If you're a contractor staring at a General Liability renewal letter, slow down for ten minutes and check these five things before you sign.
GL renewals are where contractors get burned the most often. Carriers shift exclusions, add endorsements, and rewrite definitions in ways that don't always show up in the premium — until you have a claim.
1. Has your aggregate limit changed?
Your "per occurrence" and "general aggregate" limits should match what's in your largest contracts. If a job site requires $2M GL aggregate and your renewal renews you at $1M, you have a contract default risk that has nothing to do with safety.
2. What's been added to the exclusions list?
Carriers slip in new exclusions at renewal time. Common ones to watch: roofing exclusions (for general contractors who occasionally subcontract roof work), residential construction exclusions, and "professional services" carve-outs. Compare exclusions to last year's policy line by line.
3. Is your additional insured language still right?
Most contracts require you to add the GC, owner, or developer as an additional insured. If your endorsement form changed (CG 20 10 vs. CG 20 38, blanket vs. scheduled), the contracts you've been signing might no longer be matched. Check the form numbers.
4. Is the workers' comp class code still accurate?
Most contractors are paying for the wrong class code on at least one employee. If you have an office admin getting rated as a roofer, you're overpaying. If you have a roofer rated as office admin, you have an underwriting issue at audit.
5. What does completed operations cost?
Completed operations coverage is what kicks in when you finish a job and a defect shows up later. Some renewals quietly drop completed-ops coverage from 5 years to 3, or carve out specific work types. This is the most expensive coverage to lose without realizing it.
The 60-day rule
Don't wait for the renewal letter. Get a competing quote 60–90 days before your renewal date so you have leverage. Carriers know when you're cornered and underwrite accordingly.
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