Additional insured: why your GC wants on your policy
Explained simply
Picture your policy as a lifeboat with your name on it. A certificate is a photo of the lifeboat. Making the GC an additional insured gives them a seat in it, but only for trouble that comes from your work, and they share your same seats, not new ones.
The insurance section of almost any subcontract asks you to add the GC, and sometimes the owner, as additional insured. Here is what that actually gives them, and what has to be on your policy before you mobilize.
Certificate holder vs. additional insured
| Certificate holder | Additional insured | |
|---|---|---|
| What they get | Proof you have insurance | Coverage under your policy |
| How it happens | Named on the certificate | Added by an endorsement |
| Covers claims from | Nothing; it is information | Your work, per the endorsement |
| Your limits | Not affected | Shared, not doubled |
The details · tap to open
What additional insured means
Another party covered under your policy for claims from your work.
An additional insured is a person or company added to your general liability policy through an endorsement, which is a written change to the policy. Once they are on it, your policy can respond for them when they get pulled into a claim because of your work, within the terms of that endorsement.
Say a tenant walks under your scaffold, gets hit by a dropped tool and sues the owner, the GC and you. If the GC is an additional insured on your policy, your insurer can defend and pay for the GC on that claim, subject to the endorsement.
A certificate holder is something else. The certificate holder receives proof that you are insured and nothing more. The certificate does not change your policy. See the certificate of insurance guide for how each one looks on paper.
Why GCs and owners insist on it
So claims from your work hit your policy before theirs.
When someone is hurt on a job, their lawyer names everyone connected to the site. The GC did not do your work, but they get sued anyway. Being an additional insured on your policy is how they push claims that come from your work onto your coverage first.
Owners, property managers and commercial clients ask for the same thing, and some contracts require both the owner and the GC. The insurance section of the contract spells out who goes on and in what form, so read it line by line.
Three points worth knowing before you sign:
- It is tied to your work. The coverage is usually limited to claims arising out of your operations, not everything that happens on site.
- They share your limits. An additional insured draws from your $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate. It does not create a second set of limits.
- The endorsement is what counts. Typing "additional insured" on a certificate without the endorsement on the policy gives the GC nothing.
Blanket or scheduled
Blanket adds anyone your written contract requires; scheduled names each one.
How your endorsement is written decides how much paperwork every new GC costs you.
| Type | How it works | Fits contractors who |
|---|---|---|
| Blanket | Adds anyone you are required to add by a written contract, generally signed before the work starts | Work for many GCs and sign new subcontracts often |
| Scheduled (named) | Lists each GC or owner by name on the endorsement | Work for one or two GCs on longer jobs |
With a scheduled endorsement, a new GC means a new endorsement before you start. With a blanket one, the GC is generally included once the written contract requires it. A verbal deal usually does not trigger a blanket endorsement, because the requirement has to be in writing.
Blanket wording is not standard on every policy. If your GCs require it, confirm it is in the quote before you choose.
During the job and after it
Many GCs want completed operations, not just ongoing.
Additional insured status can apply to two different periods:
- Ongoing operations: claims from work while you are still on site.
- Completed operations: claims that surface after you have finished, like a slab that cracks or a roof that leaks months later.
Many GCs require both, because a lot of construction claims show up after the crew is gone. Some contracts also say how long completed operations status has to last after the project. A policy that extends additional insured status only to ongoing operations will not meet a contract that asks for completed operations, so check both before you sign.
Trades where problems show up late get the most scrutiny here, including roofing, concrete and framing.
The terms that travel with it
Primary and non-contributory, and a waiver of subrogation.
The additional insured request almost always arrives with two other terms:
- Primary and non-contributory. For claims from your work, your policy pays first, and the GC's own policy is not asked to chip in.
- Waiver of subrogation. After your insurer pays a claim, it gives up its right to go after the GC to recover that money.
Each is usually its own endorsement. When a contract asks for all three, make sure the policy you pick can provide all three.
The same logic runs downhill. Many policies expect your own subcontractors to carry their own GL and name you as additional insured. If they do not, claims from their work may land on you without coverage. More in GL exclusions for contractors.
Adding your GC through CalRisk
Compare quotes for the endorsements you need; we send the certificate.
- Start with your CSLB license number, then about a minute of tap-to-answer questions.
- Quotes from A-rated programs arrive one at a time with the limits, the deductible and what each includes and excludes. Look for the additional insured, primary and non-contributory, and waiver terms your GCs ask for.
- Tap "Submit for approval" on the right one. A licensed agent finishes it and emails you the final quote to sign. Nothing is bound until you sign.
- Once you are covered, CalRisk Insurance Center sends the certificate to your GC.
New GC down the road? Call or text (877) 940-4313 with the GC's legal name and address and the insurance wording from the contract. For what moves the price, see GL cost in California, or find your trade in insurance by trade.
Common questions
What does it mean to be an additional insured?
It means another party, usually a GC or owner, has been added to your general liability policy by endorsement, so your policy can respond for them on claims arising from your work.
Why does my GC want to be added to my insurance?
If your work injures someone or damages property, the GC is often sued along with you. As an additional insured, the GC can be covered under your policy for that claim.
What is the difference between a certificate holder and an additional insured?
A certificate holder only receives proof that you are insured. An additional insured is added to the policy by endorsement and can receive coverage for claims from your work.
Do I need a new endorsement for every GC?
Not if your policy has a blanket additional insured endorsement and the GC's written contract requires it. With a scheduled endorsement, each new GC is added by name.
Does naming an additional insured increase my coverage limits?
No. The additional insured shares your existing limits. No second set of limits is created.
How do I get a certificate showing my GC as additional insured?
The endorsement must be on your policy first, then a certificate showing it goes to the GC. Once you are covered through CalRisk, we send it; for a new GC later, call or text (877) 940-4313.
General information about California rules, not legal advice. Check your own licence with CSLB. Coverage is subject to the policy's terms, conditions and exclusions, and to the insurance company's approval. Some licence types are quoted by an agent instead of online. Updated 2026-10-25.