Ask for proof of business insurance.

When requesting an insurance bid, you can ask for a copy of a contractor’s insurance. This is often called the declaration page. The contractor should be willing and eager to share a copy of their insurance with you. The commercial insurance policy should list the contractor by the name they have registered with the Oregon Construction Contractors Board and declare the category and class of business for which they are insured.

Use caution when a contractor refuses to offer proof of insurance or the name does not match what is on the policy. Also, the class or specialty that the contractor has declared to the insurance company they fall under may not match the project you are requesting. For example, you wouldn’t hire an electrician who is insured to pour and finish concrete.

Check With the Oregon Construction Contractors Board.

After you have reviewed the contractor’s insurance documentation, you can visit the Oregon CCB website to see if it matches what the contractor supplied when they submitted their bid. The contractor’s file usually contains the up-to-date insurance information. You should be concerned if the data online shows a status of cancelled or expired. The contractor is ultimately responsible for providing proof of an active policy that covers the classes of business that they are authorized to perform.

Request to Be Listed As a Certificate Holder.

As a condition of accepting the contractor’s bid, you may request that the contractor contact their insurance agent or company to have you listed on their policy as a Certificate Holder. This document will act as further proof that the contractor has the right kind of insurance and that the policy is active. You can even request that they maintain a minimum liability limit while performing the duties of the project on your behalf and on your premises. You will have to provide the contractor or their insurance agent with your full legal name, whether you are an individual or a business, and your address to be listed on the certificate. The insurance company will promise to inform you of any changes in the insurance policy’s status during the term of your contract.