How to Verify Tree Service Insurance: A Step-by-Step Guide
Table of Contents
Why Verifying Tree Service Insurance Matters
What Insurance Should a Tree Service Have
How to Verify Tree Service Insurance: The Complete Process Step 1: Ask for Proof of Coverage Upfront Step 2: Review the Certificate of Insurance Document Step 3: Contact the Insurance Carrier Directly Step 4: Verify Coverage Limits and Active Policy Status
Step 1: Ask for Proof of Coverage Upfront
Step 2: Review the Certificate of Insurance Document
Step 3: Contact the Insurance Carrier Directly
Step 4: Verify Coverage Limits and Active Policy Status
Requesting a Certificate of Insurance From Contractors
Risks of Hiring Uninsured Tree Contractors
Red Flags and What to Look For on Insurance Documents
Conclusion
Last Updated: August 24, 2026
Why Verifying Tree Service Insurance Matters
Hiring a tree service without verifying their insurance is a critical mistake. When a contractor operates equipment on your property, they risk causing serious damage to your house, fence, neighbor's property, or themselves. If they're uninsured and something goes wrong, you become liable. Your homeowner's insurance may deny the claim because you hired an uninsured contractor, turning a $500 tree trimming job into a $50,000 problem.
Verifying tree service insurance requires specific steps, but it's not complicated. Many homeowners skip this, assuming a professional-looking contractor must be covered, an assumption that has cost homeowners thousands. At Anderson Tree Care, we provide full insurance documentation upfront. This guide walks you through the exact verification process so you can protect yourself with any contractor.
What Insurance Should a Tree Service Have
A professional tree service should carry at least two types of coverage: general liability and workers' compensation.
General liability insurance protects you and your property if the contractor causes damage during the job. If a tree falls on your roof, a branch damages your fence, or equipment hits your car, the contractor's general liability policy covers repairs. This coverage also includes bodily injury protection. General liability is non-negotiable, any contractor without it is operating illegally in most states.
Workers' compensation insurance covers the contractor's employees if injured on the job. This is required by law in virtually every state with employees (dol.gov). Without it, injured workers can sue the homeowner directly. Even solo operators must carry this in many states.
Some tree services also carry professional liability insurance (errors and omissions), which covers mistakes in the work itself. It's less common but signals a professional operation.
Look for a contractor who can provide proof of all three. At minimum, demand general liability and workers' compensation.
Watch Out A contractor who says "I'm insured" without providing a Certificate of Insurance is a major red flag. Verbal assurance means nothing. You need written proof.
How to Verify Tree Service Insurance: The Complete Process
Follow these four steps to verify tree service insurance completely.
Step 1: Ask for Proof of Coverage Upfront
Before scheduling work, request a Certificate of Insurance (COI). This one-page document summarizes the contractor's insurance policies. A legitimate contractor will have this ready or email it within 24 hours. If they hesitate or say they'll bring it the day of the job, that's a warning sign.
Be specific: "I need a current Certificate of Insurance showing general liability and workers' compensation coverage. Please email it before we schedule the work."
The COI should list:
The contractor's name and business address
The insurance carrier's name
Policy numbers for each coverage type
Coverage limits
Policy expiration date
Your address as the "certificate holder"
If the contractor can't provide a complete, current COI, do not hire them.
Step 2: Review the Certificate of Insurance Document
Examine the COI carefully. Most homeowners glance at it and assume everything is fine, don't do that.
Check the policy expiration date first. Insurance policies expire. The expiration date should be at least 30 days in the future. If it's expired or expiring within two weeks, ask for an updated certificate.
Next, review coverage limits. General liability policies typically offer $300,000 to $1,000,000 per occurrence (iii.org). For tree work, especially removal, you want at least $300,000. If limits are unusually low (like $100,000), ask why.
Verify that your address is listed as a certificate holder. This ensures you'll be notified if the policy is cancelled. If not listed, ask the contractor to request an updated COI from their insurance agent.
Check the insurance carrier's name. It should be recognizable. If you don't recognize it, search online to verify it's legitimate.
Confirm both general liability and workers' compensation are listed. If either is missing, do not proceed.
Pro Tip The ACORD form is the standard format for Certificates of Insurance. If the COI isn't on an ACORD form, ask the contractor's insurance agent to provide an official ACORD form instead.
Step 3: Contact the Insurance Carrier Directly
Call the insurance carrier directly to verify the policy is active. Don't rely solely on the COI, carriers make mistakes, policies lapse, and contractors sometimes use outdated documents.
Find the carrier's phone number from the COI or online. When you reach someone, say:
"I have a contractor providing tree services at my home. I need to verify their general liability policy is currently active. The policyholder is [contractor name], and the policy number is [policy number]."
The representative will confirm whether the policy is active. If it is, ask: "If something goes wrong during the work and I need to file a claim, what's the process?"
If the carrier says the policy is not active or can't find it, do not hire the contractor.
Watch Out Some carriers won't provide policy details over the phone. If that happens, ask them to confirm only whether the policy number is valid and active. Even a simple "yes, that policy is active" is sufficient confirmation.
