6 COI Problems Florida Subcontractors Can Fix Before the Next Bid
Check six common certificate-of-insurance problems involving endorsements, limits, workers comp, policy dates, commercial auto, and contract requirements.
Joe Greene
Licensed Insurance Agent
You bid the job and the price works. Now the general contractor asks for a certificate of insurance that matches the contract.
Missing endorsements, insufficient limits, workers comp requirements, or outdated policy information can delay approval. The easiest move is to compare the contract and insurance documents before the start date.
Here are six COI problems Florida subcontractors can check before the next bid.
Key Takeaway
- A COI is an informational document only — it doesn't confer or guarantee coverage
- Match the actual additional-insured endorsement to the signed contract
- A valid workers comp exemption may not satisfy a private project requirement
- An old certificate does not prove a policy remains active
- Commercial auto limits and hired/non-owned requirements vary by contract
- Send the complete insurance section early when a carrier change or endorsement may be needed
1. Missing Additional Insured Endorsement for Completed Operations
Many contracts distinguish between additional-insured status for ongoing operations and completed operations.
When a GC requires you to name them as an additional insured, they need protection for two phases of your work:
- Ongoing operations — often addressed with a CG 20 10 form or another endorsement
- Completed operations — often addressed with a CG 20 37 form or another endorsement
The form number alone is not enough. Endorsement editions, scheduled names, project descriptions, contractual privity, and policy language can change the result.
Compare the Endorsement With the Contract
Construction claims can be reported after the subcontractor leaves the site. Ask the GC which endorsement and edition the contract requires, then verify the actual form attached to the policy. The Florida limitations statute changes over time and should be interpreted by legal counsel for a specific dispute.
What to Verify Before Mobilizing
Compare the signed subcontract with the policy's additional-insured endorsements. Check the named or described parties, ongoing versus completed operations, project location, policy dates, limits, primary/noncontributory wording, and waiver-of-subrogation requirements.
The fix: Send the insurance section of the contract to your agent. Ask whether the existing general liability policy satisfies it and what carrier approval, endorsement, or price change would be needed.
See our full guide to contractor coverage gaps →
2. GL Limits That Don't Meet Contract Requirements
Contract liability requirements vary by general contractor, owner, project, and trade. Common specifications may include per-occurrence, aggregate, completed-operations, and umbrella or excess limits.
If your limits do not meet the contract, the GC may request higher limits, an umbrella or excess policy, or another change before approving the certificate.
The Umbrella Solution
An umbrella or excess policy can provide additional limits above specified underlying policies. Compare its attachment points, exclusions, and underlying-limit requirements with the contract instead of assuming the limits stack automatically.
The fix: Ask for the insurance requirements before finalizing the bid. Your agent can compare the current GL and umbrella limits with the project and quote any needed changes.
3. Workers Comp Exemptions a Contract May Not Accept
Florida workers compensation exemption eligibility depends on the entity, ownership, role, industry, and current filing. Florida Statute 440.05 addresses qualifying officer and member exemptions, but an individual exemption does not remove the business's duties toward employees or automatically satisfy a private contract.
The practical issue: a general contractor or project agreement may still require workers compensation coverage.
The Exemption Rejection
A two-person drywall subcontractor bids a commercial interior job. The owner has a valid exemption, but the project agreement requires workers compensation for everyone on site. The subcontractor must compare the cost of meeting that requirement before accepting the job.
The signed contract controls the job requirement. Confirm whether the project accepts an exemption before pricing the work or scheduling the crew.
Commercial, multifamily, and government project contracts may impose requirements beyond the state exemption rules.
The fix: Confirm whether the project accepts the exemption before you bid. If it does not, compare workers compensation options that satisfy the contract.
Pro Tip
If you maintain a workers comp exemption, verify that it is current with the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation and confirm the expiration date. Also check whether the project accepts it.
4. Confirm the Policy Is Still Active
A certificate of insurance is a snapshot in time. It reflects what was true on the day it was issued. Policies can be cancelled, non-renewed, or lapsed after the COI is generated — and the old certificate will still show active dates.
COIs Don't Update Automatically
Certificates of insurance are informational documents only. They do not confer, alter, or extend coverage. Confirm that the policy is active and request a current certificate when a policy renews or changes.
