Using subcontractors?
Read this before they start work.

Are my subcontractors covered under my policy?

There is no universal yes or no. Your policy may respond to certain claims involving subcontracted work, but hiring someone does not automatically make them an insured. Your policy, their policy, endorsements, the contract and the circumstances of the loss all matter.

Tell us what you subcontract and how much of your work it represents. We can discuss the coverage questions before the job begins.

1. Put the agreement in place before work starts

Use a written subcontract signed before work begins. Have an attorney review the scope of work, insurance requirements and indemnity or hold-harmless provisions. State law can limit what a contract may require; insurance wording and legal enforceability are separate questions.

Ask your agent to compare the contract’s insurance requirements with the available policies and endorsements. Do not assume a standard form fits every trade or project.

2. Look at the endorsements, not just the limits

Ask whether additional insured protection applies to ongoing operations and completed operations, where needed. Check who qualifies, the work described, timing requirements and any written-contract conditions.

When required, verify primary and noncontributory wording (how policies respond together) and waiver of subrogation (the insurer’s recovery rights). These must actually be provided by the policy; a request on a certificate is not enough.

Review General Liability limits, products/completed operations protection, and whether a per-project aggregate is appropriate. Requirements vary by contract and insurance program.

3. Match the policies to the job

Consider Workers’ Compensation, Commercial Auto and Excess/Umbrella as well as General Liability. Pollution, professional services or other specialized work may call for separate coverage.

Ask about restrictions affecting the actual work: residential construction, roofing, height, subsidence, EIFS, designated operations, prior work, or claims involving injuries to another employer’s workers (often called action-over claims). These are review questions, not a statement that every policy excludes them.

4. Track renewals and keep the records

Record policy expiration dates and obtain updated certificates and relevant endorsements when coverage renews. Discuss how long completed-operations protection should continue after the job ends.

Keep signed agreements, insurance documents, subcontractor invoices, payment records and work descriptions together. For an auditable policy, ask how insured and uninsured subcontractor costs are treated. Classification, required documentation and audit charges depend on your insurer’s rules and policy; having a certificate does not automatically eliminate an audit charge.