Step 4: Verify Coverage Limits and Active Policy Status
Document what you learned: the carrier's name and phone number, policy number, confirmation that the policy is active, expiration date, and coverage limits. Keep this with the COI.
Before work begins, send the contractor a brief email confirming what you've verified: "I've verified your general liability and workers' compensation coverage with [insurance carrier]. I have your Certificate of Insurance on file. Please confirm the start date and scope of work one more time before you arrive."
This creates a paper trail and ensures both parties are clear on coverage.
Requesting a Certificate of Insurance From Contractors
When you first contact a tree service, include the insurance request in your initial inquiry. Say: "Before we discuss pricing, I need to verify your insurance coverage. Can you email me a current Certificate of Insurance showing general liability and workers' compensation?"
This tells the contractor you're serious about due diligence. Most will comply immediately. If a contractor gets defensive about providing a COI, that's a red flag. Legitimate contractors have nothing to hide.
When the COI arrives, review it the same day. If something looks off, ask for clarification immediately. If the contractor can't or won't answer your questions, move on.
At Anderson Tree Care, we provide our Certificate of Insurance upfront without hesitation.
Risks of Hiring Uninsured Tree Contractors
Hiring an uninsured tree contractor is potentially catastrophic.
Your homeowner's insurance may deny a claim. Most policies exclude coverage for damage caused by uninsured contractors. If an uninsured tree service damages your roof, your insurance company can legally refuse to pay.
You become personally liable for injuries. If a worker is injured and the contractor has no workers' compensation insurance, that worker can sue you directly. A serious injury claim can easily exceed $100,000 (bls.gov).
Damage to neighboring properties is your problem. If a tree falls on your neighbor's house and your contractor is uninsured, your neighbor can sue you.
You have no recourse if work is substandard. If an uninsured contractor damages a tree or removes the wrong one, you have no insurance to claim against. Your only option is to sue the contractor personally, which is expensive and often unsuccessful.
Contractors without insurance often cut corners. They skip insurance to keep costs down, which usually means cutting corners on safety, equipment maintenance, and training.
The cheapest quote without insurance is actually costing you thousands in potential liability.
Red Flags and What to Look For on Insurance Documents
Expired policies. If the expiration date has passed, the insurance is no longer active. Even if it expires in two weeks, ask for a renewal.
Missing information. A legitimate COI includes the contractor's name, business address, policy numbers, coverage limits, expiration dates, and your address as a certificate holder. If any are missing, ask for a corrected version.
Unusually low coverage limits. General liability coverage below $250,000 is concerning for tree work. Ask why limits are so low.
Your address is not listed as a certificate holder. You won't be notified if the policy is cancelled. Always ask the contractor to have their agent add you.
Workers' compensation is missing. If the contractor has employees, this is a legal violation. If they claim to be solo, verify this claim.
The carrier name is unfamiliar. Search the carrier's name online. Legitimate insurers have websites and customer reviews.
The COI is handwritten or unofficial. A legitimate COI is printed on the carrier's official form or an ACORD standard form.
The policy number looks suspicious. Most follow recognizable patterns. If it looks random or unusually short, it might be fake.
Dates don't make sense. If the issue date is in the future or the expiration date is before the issue date, something's wrong.
Key Takeaway The Certificate of Insurance is your primary defense. A legitimate contractor will provide one without hesitation. If they won't, or if the document has multiple red flags, hire someone else.
Conclusion
Verifying tree service insurance takes less than an hour total but protects you from thousands of dollars in potential liability. The process is straightforward: request a Certificate of Insurance upfront, review it carefully, contact the insurance carrier to confirm it's active, and document everything.
Anderson Tree Care carries comprehensive general liability and workers' compensation coverage and provides our Certificate of Insurance to every customer before work begins. Our coverage protects both you and our team. When you're ready for tree services, start by asking for proof of insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a tree service is insured?
Ask the tree service to provide a certificate of insurance before work begins. Request they send it via email or show it in person. Contact their insurance carrier directly using the phone number on the certificate to confirm the policy is active. Never rely solely on verbal assurance, always verify with written documentation and direct carrier confirmation.
What insurance should a tree service have?
A professional tree service must carry general liability insurance to cover property damage and bodily injury claims. Workers' compensation insurance is required in most states if they have employees. Ask your contractor to specify their coverage limits.
What happens if an uninsured tree worker gets injured on my property?
If an uninsured worker is injured on your property, you could face personal liability claims, medical bills, and potential lawsuits. Your homeowner's liability insurance may not cover contractor injuries, leaving you financially responsible. This is why hiring only insured contractors is critical, their workers' compensation coverage protects both the worker and your household from catastrophic costs.
Can I ask a tree service for a certificate of insurance?
Yes, absolutely. Any legitimate, professional tree service should provide a certificate of insurance without hesitation. If a contractor refuses or delays providing one, that's a major red flag. Request the ACORD form (the standard insurance certificate). This is a normal, expected part of contractor vetting.
Call or Text for estimate
Comments