How to check a roofer's insurance and license

Why this check matters

A new roof costs a lot, and the work is dangerous. If a worker gets hurt or the crew damages your house, someone must pay. Government consumer offices warn that you could be held liable if your roofer has no insurance.

The Roofing List does not check licenses or insurance. For each company, we check three things: the phone works, the website is live, and the website says the company does roofing, siding or gutter work. The check in this guide is your job. You call each roofer direct, so ask these questions yourself.

Find roofers near you on our roofers by state page. Then use this guide before you sign anything.

The two policies to ask about

Ask every roofer for proof of two policies.

• General liability insurance. This pays for damage the roofer's work causes to your home or other property.
• Workers' compensation insurance. This covers workers who get hurt on the job. California's contractor board warns that if a worker is hurt on your property and the contractor has no insurance, you could be financially liable.

The FTC tells homeowners to ask for copies of insurance certificates and make sure they are current. If the roofer uses subcontractors, ask for the same proof from each of them.

How to check the insurance

1. Ask the roofer for a certificate of insurance for each policy. This is a short document that shows the policy.
2. Ask the roofer's insurance agent to send the certificate to you direct, not through the roofer.
3. Check the dates. The policy must be active on every day the crew works on your roof.
4. Check the named insured. That name must match the company name on your contract.
5. Call the agent or the insurer yourself. Find the phone number on your own, and ask if the policy is active and covers roofing work.
6. Do all of this before you sign. Florida's Department of Financial Services tells homeowners to get proof of insurance before they sign a contract.

If a roofer will not give you proof of insurance, treat it as a red flag. Florida's consumer office lists it as one.

Check the license or registration for your state

Roofing license rules differ a lot from state to state. Some states license roofers at the state level. Some register home improvement contractors. Some leave it to cities and counties. The FTC says licensing can range from simple registration to a detailed qualification process.

Ask the roofer for the license or registration number. Look it up on the official page below. Make sure the name matches your contract and the status is active.

This is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, and cities and counties can add their own. Before you hire, confirm the rules with your state licensing office or your city or county building office.

A license or registration is not a promise of good work. Pennsylvania and New Jersey both say that registration is not an endorsement of the contractor.

Permits and the written contract

The FTC says most states and localities require permits for building projects. It says a competent contractor gets all needed permits before work starts. Be careful if a roofer asks you to get the permit. The FTC lists that as a sign of a scam.

New Jersey's consumer office adds a warning. Do not tell the building office you are doing the work yourself when a contractor does it. You may give up protections the law gives you.

Get a written contract, even if your state does not require one. Before you sign, make sure it includes:

• the roofer's name, address, phone number and license or registration number
• the start date and the estimated completion date
• the work to be done and the materials, with brand, model, size and color
• the total price and the payment schedule
• the roofer's duty to get all needed permits
• how changes get approved, in writing
• warranties on materials and workmanship, and who honors them
• clean-up and trash removal
• every promise the roofer made out loud
• your right to cancel within three business days, if you signed at home or away from the roofer's place of business

Never sign a contract with blank spaces. If an insurance claim will pay for the roof, read our hail damage claim guide first.

Door-to-door sales and the FTC Cooling-Off Rule

The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule can let you cancel some sales made at your home. It also covers sales at your workplace and at a seller's temporary location. It applies when you invite a salesperson to your home to make a presentation.

• Time limit: you can cancel for a full refund until midnight of the third business day after the sale. Saturday counts as a business day. Sundays and federal holidays do not.
• Price: the rule covers sales of $25 or more at your home and $130 or more at temporary locations.
• Paperwork: the seller must give you two copies of a cancellation form and a copy of your contract or receipt.
• Refund: after you cancel, the seller has 10 days to refund your money.

The rule has limits. It does not cover sales needed to meet an emergency. It does not cover sales made because you asked the seller to visit your home to repair or maintain your personal property. Things you buy beyond that request are covered. So if you called a roofer to fix a leak, the rule may not apply.

To cancel, sign the cancellation form and mail it. The postmark must be before midnight of the third business day. The FTC notes that some state laws give you more rights, so ask your state attorney general.

Pay safely and watch for warning signs

Do not pay the full price up front. Keep the deposit small, and tie each payment to work that is done.

• Some states cap the deposit. In California, a contractor can ask for no more than 10% of the price or $1,000, whichever is less, with limited exceptions.
• New Jersey's consumer office says the usual plan is one-third at the start, one-third halfway and one-third at the end.
• New York requires contractors to put progress payments in an escrow account, to be used only for your project.
• Do not pay cash. Pay by check or credit card.
• Make the last payment only after the work is done and has passed the final inspection.

Ask for lien waivers. A lien waiver is a receipt that says workers and suppliers will not ask you for money once you pay the roofer. If the roofer does not pay them, your state's laws may let them put a lien on your home. Get a waiver from the roofer and from each subcontractor and supplier before the final payment.

Be careful with a roofer who:

• knocks on your door without being asked and offers a good deal
• pushes you to decide right now
• takes cash only, or wants the full price up front
• asks you to get the building permit
• will not show proof of insurance or a license or registration number
• offers to waive your insurance deductible
• has only a P.O. box, not a street address
• says you do not need a written contract

To tell if a price is fair, compare it with our new roof cost guide.