Roofing contractor license search
Roofing Contractor license search

Is Your Roofing Contractor Qualified and Properly Licensed?

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How to Check if a Contractor is Licensed and Insured:
A Step-by-Step Guide

Hiring a contractor for your business’ project is a big decision. One of the most important steps in choosing the right contractor is verifying their license, the state that they are licensed in, and their insurance. A licensed contractor ensures they meet state and local requirements and that they can handle the size of project they are performing. This protects you and your business from fraud, poor workmanship, and potential legal issues. Here’s how you can check if a contractor is licensed and insured.

Contractors looking at commercial building

Step 1: Know Your State’s Licensing Requirements

Contractor licensing requirements vary by state and even by trade (e.g., electricians, plumbers, roofers). Some states require licenses for all contractors, while others may only require them for certain types of work. Also, some states will honor other states licenses.

To find out what’s required in your state:

    • Visit your state’s contractor licensing board website

    • Check with your local city or county government for additional licensing requirements

    • Look up industry-specific regulations if hiring for specialized work

Step 2: Ask the Contractor for Their License Information

A legitimate contractor should be willing to provide:

  • Their license number

  • The name under which the license is registered

  • Proof of insurance and bonding (if required by your state)

If they hesitate to provide this information, consider it a major red flag.

Step 3: Verify the License Online

Most states have an online database where you can check a contractor’s license status. Here’s how:

  1. Go to your state’s licensing board website – You can search “verify contractor license [your state]” in Google or Bing to find the official site.

  2. Enter the contractor’s name or license number – This should bring up their licensing details.

  3. Check the license status – Ensure it is active, valid, and in good standing. Look for any disciplinary actions or complaints. Also, check the limitation to make sure your projects dollar amount is not above what the contractor is licensed to perform. 

Step 4: Contact the Licensing Board if Needed

If you can’t find the contractor’s information online, call your state’s licensing board directly. They can confirm whether the contractor is licensed or if there are any issues with their record.

Step 5: Check for Additional Credentials

Aside from licensing, you may want to verify if the contractor:

  • Is part of professional associations (e.g., National Association of Home Builders, Associated General Contractors)

  • Has good and many online reviews on sites like Google, Bing, and Yelp.

  • Has references from previous clients that give you contact information so you can verify they did the work. 

Step 6: Verify Insurance and Bonding

Even if a contractor is licensed, also make sure they carry the proper liability insurance and, if required, are bonded. This protects you in case of accidents, damage, or unfinished work. Ask for copies of their certificate of insurance (COI) and verify them with the insurance provider. This is very important on large commercial projects worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. 

Make sure to check the insurance policy for:

✅ General Liability Insurance – Covers property damage or injuries caused by the contractor’s work.

✅ Workers’ Compensation Insurance – Protects workers in case of injuries on the job (required in most states).

✅ Bonding (if required) – Ensures financial protection in case the contractor fails to complete the job or violates the contract.

✅ Policy Expiration Date – Look at the policy’s expiration date on the COI. If it’s close to expiring, ask for updated proof of insurance before signing any contract.

You can further protect yourself by adding your company as a certificate holder so you will be notified if the insurance policy is changed or canceled during your project. 

Final Thoughts

Checking a contractor’s license and insurance is a simple but crucial step in protecting yourself from scams, unqualified workers, and poor-quality construction. By following these steps, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’re hiring a professional who meets the necessary legal and industry standards.

This becomes extra important when you are getting bids and quotes from out of state companies that may be looking to make a quick buck and leave town. Also, smaller companies may offer you the best price, but are not licensed or insured enough to perform that size of a project.

Need to verify a contractor? 

Start by checking your state’s licensing board today!

Here are links to the states WNC Roofing works in. 

NC – https://portal.nclbgc.org/Public/Search

SC –  https://verify.llronline.com/LicLookup/Contractors/Contractor.aspx?div=69