Do I Need a Certificate of Insurance?

What is a Certificate of Insurance?

A Certificate of Insurance, often called a COI, is a document that summarizes a contractor’s insurance coverage. When hiring a painting company, homeowners should request a COI before the project begins.

The certificate should come from the contractor’s insurance provider or agent and should show important policy information, including the insured company name, policy dates, coverage types, insurance limits, and certificate holder information.

Why homeowners should ask for a COI

Painting projects involve ladders, tools, equipment, vehicles, surface preparation, materials, and workers inside or around your home. A COI gives homeowners an added level of confidence that the company they are hiring carries insurance coverage for business operations.

The best time to ask whether a painter is fully insured is during the initial contact when setting up the estimate. Once you receive the quote and decide to move forward, request the COI before work is scheduled to begin.

Ask to be listed as the Certificate Holder

When requesting the certificate, let your painting contractor know that you prefer to have your name and address added as the Certificate Holder. This helps tie the certificate to your specific project location.

If you own multiple properties and the contractor will be working at more than one location, request a separate COI for each property address.

What coverage should a painting contractor carry?

Homeowners should read through the certificate carefully and confirm the listed coverage types. Common insurance categories to look for include:

• General Liability: helps address certain claims involving property damage or bodily injury related to business operations.
• Workers Compensation: helps address employee injury coverage according to applicable requirements.
• Commercial Auto: applies to business vehicles used in connection with the contractor’s operations.
• Umbrella Liability: may provide additional liability coverage above certain underlying policy limits.

Should you ask about Additional Insured status?

In some cases, a homeowner, property manager, association, or project requirement may request Additional Insured wording. This is different from being listed as the Certificate Holder. If you need Additional Insured status, ask the contractor and their insurance agent whether it can be added and what wording applies.

How to verify a painting contractor’s COI

After receiving the certificate, do not be afraid to contact the insurance agency listed on the document. A short verification call can help confirm that the certificate is legitimate and that the policy is active.

• Confirm the named insured: make sure the company name matches the painting contractor you are hiring.
• Confirm policy dates: verify the coverage is active during your project timeline.
• Confirm coverage types: ask whether General Liability, Workers Compensation, Commercial Auto, and Umbrella coverage are listed.
• Confirm your property address: make sure the certificate holder information is correct.
• Ask questions: prepare a list of questions before calling the insurance agent.

Repeat customers should still request a current COI

Even when hiring a painting company you have used before, ask for a current Certificate of Insurance. If the existing certificate is still valid and the work is being completed at the same property, you can reconfirm the COI with the listed carrier or agent.

Insurance policies renew, expire, change, or update over time. Confirming the current certificate is a simple step that helps keep the project organized and properly documented.

What a professional painting company should provide

A professional painting contractor should be able to provide a COI when requested. They should also be willing to add the proper certificate holder information, answer basic insurance-related questions, and direct you to their insurance agent when verification is needed.

For luxury residential painting projects, documentation matters. Clear proposals, defined scope of work, proper insurance documentation, and professional communication all help create a better homeowner experience.