COI requirements by trade / Paving, asphalt, and parking lot striping
Paving, asphalt, and parking lot striping COI requirements
Paving and parking lot contractors work with heavy equipment and hot asphalt in places people are still walking and driving. Trip-and-fall claims from poor work, and vehicle damage during the job, are the big exposures.
What makes paving, asphalt, and parking lot striping risky
- Slip, trip, and fall claims tied to uneven paving, potholes, or poor drainage after completion.
- Damage to parked cars from equipment, sealcoat overspray, or wet paint.
- Injuries to workers and the public from rollers, pavers, and traffic.
- Burns from hot asphalt and fires from kettles and torches.
Coverage to require on the certificate
| Coverage | What's common, and what to check |
|---|---|
| General liability | $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate is a common floor; busy retail and HOA properties often require more. Check that parking lot and roadway work isn't excluded. |
| Products-completed operations | Important, since trip-and-fall claims on finished surfaces come after the crew leaves. |
| Workers' compensation | Statutory, plus employers' liability. |
| Commercial auto | $1M combined single limit is common. Dump trucks and equipment trailers sometimes call for higher limits. |
| Umbrella / excess | Often required on larger lots and roadway work, commonly $1M to $5M. |
On top of the coverage itself, most contracts also require additional insured status for you (and the owner, where applicable), a waiver of subrogation, and primary and noncontributory wording. Those come from endorsements, so ask for copies.
Red flags on paving, asphalt, and parking lot striping certificates
- A policy that excludes work on public roads or highways when that's in scope.
- Equipment hauled on trucks insured only under personal auto.
- No completed operations coverage for a contractor whose finished work is walked on every day.
Tip
Ask the contractor how they'll handle traffic control and signage during the job, and make sure the work dates on the certificate cover the whole schedule, including any weather delays.
Review checklist
- Insured name matches the company on your contract.
- Every coverage above that your contract requires is listed.
- Each limit meets your minimum.
- No policy expires before the job ends. Track each expiration date separately.
- ADDL INSD and SUBR WVD are marked, with endorsements on file.
- You've asked the agent about any paving, asphalt, and parking lot striping exclusions that matter.
New to reading certificates? Start with how to read an ACORD 25, grab the free COI checklist, or log dates in the free expiration tracker.
Common questions
What insurance should a paving, asphalt, and parking lot striping subcontractor carry?
Common requirements include general liability, products-completed operations, workers' compensation, commercial auto, and umbrella / excess. Your contracts and broker set the actual minimums.
Are these limits required by law?
Generally no. Insurance requirements for subcontractors and vendors are set by your contracts, your own insurer, and any owner, lender, or public agency on the job. Workers' compensation requirements are set by state law. The figures here describe common practice only.
Does the ACORD 25 show exclusions?
Usually not. A certificate summarizes policy types, limits, and dates. Exclusions like height limits, residential work, or pollution are in the policy itself, so ask the agent directly when they matter for the trade.
Who should issue the certificate?
Ask the sub's insurance agent or broker to issue it, not the sub. Agents issue certificates daily and can send the endorsements at the same time.
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