What is a certificate of insurance and why does a client want one?
A certificate of insurance is a one-page proof that your business carries certain coverage. Clients, landlords, and general contractors request it before letting you start work or sign a lease. It summarizes your policy; it does not change it.
The request usually spells out specific limits and sometimes asks to be named as 'additional insured.' Send over the exact wording you were handed, word for word. That way the certificate matches the requirement and goes out right the first time — which is what keeps the job or the lease moving.
What is the difference between general liability and commercial auto?
General liability covers claims like a customer injury or property damage from your work. Commercial auto covers vehicles used for the business. They are separate policies because driving risk and operating risk are different exposures.
Plenty of owners assume a personal auto policy covers business driving — it often doesn't, especially once there are deliveries, tools being hauled, or employees behind the wheel. Sorting which vehicles and which activities belong on commercial auto versus general liability is the part to get right before the first claim, not after.
Does my personal auto policy cover business use in Houston?
Usually not fully. Personal auto policies often limit or exclude business use — like making deliveries, driving between jobsites, or carrying tools and equipment for work. Regular business use typically needs a commercial auto policy.
The gap tends to surface after a claim — the worst possible time to find out about it. If a vehicle pulls any regular work duty, that's the moment to check whether commercial auto is the right fit and what a lienholder or client might require in writing.
What insurance does a contractor in Houston usually need?
It varies by trade, but contractors commonly carry general liability, commercial auto for work vehicles, and coverage for tools and equipment. Clients and general contractors often require specific limits before work begins.
The right mix depends on the trade, the size of the crew, whether subs are involved, and what each contract spells out. The most useful starting point is how the business runs day to day — what gets loaded up for the jobsite, who's driving, and which certificate landed on the desk this week.
How fast can I get a certificate of insurance for a job?
Often the same day, once your policy is in place and the exact requirement is confirmed. The delay is usually matching the certificate to the client's wording — limits, additional-insured status, and project details — not issuing the document.
Send the contract clause or vendor request exactly as you got it — no paraphrasing. The certificate can then be matched to what's actually being asked, so a customer, landlord, or general contractor doesn't bounce it back and stall the work.