What is a Certificate of Insurance (COI)?

A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is a document issued by an insurance company that verifies a vendor or subcontractor has active insurance coverage. General contractors and property managers require COIs to confirm vendors carry adequate general liability, workers compensation, and other required policies before allowing them on a job site.

How does VendorShield automate COI tracking?

VendorShield uses AI to analyze uploaded COI PDFs instantly. It extracts policy details including coverage types, limits, effective dates, and insurer information. The system automatically scores each COI for risk, flags coverage gaps against your requirements, and sends alerts before policies expire.

Can vendors upload their own COIs?

Yes. VendorShield provides each vendor with a self-serve portal link. Vendors can upload their COIs directly without needing an account. This eliminates the back-and-forth email chains that typically slow down compliance.

How much does VendorShield cost?

VendorShield starts at $499/month for the Starter plan (up to 25 vendors). The Pro plan is $799/month with unlimited vendors and custom compliance rules. Enterprise pricing is custom with multi-organization support, SSO, and dedicated support. All plans include a 14-day free trial.

What types of businesses use VendorShield?

VendorShield is built for general contractors, construction firms, property management companies, and any business that needs to track vendor insurance compliance. If you manage subcontractors or third-party vendors who must carry insurance, VendorShield automates the entire process.

All states

NYLocal-only (no statewide GC license)

New York Contractor License & Insurance Requirements

New York State does not license general contractors. NYC requires a Department of Buildings GC Registration (LL 17/2008) and a separate Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) license through DCWP for residential work over $200. Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, Putnam each have their own consumer-affairs HIC requirements.

License threshold

NYC: any GC work requires DOB GC Registration; residential remodel >$200 requires DCWP HIC. Long Island/Westchester: HIC for any home-improvement work.

WC trigger

All employers, all sizes. (WCL §50)

Bond

NYC GC Registration: $25K or $100K depending on tier. NYC HIC: trust fund participation. Long Island HIC: typically $1K–$10K bond.

Authority

Verify license

License authority: No statewide GC license. Localities: NYC DOB, Westchester DCP, Suffolk DOL, Nassau DCA — license verification portal.

Workers' comp posture

New York Workers' Comp Law §50 requires WC for ALL employees from the first hire. Disability Benefits (DBL) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) are also mandatory — three separate coverages on a NY COI. Out-of-state subs need a NY-compliant policy with NY on item 3A — out-of-state-only policies do not respond to NY losses.

Common public-bid insurance minimums

These are limits commonly required on NY public-works prequalification. They are NOT a state-mandated minimum — verify against your specific procurement spec or contract.

General Liability

$2M per occurrence / $4M aggregate (typical NYC SCA + DDC + Port Authority spec)

Workers' Comp

Statutory + DBL + PFL; $1M Employer's Liability

Auto Liability

$1M–$2M combined single limit

New York state-specific quirks

Labor Law §240 (Scaffold Law) creates absolute liability for owners and GCs on gravity-related injuries — drives premium and AI endorsement scrutiny.
NYC DOB GC Registration (LL 17/2008) is renewed annually; expired registrations halt permitting.
NY requires three separate coverages: WC, DBL (Disability Benefits), and PFL (Paid Family Leave) — single C-105.2 form covers WC; DB-120.1 covers DBL/PFL.
Long Island HIC license is by county (Suffolk + Nassau) — different from NYC HIC.
On NYC public projects, prevailing wage + Local Law 1 (asbestos), Local Law 33 (lead paint) registrations stack on top of standard insurance.

3 pitfalls every NY GC misses

Forgetting DBL and PFL

Most out-of-state subs furnish a WC certificate but no DBL/PFL evidence. NY Workers' Compensation Board accepts the C-105.2 (WC) and DB-120.1 (DBL/PFL) — capture both.

Scaffold Law indemnity wording

Labor Law §240 imposes absolute liability for height-related injuries on owners + GCs. Standard AI endorsements survive but the indemnity provision must be carefully worded under GOL §5-322.1 to be enforceable.

NYC GC Registration renewal lapses

NYC DOB GC Registrations expire annually. A sub with a great COI but a lapsed GCR cannot pull permits — verify the GCR expiration in BIS the same day you onboard.

Automate New York sub vetting

VendorShield checks every COI for New York compliance — license currency against No statewide GC license. Localities: NYC DOB, Westchester DCP, Suffolk DOL, Nassau DCA, WC posture, public-bid limit minimums, and 3 state-specific pitfalls flagged at intake. No more manual statute lookups.

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Frequently asked questions

Does New York have a state contractor license?

No. NY licenses trades like electricians and plumbers locally; GCs are licensed only at the local level (NYC DOB GCR, NYC DCWP HIC, Suffolk/Nassau/Westchester HIC).

What is NYC GC Registration (LL 17/2008)?

Local Law 17 of 2008 requires any GC pulling permits in NYC to register annually with DOB. Tracked in BIS and required for permit-pulling. Separate from the HIC license needed for residential work.

What three coverages do New York subs need?

Workers' Comp (C-105.2), Disability Benefits (DB-120.1 covers DBL), and Paid Family Leave (DB-120.1 also covers PFL). Most COI tracking systems miss DBL/PFL — capture all three.

What is the Scaffold Law and how does it affect insurance?

NY Labor Law §240 imposes absolute liability on owners + GCs for gravity-related injuries. AI endorsements and indemnity provisions must be drafted with GOL §5-322.1 in mind. Drives higher GL/Umbrella minimums on NY projects.

How do I verify a New York contractor license?

For NYC GC Registration use the BIS Search (a810-bisweb.nyc.gov). For NYC HIC use DCWP. For Long Island use Suffolk/Nassau Consumer Affairs. There is no statewide search.

Other states

CACalifornia TXTexas FLFlorida GAGeorgia ILIllinois AZArizona

Reference data current as of 2026-06-04. This page is informational and is not legal advice. Always verify with the linked state authority before relying on a number for procurement, prequalification, or legal use.