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

TXTrade-only (no statewide GC license)

Texas Contractor License & Insurance Requirements

Texas does not issue a statewide general-contractor license. Specialty trades (electrical, HVAC, plumbing, irrigation, well-drilling) are licensed by TDLR or the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. GCs themselves operate without a state license — local jurisdictions (Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas) may impose registration.

License threshold

Trade-specific: HVAC technicians, electricians, plumbers, irrigators all require TDLR license regardless of project size.

WC trigger

Workers' comp is OPTIONAL in Texas for private employers. Mandatory for public-works (Government Code §406).

Bond

Trade-specific (electricians need a $300K bond for residential appliance installations under HB 1335). No statewide GC bond.

Authority

Verify license

License authority: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) — for trades; no statewide GC license — license verification portal.

Workers' comp posture

Texas is the only state where private-sector workers' comp is voluntary. Public-works contractors and subs MUST carry WC. Any private GC requiring WC of subs is doing so by contract, not by statute. Non-subscriber employers face direct tort liability for on-job injuries with limited common-law defenses.

Common public-bid insurance minimums

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

General Liability

$1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate (typical TxDOT + city spec)

Workers' Comp

Statutory; required by Texas Government Code §406 on all public-works regardless of size

Auto Liability

$1M combined single limit

Texas state-specific quirks

Workers' comp is optional in Texas private sector — non-subscribers must post notice and report annually to DWC.
TxDOT requires its own Highway Bond + prequalification on top of insurance.
Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, El Paso each have their own contractor registration / permit-pulling rules.
Residential subs working on appliance/HVAC face TDLR HB 1335 bond requirements ($300K) for combustible-fuel installations.
Texas Construction Anti-Indemnity Statute (Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §151) limits how much risk a sub can be forced to indemnify upstream — affects AI endorsement wording.

3 pitfalls every TX GC misses

Assuming workers' comp is mandatory

It isn't, in Texas private sector. If your GC contract requires WC, it must be enforced by the contract — not the statute. Capture the WC certificate or a non-subscriber acknowledgment with proof of alternate occupational coverage.

Verifying GC license for Texas projects

There is nothing to verify at the state level. Collect city-level registrations (Houston permit-puller registration, Austin Contractor Registration) and trade licenses (TDLR for HVAC/electrical/plumbing).

Anti-indemnity statute wording

Texas Chapter 151 voids broad-form indemnity in construction contracts. Additional Insured endorsements that include indemnity for the GC's own negligence are unenforceable. Use ISO CG 20 38 04 13 worded for AI status only.

Automate Texas sub vetting

VendorShield checks every COI for Texas compliance — license currency against Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) — for trades; no statewide GC license, 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

Do general contractors need a license in Texas?

No statewide license. Specialty trades (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, irrigation) are licensed by TDLR or TSBPE. Cities like Houston and Austin have local registration requirements.

Is workers' comp required in Texas?

Mandatory only on public-works projects (Government Code §406). Optional in private sector — non-subscriber employers must file notice with TDI-DWC and report annually. Most reputable GCs require WC by contract anyway.

How do I verify a Texas trade license?

Use the TDLR License Search at tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch/ for HVAC/electrical/irrigation. Plumbers are verified at tsbpe.texas.gov. Cross-check the license name against the COI Named Insured.

What is the Texas Anti-Indemnity Statute?

Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 151 voids construction-contract clauses requiring a sub to indemnify the GC for the GC's sole or concurrent negligence. AI endorsements requiring same are unenforceable in Texas.

Do I need a separate Houston / Austin / Dallas registration?

Often yes. Houston requires permit-puller registration; Austin runs a Contractor Registration Program for permit work; San Antonio and Dallas have their own city processes. Verify both state-trade and city-registration on intake.

Other states

CACalifornia FLFlorida NYNew York 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.