Is there a deductible on liability insurance, including a roofer's?
Short answer. Personal liability coverage on homeowners and auto policies usually has no deductible for the person making a claim. Business liability policies, like the general liability insurance a roofer carries, often do have a deductible or self-insured amount, but that is the contractor's cost to pay, never something passed on to a homeowner who was damaged.
Personal policies
- Homeowners liability: typically no deductible.
- Auto liability: no deductible for the other driver's claim.
- Umbrella policies: may have a self-insured retention that applies only when the umbrella covers something your underlying policies do not.
A roofer's liability insurance
Contractors usually carry commercial general liability insurance to pay for property damage and injuries their work causes. Those policies often carry a deductible or a self-insured retention, which the contractor pays out of its own pocket. If a crew leaves your roof open before a storm and water damages your home, the contractor and its insurer owe you for the covered damage, and how they split the cost between them is not your concern.
What to verify before you hire
- A certificate of insurance sent directly from the contractor's agent, with current dates.
- General liability limits, commonly $1 million per occurrence for established roofers.
- Workers compensation, which Georgia generally requires of businesses with three or more employees. An injured, uninsured worker on your roof can create a dispute that reaches your door.
- No exclusion for roofing work, which some bargain policies carry.
If something goes wrong
Notify the contractor in writing, ask for its insurer's details, and document the damage. You can also file with your own homeowners policy and let your insurer pursue the contractor. See how to vet a roofer after a storm.