A written quote is only as good as the contractor behind it. Before you sign, ask for these five things and compare them across every quote you get.
1. A license, where your state requires one
Licensing rules differ from state to state and by trade. Ask which license the contractor holds for your project, and check it with the licensing board that issued it.
NAHB notes that not every state requires licensing, and that where one does, the contractor should be able to give you a copy. It also advises checking the license on the state licensing website even when the paper looks real. Where your state has no roofing license, the checks on insurance and references matter more. The FTC adds that the contract should carry the contractor's license number.
2. Proof of insurance
Ask for a certificate of general liability insurance and, if the contractor has employees, workers' compensation. A certificate is sent by the insurer, so you can confirm it is current.
A certificate of insurance should show the insurer's name, the policy number and the policy limits, according to a state department of insurance consumer guide, which says you can call the insurer directly to confirm it. The same guide says a contractor who will not give you a certificate is a warning sign and that, if a contractor is uninsured, you may be liable for accidents on your property; this is not legal advice. NRCA advises asking for both the liability and the workers' compensation certificates and making sure they stay in effect until your job is finished, so look at the dates against your schedule. Ask whether subcontractors carry their own. Our guide to questions to ask a roofer covers more.
3. References from recent, similar jobs
Ask for two or three homeowners whose projects were like yours, finished in the last year or two, and call them.
4. A written estimate with the full scope
The estimate should name the work, the materials and their brands, who pulls any permit, how debris is removed and when the job starts and ends.
5. Payment terms you are comfortable with
Know the deposit, what each later payment is tied to, and what is owed at the end. Keep every change to the job in writing.
You are never obliged to hire anyone who gives you a quote. Take the time you need to compare.
Where to go next
For a roof, our step-by-step guide to hiring a roofer puts these checks in order. A shingle maker's installer badge is not a license or insurance, as what roofer certifications mean explains, and what to do if your roofer stops work or closes shows why the checks matter.
Where this information comes from
HomeAnvil does not publish contractor data of its own. Each fact comes from the source named, read on October 13, 2026.
- NAHB, Don't get scammed: find a qualified contractor, no date shown: licensing varies by state, checking a license with the state, references and insurance.
- NRCA, Selecting a contractor, no date shown: liability and workers' compensation certificates in effect for the whole job.
- State department of insurance, Don't get scammed after a disaster, no date shown: what a certificate of insurance shows, verifying with the insurer and the risk of an uninsured contractor.
- FTC Consumer Advice, How to avoid a home improvement scam, July 2022: checking a license and putting the license number in the contract.
Rules on licensing and insurance differ by state. This is general information, not legal or insurance advice.
Related guides
Signs of a bad roofing job, and what to do about itWavy shingle rows, high or exposed nails, missing flashing or drip edge and first-year blisters point to poor work. How to document it and use your warranty.
What questions should you ask a roofer before you sign?The roofing questions to ask before you sign: tear-off, decking, ice barrier, ventilation, permit, crew, cleanup, payment and warranty papers, plus red flags.- How do you hire a roofer?Hire a roofer in seven steps: find candidates, check license and insurance, compare written estimates, call references, sign a full contract, pay in stages, walk the job.
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