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

NJRegistration-only (no exam)

New Jersey Contractor License & Insurance Requirements

New Jersey has no statewide GC examination license. The Contractor's Registration Act (N.J.S.A. 56:8-136) requires Home Improvement Contractor REGISTRATION for anyone doing residential remodel/repair work. Commercial GC work is unlicensed at state level. Electricians and plumbers are licensed examination-based by the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs.

License threshold

HIC: $500+ of residential home-improvement work. Commercial: no state license.

WC trigger

All employers (N.J.S.A. 34:15-71)

Bond

No state bond. Insurance required: $500,000 GL minimum for HIC registration.

Authority

Verify license

License authority: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs — Home Improvement Contractor Registration — license verification portal.

Workers' comp posture

New Jersey Workers' Compensation Act applies to all employers from first hire. Corporate officers and LLC members can elect coverage. Independent-contractor analysis under N.J.S.A. 43:21-19(i)(6) uses the 'ABC test' similar to Massachusetts.

Common public-bid insurance minimums

These are limits commonly required on NJ 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 NJDOT + state-college spec)

Workers' Comp

Statutory + $1M Employer's Liability

Auto Liability

$1M combined single limit

New Jersey state-specific quirks

NJ HIC requires $500,000 minimum GL — one of the few states that mandates GL as part of the registration itself.
Electricians, master plumbers, and HVAC contractors are state-examination-licensed (separate from HIC).
NJ Prevailing Wage Act (N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.25) applies to public-works — certified payroll filed with NJDOL.
Construction-industry independent-contractor analysis under the ABC test is strict; misclassification triggers DOL audits.
Atlantic City + Newark have additional licensing/permitting layers — verify city alongside state.

3 pitfalls every NJ GC misses

Treating HIC as a GC license

HIC is consumer-protection registration; it doesn't verify GC competence. Don't rely on HIC alone for project competence — verify trade licenses for the relevant trades.

Forgetting the $500K GL requirement

A HIC-registered sub by definition has $500K GL — but many GC contracts require $1M/$2M. Always re-verify the COI limits against your contract minimums.

ABC-test misclassification

NJ's ABC test (N.J.S.A. 43:21-19(i)(6)) is strict. A 1099 sub failing prong B or C creates employer-WC liability up the chain.

Automate New Jersey sub vetting

VendorShield checks every COI for New Jersey compliance — license currency against NJ Division of Consumer Affairs — Home Improvement Contractor Registration, WC posture, public-bid limit minimums, and 3 state-specific pitfalls flagged at intake. No more manual statute lookups.

Start free 14-day trial

Frequently asked questions

Does New Jersey require a state GC license?

No examination-based GC license. NJ has HIC registration for residential home-improvement work and trade licenses (electrical, plumbing) issued by NJ DCA. Commercial GC work is unlicensed at state level.

What insurance does NJ HIC registration require?

A minimum of $500,000 in commercial general liability — required as part of the HIC registration itself. Most GC contracts then require higher limits.

Does NJ workers' comp apply to all employers?

Yes. N.J.S.A. 34:15-71 applies to all employers from first hire. Corporate officers and LLC members may elect coverage.

How do I verify a New Jersey contractor?

Use the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs verification portal at newjersey.mylicense.com/verification. Confirm HIC registration status and any trade-license records.

What is the NJ ABC test?

N.J.S.A. 43:21-19(i)(6) — to be a true independent contractor: (A) free from control, (B) outside the usual course of business, AND (C) independently established. Failure of any prong = employee.

Other states

CACalifornia TXTexas FLFlorida NYNew York GAGeorgia ILIllinois

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.