Trust and Verification
How to Verify a Texas Roofing Contractor's Insurance (Certificate of Insurance Checklist)
A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is the standard document a roofing contractor should be able to hand over before work starts, and actually verifying it -- rather than just glancing at the logo -- means checking that the named insured matches the contractor's real business name, confirming the policy dates cover your full project timeline, making sure both general liability and workers' compensation are listed rather than just one, and calling the issuing agent directly using contact information you look up yourself, since a COI can be outdated, cancelled, or altered without a homeowner ever finding out until something goes wrong.
Direct Answer
A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is the standard document a roofing contractor should be able to hand over before work starts, and actually verifying it -- rather than just glancing at the logo -- means checking that the named insured matches the contractor's real business name, confirming the policy dates cover your full project timeline, making sure both general liability and workers' compensation are listed rather than just one, and calling the issuing agent directly using contact information you look up yourself, since a COI can be outdated, cancelled, or altered without a homeowner ever finding out until something goes wrong.
What to actually check on the certificate
A COI is a one-page summary an insurance agent issues on request -- it's designed to be checked, and a legitimate agent expects homeowners to call and confirm it.
- The "named insured" on the certificate matches the contractor's exact legal business name (and any DBA) as it appears on your contract -- a mismatch is worth asking about directly before work begins.
- The policy effective and expiration dates fully cover your expected project timeline, including a reasonable buffer for weather delays.
- General liability coverage is listed with a specific dollar limit -- ask your own insurance agent what limit is reasonable for a job of your size and location rather than assuming a number, since typical limits vary by contractor size and region.
- Workers' compensation coverage is listed as a separate line item, not just general liability -- this is what protects you financially if a worker is injured on your property during the job.
- Ask to be added as a "certificate holder" on the policy so the insurer notifies you directly if the policy is cancelled or lapses mid-project, instead of finding out after an incident.
- Call the insurance agent or company shown on the certificate directly, using a phone number you find independently online rather than one provided by the contractor, and ask them to confirm the policy is currently active and matches what's on the certificate.
- If the insurance company itself is unfamiliar, look it up through the Texas Department of Insurance's company lookup to confirm it's a real, authorized carrier rather than a fabricated or out-of-state entity with no Texas presence.
Why a photocopy alone isn't enough
- A certificate of insurance is a snapshot at the moment it was issued -- policies can be cancelled for non-payment weeks later, and the paper certificate a contractor hands you doesn't update itself.
- Confirming a COI costs a homeowner nothing but a short phone call, and a legitimate contractor's insurance agent is generally used to fielding these calls from clients.
- Because Texas has no statewide roofing license, insurance verification carries more practical weight here than it would for a licensed trade where a state board provides its own layer of accountability.
- If a contractor is reluctant to provide a current certificate or resistant to you calling their agent to confirm it, treat that reluctance itself as useful information.
Sources
The data above is cited directly from these publishers - follow the links to read the original reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between general liability and workers' compensation insurance for a roofer?
General liability generally covers damage to your property caused by the contractor's work. Workers' compensation covers medical costs and lost wages if one of the contractor's workers is injured on the job, including on your property -- without it, a homeowner can potentially be exposed to liability for an injury that happens during the work.
Is workers' compensation insurance required for roofing contractors in Texas?
Texas is unusual in that workers' compensation coverage is optional for most private employers, including roofing contractors, rather than legally mandated the way it is in most other states. That makes it even more important to specifically ask whether a roofer carries it and to verify the coverage directly, since it can't be assumed the way it might be in a state where it's required by law.
How do I find an insurance agent's real contact information to verify a certificate?
Search for the insurance company or agency name shown on the certificate independently online -- through the company's own official website or the Texas Department of Insurance's company lookup -- rather than calling a number provided by the contractor, since that removes the possibility of being routed to someone other than the actual insurer.