State directory
How to verify a sub’s workers’ comp and license, state by state
Every state does this differently. Some let you look up workers’ comp coverage online. Some let small owners skip coverage. Some make you responsible if your sub has none. This page lists what we’ve verified so far, and links to the official source for each. We add a state only after we’ve checked it against the law or the state agency.
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Free COI auditStates we’ve covered
| State | The one thing to know | Official source | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Contractors with no employees can file a workers’ comp exemption. Roofers, concrete, HVAC, asbestos and tree-service licenses can’t. Licenses without required coverage are suspended. | CSLB workers’ comp rules | California guide |
| Florida | Up to three officers can hold an exemption instead of a policy. GCs can be liable for an uninsured sub’s employees. | DWC Proof of Coverage database | Florida guide |
| Georgia | Coverage is required for employers with three or more employees. A principal contractor can be liable for a sub’s employees’ comp. | Georgia SBWC online coverage verification | Georgia guide |
| North Carolina | A contractor who sublets without getting the sub’s workers’ comp certificate can be liable like the sub. Coverage applies to employers with three or more employees. | G.S. 97-19 | North Carolina guide |
| New York | The ACORD 25 isn’t accepted as proof of workers’ comp. State forms are required. | NY proof of insurance rules | New York guide |
| Texas | Most private employers can opt out of workers’ comp. Public jobs need it. | TDI coverage verification (TXCOMP) | Texas guide |
States we’re checking next
Arizona and others. We publish a state once we’ve read the statute or agency page ourselves. Want one sooner? Tell us which.
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.
A good habit in any state
Ask for the certificate. Verify it with the agent. If your state has an online lookup, check it. Write down the date. Re-check before the policy ends.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a national database to check a sub’s workers’ comp?
Not one public national lookup that we know of. Each state runs its own rules and, in some states, its own online lookup.
Why isn’t my state listed?
We add states only after verifying them against the law or the state agency. Tell us which one you need.
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