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State files updated Oct 27, 2026
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Contractor Certificate of Insurance (COI): How to Check One

A certificate of insurance is a one-page summary, usually on the ACORD 25 form, that a contractor's insurance agent issues to show which policies are in force, their limits and their dates. The form itself says it is issued as a matter of information only and confers no rights on the certificate holder, so check the dates and limits against the job and call the agent if anything looks off. District of Columbia and Mississippi and North Dakota and Oregon and Tennessee and Utah and Washington require the licensing board to be named as certificate holder[dlcp.dc.gov].

  1. Insurer and NAIC numberEach policy row points to an insurer letter (A, B, C...) listed at the top with its NAIC company code.
  2. Policy numberOne per line of coverage: general liability, auto, umbrella, workers' comp.
  3. Effective and expiration datesThe policy has to be in force on the days the work happens, not only on the date the certificate was printed.
  4. LimitsGeneral liability shows each-occurrence and general-aggregate limits; workers' comp shows employer's liability each accident.
  5. Named insuredThe business on the certificate should match the business on the license and the contract.
  6. Certificate holderYou, or whoever asked for the certificate. Being listed as holder gives you notice, not coverage.

What should you check on a contractor's certificate of insurance?

Match the named insured to the license record, confirm the policy dates cover the job, compare the limits with the state minimum and your contract, and look for a workers' comp line if the contractor has a crew. Look up the license to see the bond and workers' comp status the state has on file.

What if there's no workers' comp on the certificate?

The contractor may have filed an exemption with the state instead. In California, 113,780 of 233,628 active licenses (48.7%) carry one[cslb.ca.gov]. In Oregon, 23,187 of 44,531 active licenses (52.1%) carry one[data.oregon.gov]. Each state's rule is on its insurance page.

What are the state insurance minimums for contractors?

They vary by state and license class, and some set none. Contractor insurance and bond requirements by state

Sources

  1. District of Columbia contractor insurance rule (dlcp.dc.gov)
  2. Mississippi contractor insurance rule (msboc.us)
  3. North Dakota contractor insurance rule (sos.nd.gov)
  4. Oregon contractor insurance rule (oregon.gov)
  5. Tennessee contractor insurance rule (tn.gov)
  6. Utah contractor insurance rule (commerce.utah.gov)
  7. Washington contractor insurance rule (lni.wa.gov)
  8. CA CSLB License Master (cslb.ca.gov data portal) (cslb.ca.gov, 2026-10-26)
  9. OR CCB via data.oregon.gov (g77e-6bhs) (data.oregon.gov, 2026-10-27)