Usually not all of it. Most contractor policies match the dollar limits and miss the extra wording the contract asks for, and you can check it yourself in about ten minutes, one line at a time. Who this is for: contractors and trades with a signed contract in one hand and a policy they are not sure about in the other.
The short version
- Check three things: the policies the contract lists, the dollar limits, and the extra wording your customer wants added.
- Your limits usually match. The extra wording is what most policies miss.
- Your certificate cannot answer this on its own. You need the pages your insurer added to your policy, which is where the wording lives.
- Most independent brokers will do this comparison at no charge, because it is how they learn what coverage to place.
- If something is missing, most gaps close in one to three business days.
What do I need in front of me?
Two documents. First, the insurance section of your contract, usually one or two pages titled "Insurance" or "Insurance Requirements," often an exhibit near the back. Second, your policy itself: the front page that lists your limits, and every change your insurer added behind it. Each change is called an endorsement.
If you only have a certificate, ask your broker for the policy itself. A one page summary cannot show the wording your customer is asking about.
Do my dollar limits match the contract?
Start here. It is the easy part.
| What the contract asks for | Where to find it on your policy | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| General liability, $1,000,000 per occurrence (the most the policy pays for one incident) | The front page of your general liability policy | Some contracts want $2,000,000. An umbrella, a second layer of coverage above your other policies, can often fill the gap. |
| General liability, $2,000,000 aggregate (the most the policy pays in a whole policy year) | Same page, listed as "general aggregate" | Some want that yearly limit to reset for each job. That is a separate endorsement, and an umbrella cannot supply it. |
| Workers comp, statutory limits (whatever the state law requires) plus employers liability | The information page of your workers comp policy | Employers liability is the part that pays if an employee sues you. It shows as three numbers: each accident, disease policy limit, disease each employee. Many small policies read $100,000 / $500,000 / $100,000. Contracts usually want the full amount on all three. |
| Commercial auto and umbrella | The front page of each policy | Check the umbrella sits above every policy the contract names. No company vehicle? See what to do when your contract requires commercial auto. |
Does my policy have the extra wording the contract asks for?
This is where most policies fall short. Look for the form number, or the plain words, on the list of forms attached to your policy.
| What the contract says | What it means | What to look for on your policy |
|---|---|---|
| Additional insured | Your customer can use your liability policy if they are sued because of your work | Form CG 20 10, or a blanket form that adds the party you signed a written contract with. If the contract also names an owner, lender, or architect you did not sign with, blanket wording may not reach them. Those names can need their own endorsement, so ask which form covers which party. |
| Additional insured, completed operations | That protection keeps going after the job is finished | Form CG 20 37, or blanket wording that says "completed operations." The one most often missing. |
| Primary and noncontributory | Your policy pays first and your customer's policy does not chip in | Form CG 20 01, or those words inside your additional insured form |
| Waiver of subrogation, general liability | Your insurer agrees not to go after your customer to recover money it paid | Form CG 24 04, or a blanket waiver form |
| Waiver of subrogation, workers comp | The same promise, made by your workers comp insurer | Form WC 00 03 13, named or blanket. A few states use their own form or limit when a waiver can be given, and a waiver only counts if it is added before an injury happens. Do not leave this one to the end. |
| Notice of cancellation, usually 30 days | Your customer wants to be told before your policy stops | Often nothing to find on the policy. Most insurers will not promise notice to your customer, and the certificate only says notice follows the policy terms. Ask whether yours sells a notice endorsement and, if not, give your broker the list of who to tell. |
What else can trip me up?
- Your business name. It must match the name on the contract. A missing "LLC" gets certificates bounced.
- Dates. If your policy expires during the job, your customer will want proof that you renewed.
- Your insurer. Contracts usually set two tests: a strength rating, commonly A- VII or better, and on public work an insurer licensed in your state. Specialty insurers often fail the second.
- Exclusions. Some policies exclude the exact work the contract covers, such as roofing or work above three stories.
What if I find a gap?
Do not panic, and do not sign a promise you cannot keep. Most gaps are routine: wording is usually added in one to three business days, and higher limits often come from an umbrella. Sometimes the answer is to ask your customer to adjust a requirement written for a much bigger company. See what to do when your customer says your insurance is not enough.
What this looks like in real life
Illustrative example. It is typical of what we see and is not a promise of how any specific situation would be handled.
The setup: An electrical subcontractor in Florida signs a $180,000 subcontract for a medical office build-out. The exhibit asks for his customer to be added to his policy during and after the job, and for waivers of subrogation.
What went wrong: He sees the boxes checked on his certificate and assumes he is fine. The general contractor asks for the policy pages. His policy adds his customer for ongoing work only, and has no workers comp waiver.
What it cost: The start date slipped three working days. Illustrative cost: roughly $250 for the after completion wording, roughly $400 for the workers comp waiver, and about $2,400 in idle crew time.
The fix: Compare the contract to the policy, not to the certificate. The certificate showed what the broker was told to check. The policy showed what was there.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Does my insurance meet my contract's requirements?
Line up the contract's insurance section against your policy: the policies listed, the limits, and the extra wording. Limits usually match. The wording is what most policies miss.
Q: Can I tell from my certificate of insurance?
Not reliably. A certificate is a one page summary and shows only what your broker typed on it. The policy pages show what is actually there.
Q: What is the most common thing that does not match?
Wording that adds your customer only while the job is running. Most contracts want it to continue after the work is finished, and many policies have only the ongoing version.
Q: What if my limits are lower than the contract asks for?
You can often raise them mid term, or add an umbrella on top. An umbrella is usually cheaper when the contract wants $2,000,000 or more.
Q: Who can compare my policy to my contract for me?
An independent broker will do it at no charge, because it is how they learn what coverage to place. Ask for a written line by line list, not a phone call, so you can forward it to your customer.
Q: How long does it take to fix a gap?
Extra wording is usually added in one to three business days. A new umbrella can take a day to two weeks. Start the day you get the contract.
How Morrow helps
Morrow is a licensed independent commercial insurance brokerage that works with contractors and trades every day. Comparing a policy to a contract, line by line, is the single most common thing contractors ask us to do.
- Free contract review. Send us the contract or bid documents and we mark up the insurance section in plain English, whether or not you buy anything from us.
- Free, instant certificates. Clients issue their own certificates of insurance online in about a minute, any hour, any day, at no charge.
- Markets you cannot reach online. One application, shopped across many insurance companies for general liability, workers comp, auto, umbrella, and pollution coverage.
One more thing. This article is general information and is not legal advice or a statement of coverage. Your contract and your policy wording control in every case. Requirements vary by customer, by state, and by insurance company, so have a licensed advisor review your own contract and your own policy before relying on any of it.
Last updated: Reviewed by the Morrow commercial lines team. Last updated September 2026.