A homeowner calls about a big oak near the house. Before you finish talking, she asks: “Are you insured?” You say yes. She says, “Can you send me proof?” Now you are digging through paperwork in the truck while she waits.
Tree work is risky, and customers know it. Showing your insurance quickly and clearly builds trust and can be the reason you win the job. This post covers how to do it. It is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Ask your insurance agent and your state about what you need.
Why customers ask
People are protecting themselves. If a limb hits the house, a crew member gets hurt on the property, or a neighbor’s fence is damaged, they want to know who pays. A homeowner is asking: will this be my problem?
Property managers and commercial clients ask even more often. Some will not hire a company that cannot send a certificate of insurance. Our guide to commercial accounts talks about why this matters when you bid for larger customers.
Homeowners also get advice to check insurance before hiring. Our page on how to hire a tree service says as much. If your competitors answer this question quickly, you should too.
The terms in plain words
Here is a simple translation. Ask your agent to confirm what applies to you.
| Term | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| General liability | Covers damage you cause to a customer’s property or injuries to other people |
| Workers’ compensation | Covers injuries to your own employees on the job. Rules differ by state |
| Commercial auto | Covers your trucks and trailers when they are used for the business |
| Certificate of insurance (COI) | A one-page proof of your coverage that your agent issues |
| Additional insured | A way to list a client on your policy for a specific job, if the client asks |
Different states and clients have different rules. Do not guess. Ask your agent which coverage fits your work, and what clients usually require.
What to show, and what not to show
Do show:
- That you are insured, in plain words.
- The types of coverage you carry (general liability, workers’ comp, if it applies).
- A way to request a certificate.
Do not show:
- Policy numbers on your public website.
- Private details about claims.
- Anything you are not sure is current.
If your coverage lapses, take the claim off your website the same day. A false claim about being insured is worse than no claim at all.
Where to show it
Put the proof where people look.
- Your website. Add a short “Insured and ready to prove it” section on the home page and the services pages. Say what you carry and how to ask for a certificate. Our tree service website checklist lists other trust items to include.
- Your estimates. Add one line at the bottom of every quote: “Fully insured. Certificate available on request.”
- Your Google Business Profile. Add it to your description in plain words, and mention it in replies to reviews where it fits.
- Your trucks and shirts. If your state requires license numbers on vehicles, follow that rule.
- Your first text reply. A quick line like “We are insured and can send a certificate” helps a worried caller relax.
Make a certificate easy to send
The slowest part is usually not the paperwork. It is that nobody knows who to call. Fix this once:
- Save your agent’s name, phone and email in your phone.
- Ask the agent how long a certificate takes. Often an agent can send one the same day, but ask yours.
- Keep a recent certificate as a PDF in your phone, for the common case where no changes are needed.
- For commercial clients who want to be listed, ask your agent about the process before the job, not on the morning of it.
Our insurance certificate checklist walks you through the steps and what to have ready.
An example script
Here is an example only, for “Oak & Pine Tree Service”. It is not a real company.
Phone answer, when asked:
“Yes, we’re insured. I can email you a certificate of insurance today. What’s your email?”
Text follow-up:
“Thanks for calling Oak & Pine Tree Service. Attached is our certificate of insurance. Let me know when you’d like us to come out for a free estimate.”
Keep the tone calm and direct. Do not argue with customers who ask twice. It is a good sign, not an insult.
Do not use insurance as a hard sell
It is fine to be proud of being insured. But do not say bad things about other companies, and do not make claims you cannot prove. Words like “the only insured company in town” can get you in trouble. Just show your proof and let the customer compare.
Checklist
- I called my agent and confirmed what coverage I carry.
- I have a current certificate saved on my phone.
- I added “insured, certificate on request” to my website.
- I added the same line to my estimates.
- I mention it in my Google Business Profile.
- I know who to call at my agency and how fast they respond.
- I set a reminder to check my coverage before it renews.
Use it to win commercial bids
Property managers often compare bids side by side. A fast certificate and a clear page about your coverage can set you apart from companies that go quiet. Our property manager pitch builder helps you put this into a short pitch. Planning a trust page for your site? Use the service page outline builder to see where it fits.
Insurance can also come up after a storm, when homeowners ask who pays for what. See trees and insurance for what homeowners read on this topic, and our insurance for tree services guide for the owner side.
What to do next
Try it: open the insurance certificate checklist and get your certificate ready today.
One more thing. Answering the question “Are you insured?” only helps if the phone is answered. According to Invoca, about 27% of calls to home-service businesses go unanswered, and under 3% of those callers leave a voicemail. If you want to see where your calls go, you can get a free audit, or read about the Google Business Profile service and website service. Our pricing page shows what is included.
