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    5 min read 5 stepsMay 8, 2026Verified May 2026

    How to Verify a Contractor's License Online

    An unlicensed contractor can leave you with shoddy work and no way to recover your money. Here is the plain way to check a license before you hire.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Safety & Privacy
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    5 min read
    Steps
    5
    Topics covered
    contractor
    license
    scams
    safety
    verification

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Get the Contractor's Full Name and License Number
    2. 2.Find Your State's License Lookup Website
    3. 3.Type the License Number and Read the Result
    4. 4.Check the Business Name and Address Match
    5. 5.Confirm Insurance and Workers' Compensation
    1

    Get the Contractor's Full Name and License Number

    ~32s
    When a contractor visits to give a quote, ask for their license number out loud. A real one will say it without pause and often hand you a business card with the number printed. Write down the contractor's full legal name, business name, license number, and phone number on a piece of paper. If they refuse or say they will send it later, that is a warning sign.

    Warning

    Never start work with anyone who will not give you a license number. "I'll bring it next time" is the most common stalling tactic of an unlicensed worker.

    2

    Find Your State's License Lookup Website

    ~32s
    Open a web browser and type your state's name plus the words "contractor license lookup" into Google. For example, "California contractor license lookup" or "Florida contractor license lookup." The first official result usually has a .gov address. Click only the .gov link, not the ad results above it. Bookmark that page. You will use it again every time you hire someone.

    Quick Tip

    If your state's site looks confusing, call the state license board's phone number. The phone numbers are listed at the top of every official site, and the staff will look up the contractor for you over the phone.

    3

    Type the License Number and Read the Result

    ~33s
    On the state lookup page, find the search box. Type the license number from your paper. Press Enter or click Search. A page loads showing the license details. Look at four things: the status (it should say Active or Current), the license type (it should match the work you need, such as Plumbing or General Building), the expiration date (it should be in the future), and any disciplinary actions listed.

    Warning

    If the status says Expired, Suspended, Revoked, or Inactive, do not hire this person. The state has either suspended their right to work or the contractor has not paid their fees.

    4

    Check the Business Name and Address Match

    ~34s
    On the same results page, look for the contractor's business name and the city or county on file. Both should match what the contractor told you. If the license is registered to a different name or to a city far away from yours, ask the contractor to explain. Sometimes a partner or relative is the licensed person, which can be fine. But you want that fact in writing before any work starts.

    Quick Tip

    Take a screenshot of the license lookup result on your phone. If anything goes wrong later, that screenshot is proof of what the state record showed on the day you hired.

    5

    Confirm Insurance and Workers' Compensation

    ~30s
    A license is the first step. Insurance is the second. Ask the contractor for proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation. They can email or text you a certificate from their insurance company. Read the dates to make sure the coverage is current. If a worker gets hurt on your property and the contractor has no workers' compensation, you could be sued. Two minutes of checking saves a lifetime of trouble.

    Quick Tip

    Call the insurance company on the certificate and ask, "Is this policy still active?" Some scammers send fake or expired certificates.

    You Did It!

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    A contractor's license is a public record that proves the person is allowed by the state to do certain kinds of home work. Most states require licenses for plumbing, electrical work, roofing, heating and cooling, and any general construction job over a few thousand dollars. A licensed contractor has passed a test, paid a fee, carried insurance, and stays in good standing by following the rules. An unlicensed worker has none of those protections in place. If an unlicensed worker damages your home or takes your money and runs, you have very little chance of getting help from the state.

    Checking a license takes about two minutes online and is free. Every state has a license board with a public lookup page on its website. In California, it is the Contractors State License Board at cslb.ca.gov. In Florida, it is myfloridalicense.com. In Texas, plumbers and electricians are licensed at tdlr.texas.gov. Each state's site looks a little different. But they all let you type a license number or a contractor's name and see if the license is active, expired, or suspended.

    The scam to watch for is a contractor who says, "Don't worry, I'm bonded" but never says the word licensed. Bonded means a contractor has bought a small insurance policy. It is not the same as a state license. A real licensed contractor will hand you their license number on a business card or write it on the quote without being asked. If they hesitate, refuse, or say the number is at home in another truck, walk away.

    For every quote, write the contractor's full legal name, business name, and license number on a single sheet of paper. Then check the state board's website. Look for these things: is the license active right now, what type of work does the license cover, has the contractor been disciplined, and is the address on file in your state. If any of those answers worries you, do not hire that person, no matter how friendly or how cheap the price.

    The Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov and the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org both warn that home improvement fraud is one of the top scams against older adults in the United States. A two-minute license check is the single best protection you have. It separates the real, professional contractors who follow the law from the traveling crews and door-knockers who do not.

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    Official Resources

    FTC Consumer ProtectionCISA — Cybersecurity TipsAARP Fraud Watch Network

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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