How to Check a Roofer's License and Insurance

Here's the Thing About Roofers

You wouldn't let a stranger use your credit card, and you shouldn't let an unvetted roofer touch your biggest asset either. Your roof protects everything you own. A bad install or repair can cost you tens of thousands in water damage, structural rot, and mold. An unlicensed or uninsured roofer can stick you with the bill when something goes wrong.

I've spent 15 years in roofing operations. Learn more about the contractor questions. Learn more about the red flags. Learn more about the contractor selection. I've seen homeowners lose $50,000 because they hired a guy with a truck and a good handshake, only to have him disappear when the job went sideways. The fix takes five minutes: verify the license and insurance before you sign anything.

Quick Answer

Before you hire a roofer, get their license number and ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI). Look up the license on your state's licensing board website (the process takes 30 seconds). Call the contractor's insurance company to confirm the COI is active and covers general liability, workers' compensation, and commercial auto. In states that require licenses, an unlicensed roofer is breaking the law. In states without licensing requirements, insurance matters even more.

Step-by-Step: How to Check a Roofer's License

Step 1: Ask for the License Number

When you get a quote, ask the contractor for their state license number. A legitimate roofer will have this number handy. If they seem annoyed or can't produce it, move on. This is not optional.

Step 2: Find Your State's Licensing Board

Most states have an online license verification portal. Here's how to find it:

1. Search "(your state) + contractor license board" or "roofing contractor license search"
2. Look for the official state government website (usually ends in .gov)
3. Find the "License Lookup" or "Verify a License" section
4. Enter the license number the roofer gave you

Common licensing board names by state:

• California: Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
• Texas: TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation)
• Florida: DBPR (Department of Business and Professional Regulation)
• New York: NYSDOL (Department of Labor)
• Illinois: ILGA (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation)

Step 3: Review the Results

When you pull up the license, look for:

• License status: Should say "Active" or "Current" (not expired, suspended, or revoked)
• License type: Should show "Roofing Contractor," "General Contractor," or similar
• License holder's name: Matches the person or company you're hiring
• Complaint history: Some states show public complaints. Review any listed complaints and how they were resolved

If the license is expired, suspended, or if the name doesn't match, walk away. Don't give them a second chance on this.

Step 4: Call the Licensing Board (Optional but Smart)

If something seems off, call the board directly. They can confirm:

• Whether the license is genuinely active
• If there are any open investigations
• Discipline history beyond what's posted online

Most licensing boards take 5 minutes per call and answer straightforward questions.

Step-by-Step: How to Verify Insurance

A license tells you the roofer is trained. Insurance tells you what happens when something goes wrong.

What You're Looking For

A professional roofer should carry at least these four types of insurance:

1. General Liability Insurance: Covers property damage to your home or belongings
2. Workers' Compensation: Covers worker injuries on your job (required in most states if they have employees)
3. Commercial Auto Insurance: Covers company vehicles used for work
4. Umbrella/Excess Liability: Extra coverage for large claims (optional but preferred)

Minimum coverage amounts vary by state, but here's what to expect:

Coverage Type	Typical Minimum	Recommended
General Liability	$300,000	$1,000,000
Workers' Compensation	Varies by state	$1,000,000+
Commercial Auto	$100,000	$500,000+
Umbrella Liability	N/A	$1,000,000+

Step 5: Request a Certificate of Insurance

Tell the contractor: "Before we sign the contract, I need a Certificate of Insurance (COI) listing my property address as the job site."

A legitimate roofer will provide this without hesitation. They should give you:

• An original COI (not just a PDF they emailed from their computer, but a formal document from their insurance carrier or broker)
• Your property listed as a job location (not a blank COI)
• All four coverage types listed with active dates
• Insurance company contact information

Step 6: Verify the COI Is Real

Don't just glance at the paper. Actually confirm it's legitimate:

1. Call the insurance company using the phone number on the COI (not a number the roofer gives you)
2. Ask them directly: "Can you confirm (contractor name) holds an active general liability policy #(policy number) covering roofing work?"
3. Confirm coverage dates: The policy should be active during your entire project (and ideally for at least one year after)
4. Ask about minimums: Confirm the coverage amounts match what's on the COI

If the insurance company says the policy doesn't exist or has lapsed, stop the project immediately.

Step 7: Check the Certificate's Details

The COI should clearly show:

• Your address (the job location) listed
• Project description: Something like "roofing repair" or "roof replacement"
• Policy numbers for each coverage type
• Expiration dates that extend beyond your project timeline
• The insurance company's name and contact information
• Cancellation clause: Most COIs state that you'll be notified if coverage is canceled

Why You Can't Skip This

I've seen COIs that were completely fake, created in Photoshop. I've seen policies that were canceled three months into the job, leaving homeowners exposed. The insurance company won't tell your roofer that you called to verify, so there's no downside to checking.

State-by-State License Requirements

Not every state requires a roofing license. This matters because it changes your verification strategy.

