"Licensed and insured" is the most common phrase in roofing advertising, and one of the least verified by homeowners. It takes only a few minutes to confirm both, and skipping that step is how people end up liable for accidents or stuck with unlicensed work. Here is exactly how to check.
Verifying the license depends on your state
Licensing rules vary, so start with what your state actually requires. In Florida, roofers must hold a state license, which you can verify free at MyFloridaLicense.com. In Texas, there is no state roofing license at all, so you verify other credentials instead. We cover each in finding a licensed roofer in Florida and finding one in Texas.
How to check a Florida license
- Go to the official DBPR portal at MyFloridaLicense.com
- Search by the company name or the license number from the quote
- Confirm the status reads "Current, Active"
- Check that the license holder matches the business quoting you
What to check in Texas
Since Texas has no state license, verify RCAT certification if they claim it, confirm any local city registration your area requires, and lean harder on insurance and references. The absence of a license makes the next step, insurance, even more important.
Verifying insurance the right way
This is the step almost everyone gets wrong. Do not accept a paper certificate the contractor hands you, because it can be expired or fake. Instead, ask for the insurance company's name and policy number, then call the insurer directly to confirm the policy is active and covers the work dates. You want both general liability and workers compensation. This protects you if a worker is hurt on your property, a risk highlighted in questions to ask before hiring.
Get the certificate from the source
Ask the contractor to have their insurer send the certificate of insurance directly to you. A legitimate roofer does this without complaint.
“Verifying takes ten minutes. Not verifying can cost you a lawsuit, a failed inspection, or a roof you cannot insure.”
