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Before the subcontractor starts

A certificate is a start. Not the whole check.

Keep insurance questions from arriving after the crew does. Compare the subcontractor’s evidence with your contract and your own policy before relying on it.

  • Know who is insured
  • Check the required endorsements
  • Keep the evidence with the project

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Use the checklist

Is a subcontractor’s certificate of insurance enough?

Not by itself. A certificate shows insurance information; it does not amend the policy or automatically make your business an additional insured. Compare the written subcontract, your policy’s conditions and the subcontractor’s actual endorsements. Check employee coverage obligations under the applicable state rules as well. Resolve missing or conflicting evidence before work starts.

See how GC general liability works

Markets we place through.

Progressive Commercial
Chubb
Travelers
Nationwide
AmTrust
CNA
biBerk
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THREE

Make the check before mobilization.

A repeatable review helps you spot missing information while there is time to resolve it.

Project checklist

Before the sub starts

AgreementWritten scope and insurance terms
EvidenceCurrent certificate and endorsements
QuestionsResolved with the broker or carrier

  1. Read your own policy first

    Identify conditions for subcontracted work. Do not assume the contract alone satisfies the carrier’s requirements.

  2. Collect the right evidence

    Match the business name, work, policy dates, limits and requested endorsements. Keep the documents with the subcontract.

  3. Resolve gaps before work begins

    Ask the relevant broker or carrier to clarify missing or conflicting terms. A description added to a certificate cannot create coverage.

  4. Keep the record current

    Review renewals and scope changes during a longer project. Keep payment and insurance records for audits and later claims.

  5. Get a quote

Four documents. Four different jobs.

They support each other. None should be mistaken for all the others.

What it doesWhat it cannot do alone
SubcontractWhat it doesSets agreed duties and insurance requestsWhat it cannot do aloneAmend the carrier’s policy
CertificateWhat it doesProvides evidence of insurance informationWhat it cannot do aloneCreate additional insured status
EndorsementWhat it doesChanges policy terms, subject to conditionsWhat it cannot do alonePromise payment for every claim
Your policyWhat it doesDefines your own coverage and conditionsWhat it cannot do aloneReplace every subcontractor’s obligations

When to take a closer look.

These changes deserve more than another certificate on file.

01
A new trade or operation.

Excavation, demolition, roofing or design may change the exclusions and underwriting questions.

02
An uninsured subcontractor.

Review liability, workers’ comp and premium consequences before hiring. A tax classification is not insurance evidence.

03
A longer project.

Policies can renew or change before the job ends. Check dates and completed-work requirements.

04
A wrap-up program.

Project insurance can change what belongs on each contractor’s policy. Confirm enrollment, exclusions and work outside the project.

05
Different contract language.

Additional insured, primary wording and waivers are distinct requests. Ask counsel about legal obligations and your broker about insurance support.

Riza’s read

Bring us the insurance question before it becomes a project problem.

Send the insurance exhibit and the evidence you have. Riza helps compare insurance requests with policy terms and identify what needs clarification. Your attorney advises on legal obligations; the insurer confirms the coverage it offers.

What to keep with each subcontract.

Use this as a starting point, then add the requirements of your policy and project.

The agreement and scopeWho performs which work, where and when, plus the agreed insurance requirements.
Current insurance evidenceInsured name, policy dates, applicable limits and the required endorsements, not only a certificate.
Worker coverage informationWorkers’ comp evidence or a valid exemption reviewed against the actual state rules and relationship.
Changes and paymentsRenewal evidence, changed scope, written clarifications and payment records for the audit.

Put the answer to work.

Guide

General contractor insuranceSee the whole program, from the first bid to the next renewal.

Guide

General liability for GCsInjuries to others, damaged property and finished work.

Guide

Workers’ comp for GCsEmployees, subcontractors and the records behind your premium.

Plain answers before the next job.

Subcontractor insurance questions to settle before the job.

Does certificate holder mean additional insured?

No. Being listed as a certificate holder does not itself grant coverage under the policy. Additional insured status must be supported by the policy or an applicable endorsement, often with conditions. Ask for the relevant evidence rather than assuming the certificate’s recipient is insured.

Does a blanket additional insured endorsement always cover me?

No. Blanket wording can require a written agreement, particular relationships or other conditions. Ongoing operations and completed operations may also be treated differently. Review the wording and the project agreement before relying on it; the phrase blanket additional insured is not a universal guarantee.

Can a subcontractor’s claim reach my business?

Yes, your company can be named in a claim involving subcontracted work. Whether your policy, the subcontractor’s policy or another arrangement responds depends on the facts and terms. Contracts, additional insured provisions and your policy’s subcontractor conditions should be reviewed together.

Do I need workers’ comp if I only use subcontractors?

Do not decide from that label alone. State law, the actual working relationship and uninsured subcontractor rules can create obligations. Review the people performing the work and their insurance evidence. Contract requirements and premium-audit treatment are additional checks, even where you believe you have no employees.

Should I keep certificates after the job finishes?

Keep the project’s insurance evidence, contracts and payment records under a retention policy developed with your advisers. Later claims and audits can require historical documents. There is no single retention period appropriate to every policy and jurisdiction. Ask about the records your carrier requires and the completed-work obligations in the contract.

Sources.

  1. 01Texas Department of Insurance: certificates of insuranceWhy a certificate does not amend a policy. Checked September 16, 2026.
  2. 02Travelers: construction contractual risk transferContracts, coverage evidence and legal review. Checked September 16, 2026.
  3. 03North Carolina statute: principal contractor liabilityOne state’s rules for subcontractor employee injuries. Other states differ. Checked September 16, 2026.

You build what comes next. Let’s help protect it.

Tell us about your projects, or bring the policy you already have.

Prefer to talk? Call +1 802-GOT-RIZA · Sun to Sat, 8am to 8pm ET