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Checklist

Contract Insurance Checklist

Check GL limits, endorsements, certificates, and policy terms before signing a contractor agreement.

Contract Insurance Checklist

Check GL limits, endorsements, certificates, and policy terms before signing a contractor agreement.

Checklist

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Contract insurance requirements checklist Business: ________________ Contact: ________________ Project: ________________ Client, owner, or GC: ________________ State: ________________ Contract date: ________________ GL policy number: ________________ Certificate due date: ________________ Use this checklist before signing a contract or sending a certificate. A certificate is evidence of insurance, but contract compliance usually depends on the actual policy, endorsements, exclusions, and required limits.

Limits to compare

Compare the contract requirements against your GL declarations and any umbrella or excess policy. Public-works requirements can be higher than private-job requirements, so use the contract as the controlling document. | Item to verify | Public-works example to watch for | Contract requirement | Your policy evidence / notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Each occurrence limit | $1,000,000 for bids up to $10,000,000; $2,000,000 for bids above $10,000,000 and up to $25,000,000 | | | | General aggregate | $2,000,000 for bids up to $10,000,000; $4,000,000 for bids above $10,000,000 and up to $25,000,000 | | | | Products/completed operations aggregate | $2,000,000 for bids up to $10,000,000; $4,000,000 for bids above $10,000,000 and up to $25,000,000 | | | | Umbrella or excess liability | $5,000,000 for bids up to $1,000,000; $10,000,000 for bids above $1,000,000 and up to $10,000,000; $15,000,000 or $25,000,000 on larger bid tiers | | | | Coverage trigger | Confirm occurrence or claims-made wording on the declarations | | | | Operations covered | Premises, operations, mobile equipment, personal and advertising injury, products/completed operations, and contractual liability may be required | | |

Endorsement checks

For each requirement, record the form number shown on the endorsement or policy page. Attach the actual endorsement when the contract requires more than a certificate. | Requirement | Form number to verify | Plain-English check | Your policy evidence / notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Additional insured for ongoing operations | CG 20 10 04 13 if the contract requires that ISO form, or the contract-specified equivalent | Gives the owner or GC additional insured status for liability tied to your ongoing work, subject to the endorsement wording | | | Additional insured for completed operations | CG 20 37 04 13 if the contract requires that ISO form, or the contract-specified equivalent | Extends additional insured status to liability tied to completed work after the job is finished | | | Primary and noncontributory | Enter the endorsement or policy form number shown on your policy | Your policy must respond before the owner or GC policy and without seeking contribution from another primary policy | | | Waiver of subrogation | Enter the waiver endorsement form number shown on your policy | The insurer gives up its right to pursue recovery from the protected party after paying a covered loss | | | Exclusion and policy-term review | Enter endorsement form numbers for any added exclusions or required modifications | Check for contract bars on cross-suits exclusions and explosion, collapse, or underground hazard exclusions | |

Certificate evidence

Use this section when requesting the certificate package from your agent or broker. | Evidence item | What to verify | Your notes | | --- | --- | --- | | Certificate holder | Matches the contract name and address for the owner, GC, lender, or agency | | | Additional insured name | Matches the exact legal name required by the contract | | | Project description | Includes the job name, location, and contract reference if required | | | GL limits | Match each occurrence, general aggregate, and products/completed operations requirements | | | Umbrella or excess | Shows required excess limits and any required attachment evidence | | | Policy dates | Policy period covers the work and any required completed-operations period | | | Endorsements attached | Includes required additional insured, primary and noncontributory, waiver, and other endorsements | | | Policy documents | Collect declarations, riders, modifications, deductible details, and added exclusions if the contract asks for them | | | Notice wording | Check cancellation, lapse, or reduction notice language when required | |

Before signing

Final review items ☐ The contract insurance section has been compared to the GL declarations, not only the certificate. ☐ Required additional insured status covers ongoing operations, completed operations, or both as written in the contract. ☐ Required primary and noncontributory wording is supported by policy wording or an endorsement. ☐ Required waiver of subrogation wording is supported by policy wording or an endorsement. ☐ Products/completed operations limits are high enough for the job and any post-completion obligation. ☐ Umbrella or excess requirements have been checked against the excess policy, not just the GL policy. ☐ Exclusions added by endorsement have been reviewed for contract conflicts. ☐ Coverage not provided by GL, such as workers compensation, auto, pollution, professional liability, tools, bonds, or builder's risk, has been handled separately when required.

Next steps

  • Send the completed checklist to your agent with the contract insurance page attached.
  • Ask for the actual endorsements when the contract requires specific wording or forms.
  • Do not start work until required certificates and endorsements are accepted by the client or GC.

What this includes

Download formats

PDF, DOCX

Fields

Business name, Contact name, Project name, Client or GC, State, Contract date, Policy number, COI due date

Document sections

Review cover, Limits to compare, Endorsement checks, Certificate evidence, Before signing

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