By trade

Insurance requirements for concrete subcontractors

Short answer

Ask concrete subs for general liability with completed operations, workers’ comp for the whole crew, strong commercial auto, and often umbrella. Concrete means heavy trucks, heavy equipment and crews working fast. Dust is a health risk. Structural problems can show up later. Check auto limits carefully, because trucks cause big claims.

Written by Liam · CertChase · Last reviewed October 3, 2026

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What goes wrong

Trucks and pumps. Concrete trucks and pump rigs on busy sites and public roads.
Heavy equipment. Injuries and property damage from machines.
Silica dust. Cutting and grinding concrete creates respirable silica. OSHA has a construction standard for it, 29 CFR 1926.1153.
Structural defects. Slabs, footings and walls can fail or crack, and the problem may show up later.

What to ask for

Commercial auto. This matters more here than in most trades.
General liability with completed operations.
Workers’ comp for every worker.
Umbrella, because truck and structural claims can run high.

Check these too

Silica plan. Ask how the sub controls dust on your job.
California. Concrete (C-8) contractors must carry workers’ comp. They can’t file the no-employee exemption.
Equipment. Ask whether the sub’s policy covers rented and hired equipment.

Sources: CSLB workers’ comp requirements · OSHA silica standard. Laws and agency rules change. Check the current version.

Not legal or insurance advice. This is general information. Your contract, your state and your policy decide what applies to you. Ask your broker or attorney.

Copy this into your bid request

Concrete subcontractor, please send before starting: a current certificate showing general liability with completed operations, workers’ comp, and auto if you drive to site. Also send the additional insured endorsement for ongoing and completed work and a waiver of subrogation if our contract requires it. Name [your company] as certificate holder. Limits are in our requirements page: [link].

Fill in your company name and link. Your broker sets the numbers. Build the page with the requirements builder.

Frequently asked questions

What insurance should a concrete subcontractor have?

Commercial auto, general liability with completed operations, workers’ comp and often umbrella. Trucks and structural work are the big claim sources.

Can a concrete contractor in California file a workers’ comp exemption?

No. California’s license board lists concrete (C-8) among the classes that must carry workers’ comp.

Keep reading

01By tradeRequirements by tradeWhat insurance to ask for from roofers, electricians, plumbers, HVAC, framers and concrete subs, and why each trade’s risks are different.02ExplainerOngoing vs completed operationsOngoing operations cover work in progress. Completed operations cover problems that show up after the job is done. Why you need both.03ExplainerUmbrella vs excessUmbrella and excess both add limit on top of the main policies. Here is the difference and what to check on a sub’s certificate.04By tradeRoofing subsWhat insurance to ask a roofing sub for: falls, torch and hot-tar fire risk, leaks that show up later, and the workers’ comp rule in California.05By tradeElectrical subsWhat to ask an electrical sub for: fire and shock risk, damage that shows up later, helpers and apprentices, and license checks.06By tradeDemolition and excavation subsHiring a demo or excavation sub? Check for utility-strike, collapse and pollution gaps before they start. What to ask for and what policies leave out.

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