GL & Workers' Comp: Subcontractor Insurance Requirements for Texas Trades
Insurance paperwork is the number-one reason subcontractor applications stall. The good news: the package a general contractor like Master Repair Inc expects is straightforward, and once it is in place it stays valid for years with simple renewals. Here is what to carry and how to keep it current.
General Liability (GL)
GL covers third-party property damage and bodily injury caused by your work. Typical network requirements for Texas subcontractors:
- $300,000–$1,000,000 per occurrence, depending on scope (higher for roofing and structural work)
- A current certificate of insurance (COI) showing the carrier, policy number, and expiry
- Renewal before expiry: most networks re-verify at each policy anniversary
Workers' Compensation (WC)
Texas does not mandate private-carrier workers' comp for every employer, but general contractors typically require either:
- An active WC policy covering your crew, or
- A documented exemption for sole proprietors with no employees
If you hire helpers, expect the WC requirement. Crew coverage protects you directly: a single uninsured injury claim can exceed a year of profit.
Commercial Auto
Any vehicle used to haul tools, materials, or crew to job sites needs commercial auto liability. Personal auto policies exclude most work use, and a COI for the commercial policy is a standard upload at application.
Keeping Certificates Current
- Upload COIs as PDFs and track expiry dates in one place
- Ask your carrier to issue the network as certificate holder so renewals are automatic
- Renew 30 days before expiry; lapsed coverage pauses dispatch eligibility
What Happens If Coverage Lapses
Most networks, including Master Repair, pause work-order dispatch until a current COI is on file, and re-verification is quick once you upload the renewal. No penalty, no re-application, just a pause.
Bottom Line
GL at the right limit, WC or a documented exemption, and commercial auto for job-site vehicles: that is the whole package. Prepare the three PDFs once and apply free to the Master Repair independent subcontractor network.