An old certificate may remain on file after a policy renews, changes carriers, is cancelled, or is non-renewed. Current policy records and a newly issued certificate give the GC a more accurate snapshot.
A lapse can stop work, violate the contract, and leave a claim outside the intended policy period. Workers compensation compliance issues can also trigger enforcement under Florida law.
The fix: Review payment arrangements and contact information with the carrier or agency. When a policy renews or changes, request current certificates for the GCs and projects that need them.
5. Commercial Auto Limits Below Contract Minimums
Many contracts address commercial auto separately from GL and workers compensation. Compare the required limits and vehicle-use terms with the current policy.
Commercial auto requirements may address:
- A specified combined single limit or split limits
- Hired and non-owned auto coverage when personal or rented vehicles are used
- Additional-insured, waiver, or certificate-holder wording
Compare the Vehicle Requirements Before the Bid
If the contract requires a higher auto limit or hired and non-owned auto, the existing policy may need a change. Ask for the price and carrier approval early enough to include the cost in the bid.
The fix: Compare the contract with the auto policy's limits, covered-auto symbols, scheduled vehicles, drivers, trailers, and hired/non-owned terms. Quote the limits the project actually requires.
Bidding a job with new insurance requirements? Send the contract section and compare the coverage and price needed.
6. Send New Contract Requirements Early
New bid packages may introduce insurance requirements that are not part of the current policy. Send the complete insurance section early enough to compare the contract with the coverage in force.
Send the insurance requirements to your agent early. The agency can:
- Review the contract's insurance requirements and compare them to your current coverages
- Identify differences in endorsements, limits, policy dates, or certificate details
- Request policy or endorsement changes from the carrier, subject to carrier approval
- Issue a certificate that reflects the policy and endorsements actually in force
- Compare umbrella or excess options when the contract requires additional limits
Pro Tip
When you get a bid package, photograph or scan the insurance requirements and send them to your agent. Timing depends on the carrier and requested change, so leave room for questions, approval, and revised pricing.
Key Takeaway
A useful COI starts with the signed contract and active policies. Check additional-insured endorsements, GL limits, workers compensation requirements, policy dates, commercial auto terms, and any umbrella or excess limit before the deadline.
Florida Subcontractor COI FAQ
What is a certificate of insurance and why do general contractors require it?
A certificate of insurance summarizes policy information such as coverage types, insurers, policy dates, and limits. General contractors often request one to check a subcontractor's insurance against the contract, but the certificate itself does not create or change coverage.
Does a COI guarantee I'm covered as an additional insured?
No. A certificate is informational and does not confer, alter, or extend coverage. Additional-insured status depends on the policy, endorsement, contract, and claim facts. Review the actual endorsement rather than relying only on the certificate description.
What is the difference between CG 20 10 and CG 20 37 endorsements?
CG 20 10 is commonly associated with additional-insured status for ongoing operations, while CG 20 37 is commonly associated with completed operations. Editions and wording differ, so compare the specific endorsement with the signed contract.
Can a Florida subcontractor's workers comp exemption be rejected by a general contractor?
A valid Florida exemption does not automatically satisfy every private contract or jobsite requirement. The general contractor, owner, lender, or project agreement may require workers compensation coverage even when an owner qualifies for an exemption.
How quickly can I get a certificate of insurance updated?
Timing depends on whether the request only needs a certificate or requires carrier approval, a policy change, an endorsement, or different limits. Send the complete contract requirements early so the agent can identify what is already in place and what must change.
Get Your COI Right — Before the Next Bid
At Greene & Associates, we work with Florida subcontractors across trades including plumbing, electrical, and landscaping. Send the contract requirements and we can compare them with the policies and quote any needed changes.
If you are not sure the current insurance meets a new contract, call before the start date. Current clients who only need a certificate can use the service-center request.
Need a certificate for an existing Greene policy? Send the holder and project requirements through our service center.
Joe Greene
Commercial Lines Manager
Joe Greene has been a licensed Florida 2-20 General Lines Insurance Agent since 2005, with a focus on commercial coverage for North Florida contractors, trucking operations, and small businesses. If your question involves a fleet, a crew, or a certificate of insurance, he's probably answered it a hundred times. FL License #P005559.
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