Requirements and compliance
Licensing minimums are one thing. What the general contractor's contract demands is usually higher. Here is the difference.
Check my requirementMinimum limits set by the state are almost never enough to satisfy a subcontract.
| Requirement | Typical state minimum | Common contract requirement |
|---|---|---|
| General liability per occurrence | $300,000 to $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
| General aggregate | $600,000 to $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Additional insured | Not required | Required, ongoing and completed operations |
| Waiver of subrogation | Not required | Required |
| Workers compensation | Required with employees | Required, with waiver of subrogation |
Almost every certificate problem traces back to one of these three.
Additional insured status extends the policy to protect the general contractor for your work. It has to specify ongoing and completed operations, or it lapses the day the job ends.
Primary and non-contributory wording means your policy pays first and does not ask the general contractor's carrier to share the loss. Without it, the two carriers argue while you wait.
Waiver of subrogation stops your carrier from pursuing the general contractor after paying a claim. It is a standard requirement and a standard endorsement, but it has to be requested.
No, but some states require proof of insurance to issue or renew the license, so the two are usually handled together.
The policy form is broadly similar but minimum limits, filing rules and available markets vary considerably.
Tell us every state you operate in. The policy needs to list them, and pricing follows the highest-exposure state.
The current declarations page and every endorsement
Certificates already issued, with the requirement they satisfied
Loss runs, requested at least 60 days before renewal
Subcontractor certificates, with expiry dates tracked
Send us the requirement or the state you are working in and we will tell you what applies.
