How to verify an electrician's liscense and insurance?

Question

How does one go about verifying an electrician's liscense and insurance coverage? What I read says to ask for a copy of the liscense and insurance coverage. Is there a database to search to make sure the liscense is active? Is there a common phone number to call and validate? thx

Answer 1

No, there's no database.

What you can do, is ask him for a certificate of insurance, naming you certificate holder. Then he calls his insurance agent, gives them your name and address, and they mail it out to you. It has all the policy information, and the agency contact information, and at the bottom, it says: CERTIFICATE HOLDER, JOE YOU, YOUR ADDRESS.

You can call his agent (the telephone number should be on the certificate) to verify that the information is correct.

You'll have to call your local building department with his license number to verify that he is currently licensed.

But, in my experience, if the guy has insurance, he's most likely licensed - he won't be able to pull the permit for the work if he isn't.

Answer 2

Ask the electrician for a copy of his license and a copy of his liability
insurance. If he is reputable, he will not have a problem providing this information to you. I carry my electrician license card in my wallet.

With the copy of this info, you can call the issuing agency for verification that the license has not been suspended and the insurance is paid up and current.

If he does not want to provide it, move on to the next contractor.

Answer 3

Simply call the electrician you want to possibly hire and ask for this info. ANY respectable and on the up and up business will provide this info. I do all the time for ours. With this info I include the number for our states Department of Labor to which they can call and verify my info as being correct.

Another way is to call your local electrical inspector. They will know immediately if the name you drop them is legit or not.

Do not be afraid to ask your electrician out right for this info. We have this license and insurance for a reason and we are willing to prove it due to us being respectable business people. If the electrician questions your motives then kindly tell them "thanks you just answered the question I was getting at" and hang up.

Happy Monday !!

: )

Answer 4

ask him for a certificate of insurance.. it's a common request for a reputable contractor... in the top left corner it will give his agents/company's name and usually their phone number.. cal them and check to see if it's valid and up to date. ask to added as an additional insured.. they may ask for a value of the job, have it ready. You can also ask if they have a copy of his contractors lic handy... can they fax it to you.. it's not common for them to have it.. but some companies require it on file.

Or ask him for his license number.. Call the state license board.. give them the license #.. they will confirm the date it was issued, , still valid, any nasty marks against him... etc..
if he won't furnish you with this stuff
tell him to take a walk.. there are a lot of reputable contractors out there.

Answer 5

There is a state licensing board for electricians in all states. If they are licensed by the board, the have insurance, because you can't keep your license without it.