How to verify a contractor's license
Takes under 2 minutes. Free. No account needed.
- 01
Search by name or license number
Enter the contractor's business name, owner name, or license number in the search box. We search official state licensing board records — California is live now, with more states rolling out.
- 02
Find the right record
Results show the contractor's name, trade, city, and current license status. Multiple contractors with similar names? Filter by state to narrow it down.
- 03
Review the full profile
Each profile shows the license number, classification, issue and expiration dates, disciplinary actions from the state board, and complaint counts from the BBB and board. Every data point links to its source.
- 04
Check for red flags
We highlight automatically if a license is expired or expiring soon, if there are recent disciplinary actions, or if complaint counts are above average for the trade. These are informational signals — always read the primary source.
- 05
Verify directly with the board
For any hiring decision, do one final check at the state board's own portal. Each profile links directly to the board's lookup page so you can confirm in under 60 seconds.
Ready to verify?
Search by contractor name or license number. Free, no account.
Frequently asked questions
Is ContractorVetted free to use?↓
Yes. Searching and viewing contractor profiles is completely free. There is no account required.
How current is the license data?↓
License status is refreshed daily from state board APIs and bulk data feeds. Each profile shows the exact date and time the data was last verified.
Why do you show disciplinary records?↓
Disciplinary actions are official public records published by state licensing boards. We display them verbatim, with source links, to help consumers make informed decisions. We do not editorialize or score contractors.
Can contractors remove or edit their records?↓
No. Contractor data comes from official state records. We cannot alter government records. If a record is incorrect, the dispute must be filed with the relevant state licensing board.
What does "active" vs "expired" mean?↓
"Active" means the license is in good standing with the state board. "Expired" means the renewal deadline passed. Hiring an expired-license contractor is illegal in most states for projects above a minimum value.
Why it matters
Contractor fraud costs Americans $9.3 billion annually. The most common scenario: an unlicensed or expired-license contractor takes a large deposit, completes little or no work, and disappears.
A 2-minute license check before you sign anything is the single highest-leverage consumer protection step available. If a contractor balks at being asked for their license number, that's a red flag in itself.