, a carrier cancels, or a certificate turns out to be unverifiable. This section covers the documentation and contract safeguards that protect you when the paperwork changes mid-project.
Build a verification file before work begins
Keep a single folder, digital or paper, containing:
- The certificate of insurance, including any endorsements or additional-insured pages.
- Your call log from Step 4: date, representative, reference number, and answers.
- The signed contract, including the insurance-maintenance clause described below.
If you are named as certificate holder or additional insured, you should receive notice of cancellation. Confirm with the agent that the notice requirement is actually written into the policy, not just promised in conversation.
Put insurance maintenance in the contract
The written agreement is your leverage. Ask for a clause that requires the contractor to:
- Maintain general liability and workers’ compensation coverage at stated minimum limits for the full project duration.
- Provide an updated certificate before any renewal or expiration date that falls during the project.
- Notify you in writing within a set number of days of any cancellation, non-renewal, or material change in coverage.
A contractor who resists these terms is telling you something. The clause costs nothing to agree to if the coverage is real.
When coverage cannot be verified
If the carrier cannot confirm the policy, the named insured does not match, or the roofing classification is missing, pause. Do not let work begin or continue on an unverified policy. Ask the contractor for a corrected certificate or a written explanation from the agent. If the answer is evasive, treat it as a disqualifier, the cost of switching contractors is small compared with an uninsured injury on your property.
When a policy expires or cancels mid-project
A policy can lapse for nonpayment, cancel for underwriting reasons, or simply expire during a multi-week roof replacement. The sequence that protects you:
- Pause non-emergency work until coverage is confirmed. Emergency tarping to prevent further damage is a judgment call, but full replacement should wait.
- Request a new certificate showing the renewal or replacement policy, with effective dates that cover the remaining work.
- Call the new carrier and repeat the Step 4 confirmation, do not accept the new certificate at face value.
- Confirm reinstatement in writing if the same policy was cancelled and later reinstated. A reinstatement letter from the carrier is the document that matters, not a verbal assurance.
- Document the gap, the dates coverage lapsed, what work occurred, and what you did in response.
The certificate gets you to the phone call; the contract and the call log get you through the project. Insist on being named as certificate holder, keep a dated verification file, and treat any mid-project lapse as a stop-work event until the carrier confirms reinstatement in writing.
If a dispute does arise, the same record-keeping discipline applies as with how to document storm damage for insurance claims.
If coverage lapses or cancels while your roof is being replaced, follow this sequence to protect yourself.
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Pause work | Hold non-emergency work until coverage is confirmed |
| Request new certificate | Get one showing renewal or replacement policy and effective dates |
| Call the new carrier | Repeat the Step 4 confirmation; don’t accept the certificate at face value |
| Confirm reinstatement | Get a written reinstatement letter from the carrier if a policy was reinstated |
| Document the gap | Record lapse dates, work that occurred, and your response |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a roofing contractor’s insurance?
Ask for a certificate of insurance naming you or your lender as certificate holder, then call the insurance carrier’s number listed on the certificate to confirm the policy is active, the coverage limits match, and the expiration date extends past your project. Cross-check the contractor’s license status with the state licensing board. Keep copies of every document. A certificate alone is not proof of coverage, so direct confirmation with the insurer is the step that actually protects you.
What happens if an uninsured roofer is injured on my property?
Without workers’ compensation insurance, an injured roofer may pursue a claim against your homeowner policy for medical bills and lost wages. That can raise your premiums or lead to a lawsuit. Verify roofing contractor workers’ compensation insurance before work begins by confirming the policy directly with the carrier. If the contractor uses subcontractors, ask for their certificates too, because a gap in any crew member’s coverage exposes you the same way.
What should I do if the contractor’s insurance expires before the job is finished?
Ask the contractor for an updated certificate of insurance showing the renewal, then confirm the new policy with the carrier before work continues. Put a clause in your contract requiring notice of any policy cancellation or non-renewal during the project. If coverage lapses and the contractor cannot show an active policy, pause the work. An uninsured crew on your roof means any injury or property damage falls back on you.
Should I call the insurance company to verify a contractor’s coverage?
Yes. Call the insurance agent or carrier listed on the certificate using a number you look up independently, not one the contractor provides. Confirm the policy number, coverage limits, effective and expiration dates, and whether the policy is still active. Ask whether any cancellation notice has been filed. This direct confirmation step catches expired policies, cancelled coverage, and certificates that were altered, which is why it matters more than the paperwork alone.