States That Require Roofing Licenses

These 27 states require either a specific roofing contractor license or a general contractor license:

Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

What to do: Verify the license on the state's board website. If there's no license, the contractor is breaking the law.

States That Require Registration Only

These 13 states require registration but not a full license exam:

Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

What to do: Look up registration on the state's business registration database. The standards are lower than licensed states, so insurance verification becomes even more critical.

States With No State-Level Requirements

These 10 states don't require state roofing licenses: Alaska, Maine, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and a few others.

What to do: Check for county or city licensing requirements (many require them locally). If nothing exists at any level, insurance is your primary protection.

What Happens if You Hire an Unlicensed or Uninsured Roofer

The Unlicensed Problem

In states where licensing is required, you're breaking the law if you hire an unlicensed roofer. More importantly:

• No recourse: If the work is defective, you can't file a complaint with the licensing board because they don't regulate that person
• No warranty protection: Many manufacturers void roofing warranties if installed by unlicensed contractors
• Liability issues: If a worker gets hurt, workers' comp might not cover them, and you could be personally liable
• Resale complications: When you sell your home, the new buyer's inspector flags the unlicensed work, and lenders won't finance the sale until it's fixed

I once worked with a homeowner who had a roofer (unlicensed, uninsured) install a roof. Six months later, water was pouring in. The roofer had disappeared. Fixing it cost $18,000 out of pocket. The original roof was $8,000.

The Uninsured Problem

An uninsured roofer is just as risky:

• Worker gets hurt: You're liable. The injured worker can sue you for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We're talking $50,000 to $200,000+ in damages.
• Your property gets damaged: A worker damages your neighbor's fence or car during the job. You're liable for that too.
• Faulty workmanship damages you: If the roof leaks and causes $25,000 in interior damage, the roofer has zero ability to pay. It's your loss.

One real scenario: A homeowner hired an uninsured crew to replace a roof. A worker fell off a ladder and broke both legs. The worker sued the homeowner directly and settled for $75,000. The homeowner's homeowner's insurance denied the claim because the contractor wasn't licensed and uninsured. The homeowner paid out of pocket.

Real Scenarios: What Good Verification Looks Like

Scenario 1: The Careful Homeowner

Sarah got three roofing quotes. Before scheduling the jobs, she:

1. Asked each contractor for their license number and called her state's licensing board to verify
2. Requested COIs from the highest-rated contractors
3. Called the insurance companies to confirm active coverage
4. Found that one contractor's general liability policy was about to expire (30 days after the job would finish), so she asked them to extend it

She hired the contractor with extended coverage. The roof was installed beautifully. Two years later, a manufacturer defect in the shingles caused premature granule loss. The contractor stepped up and re-roofed it under warranty. Having verified their credentials and insurance upfront gave Sarah confidence to work through the issue.

Scenario 2: The Red Flags

Mark got a quote from a local roofer offering 20% off because he "avoided overhead." When Mark asked for a license number, the roofer said, "I'm registered with the county, that's all I need." Mark called the county. There was no registration. The roofer then emailed a COI, but when Mark called the insurance company's number on the certificate, the agent said the policy had been canceled three months earlier. Mark walked away and hired a licensed, insured contractor instead. Cost was higher, but Mark got the peace of mind he needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to hire a licensed roofer if my state doesn't require licensing?

A: No, but you absolutely should. Even in states without licensing requirements, a licensed roofer has passed exams, has experience, and is regulated by a state board. If something goes wrong, you have recourse. Unlicensed roofers offer zero accountability. Insurance can't replace accountability.

Q: What if a roofer says their insurance is "in the mail" or "being processed"?

A: Don't start the job. Period. A legitimate roofer will have active insurance before they schedule work. If it's "being processed," they're not established enough to be trustworthy. Walk away.

Q: Can a roofer use their homeowner's insurance for work they do on my house?

A: No. Homeowner's insurance explicitly excludes business activities. If a roofer tries to use their personal homeowner's policy as coverage, the insurance company will deny any claims. Always demand a commercial general liability policy.

Q: What if my contractor says I don't need to see a COI if I'm handling the permit?

A: This is a major red flag. You always need proof of insurance, regardless of who pulled the permit. A legitimate contractor will never say this. In fact, most building departments require proof of insurance before they issue a permit.

Q: Do I need to call the insurance company, or is the COI enough?

A: Always call. COIs can be forged or photocopied with old dates. I've seen contractors edit PDFs to extend expiration dates. A five-minute phone call to the insurance company eliminates all doubt. You're protecting yourself from thousands of dollars in liability.

Bottom Line

Checking a roofer's license and insurance isn't bureaucratic busy work. It's the difference between a smooth project and financial devastation. You spend five minutes on the phone, you get a piece of paper, and you verify it's real. That's it.

If a contractor balks at providing a license number or a current COI, they're telling you something. Don't ignore it. There are thousands of licensed, insured roofers out there who will be happy to provide their credentials and stand behind their work.

All RoofReport contractors are pre-verified. We vet licenses and insurance for every roofer in our network so you don't have to. Find a trusted roofer near you today.