Olli Insurance

Certificate of insurance for contractors

For contractors, a certificate of insurance is the ticket onto the job site. General contractors, clients, and property managers ask for one before work starts, as one-page proof that your business carries active coverage. That usually means general liability, often with workers comp alongside it.

No certificate usually means no work. Below is what requesters expect, and how to provide yours in minutes.

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Contractor sharing proof of insurance before a job

Why is a COI required before work starts?

Everyone above you on a job carries risk from your work. If your saw blade nicks a water line or a passerby trips over your materials, the resulting claim has to land somewhere. The GC, the client, and the property owner all want it landing on your policy rather than theirs.

General contractors collect certificates from every subcontractor because an uninsured sub exposes their own coverage and their contract with the owner. Most run a simple rule: no COI on file, no one on site.

Clients and homeowners ask for the same reason. Proof of insurance tells them an accident during your work won't turn into their personal expense. It also signals that you run a real operation.

Property managers typically require certificates from every vendor working in their buildings, from painters to HVAC techs, and track expiration dates so coverage never quietly lapses mid-contract.

What limits do requesters typically ask for?

The standard request is general liability with a $1,000,000 per-occurrence limit, which is the amount the policy pays for a single incident. That usually sits alongside a $2,000,000 general aggregate for the policy period. Those are the two numbers a GC's office checks first on your certificate.

If you have employees, requesters commonly want a workers comp line on the certificate as well, so an injured worker's claim stays on your policy instead of becoming a job-site dispute.

The exact requirements live in your contract, so read the insurance clause before you bid. If it asks for higher limits than you carry, the fix is adjusting the policy. A certificate only reflects whatever coverage is really in place.

What about additional insured requests?

Contracts often go one step past "show me a certificate" and ask you to name the GC or property owner as an additional insured. That's different from listing them as the certificate holder: a holder just receives a copy of the certificate, while an additional insured endorsement extends certain protections of your policy to them.

Many general liability policies offer additional endorsements like this. The endorsement changes the policy itself, and once it's in place, the change shows up on your certificate, which is exactly what the requester will look for.

How do subcontractors provide a COI?

The rhythm is the same on nearly every job:

  1. 1The GC or client sends insurance requirements: coverage types, limits, and who to list as the certificate holder.
  2. 2You request a certificate matching those requirements from your insurer, or download one from your account if your coverage lives online.
  3. 3The requester reviews it, files it, and clears you to start. Many will ask for a fresh certificate at each renewal.

With Olli, that middle step takes minutes: general liability coverage comes with instant certificates, so proof is ready the moment your policy is. Landing a job on Friday afternoon no longer means waiting on an agent's Monday callback.

Working a specific trade? See what coverage looks like for plumbers, electricians, and handymen.

Common questions

Why does a general contractor need my certificate of insurance?

If an uninsured sub causes an injury or property damage on a job, the claim can land on the GC's own policy and drive up their costs. Collecting a COI from every subcontractor is how GCs prove to their client, and to their own insurer, that everyone on site carries coverage.

What insurance limits do contractors usually need on a COI?

The most common request is general liability with a $1,000,000 per-occurrence limit, often paired with a $2,000,000 general aggregate. If you have employees, requesters typically want a workers comp line on the certificate too. Always check the contract. The required limits are usually written into it.

Can a general contractor be added as an additional insured?

Often, yes. Many general liability policies offer additional endorsements, and an additional insured endorsement extends certain protections of your policy to the GC. That's a change to the policy itself, and once it's made, it shows up on your certificate.

How fast can a contractor get a certificate of insurance?

With coverage that lives online, minutes. Olli's general liability policies include instant certificates. Once your policy is active, you download proof from your account. Through a traditional agency, expect anywhere from a few hours to a few days.

Does every subcontractor on a job need their own COI?

Generally, yes. Each business on site carries its own policy and provides its own certificate. Your certificate covers your business. It doesn't extend to other subs you bring onto the job, which is why GCs collect one from everyone.

What happens if my certificate expires mid-project?

Expect the requester to ask for an updated one. Many track expiration dates and follow up automatically. As long as you renew your policy, providing a fresh certificate takes minutes. A lapsed policy is the real problem, since work often stops until proof of active coverage is back on file.

Get job-site ready

Get a general liability quote in minutes. Once your policy is active, download your certificate and send it to the GC.

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See how Olli generates your certificate