Snow Contractor Insurance: What to Check on the Certificate Before the First Storm

October 2, 2026 · JRW Services LLC

A certificate of insurance is one page, and most people file it without reading it. For snow work that is a mistake, because the certificate is where the most expensive problems in a snow contract are visible before they happen.

What the certificate should show

General liability. This is the coverage that answers a slip-and-fall claim tied to the contractor's work. Check that it is there and that the policy is active.

Commercial auto. Plow trucks are vehicles on your property. A truck that backs into a light pole or a parked car is an auto claim, not a general liability one.

Workers' compensation. If a crew member is hurt on your property and the contractor has no workers' comp, the claim can come looking for the property. New Jersey requires employers to carry it.

Policy dates that cover the whole winter. A policy that renews in January is fine if the renewal happens. A certificate dated last spring tells you nothing about February.

The right names. The certificate should list your property or company as the certificate holder. Property managers often need the owner entity listed as well, and the names should match the contract exactly.

The one to ask about directly

Is snow and ice work covered? Some general liability policies exclude it or limit it, because snow is a high-claim line of work. A contractor whose policy was written for landscaping may not be covered for the thing you are hiring them to do. Ask in writing, and ask the agent listed on the certificate if the answer is unclear.

Additional insured

Many commercial contracts require the property to be named as an additional insured on the contractor's policy. That gives the property a direct claim on the contractor's coverage for claims arising from their work, rather than only a right to go after the contractor.

Whether you need it, and how it should be worded, is a question for your own insurer or attorney. What matters here is that if your contract requires it, the certificate should show it.

When to get it

Before the season, not after the first storm. A contractor who cannot produce a certificate in October will not produce one faster in January. We send ours with the property listed before the season starts.

Common questions

What insurance should a snow removal contractor have? General liability, commercial auto and workers' compensation, with policy dates that cover the whole winter and no exclusion for snow and ice work.

What does additional insured mean on a snow contract? It means the property is named on the contractor's policy and can claim on that coverage directly for claims arising from the contractor's work. Whether you need it is a question for your insurer or attorney.

How often should I get a new certificate? At least once a season, and again whenever a policy renews mid-winter.

For the rest of the vetting list, see how to choose a commercial snow contractor.

Keep reading

• Where Snow Piles Go on a Commercial Lot
• What Separates a Real Snow Contractor From a Guy Who Plows Until the Grass Grows Back
• An HOA Board's Guide to Reviewing the Snow Contract