SubProofA certificate of insurance shows the sub's commercial general liability policy: insurer, policy number, limits and expiry date. Most general contractors ask for at least CA$2 million per occurrence and to be named as an additional insured, and many owners require CA$5 million on larger jobs. Check that the policy dates cover the whole job, not just the day the certificate was printed.
Line by line
- Named insured: the sub's legal name, the same as on your contract.
- Insurer and policy number: a real insurer and a policy number you can quote if you need to call.
- Commercial general liability limit: per occurrence and aggregate, at or above what your contract asks.
- Additional insured: your company, and the owner if your contract requires it.
- Policy dates: in force today and through the end of the work.
- Other cover: automobile liability for subs who drive to and around the site, and equipment cover where they bring machines.
Red flags
- A certificate dated more than a year ago.
- A policy that ends before the job does.
- A different company name from the one invoicing you.
- No additional insured wording when your contract requires it.
Keeping it current without chasing
SubProof gives each subcontractor a private upload link, no account needed. It reads the expiry dates you enter, shows every sub as covered, expiring or expired, and emails the sub 30, 14 and 7 days before a document runs out and on the day. You get a Monday summary of who needs attention before you approve the week's payments.
General information, not insurance advice. Confirm cover with the insurer named on the certificate.