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Licensed contractorsWashingtonVerify a license

How to verify a contractor license in Washington

The licensing agency's own record is the authority. This page says where to find it, what to check, and what Tradesfile's copy of the file holds.

The official source

Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I): contractors with insurance. Tradesfile holds 121,714 business records, read on Nov 15, 2026. Each record carries an expiry date. Insurance is on file for 71,139 of them.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA): construction haulers with insurance filings. Tradesfile holds 21,922 business records, read on Nov 15, 2026. The file gives a license status but no expiry date. Insurance is on file for 21,922 of them. This is a federal file of motor carriers. It is not a state contractor license.

What to check

  1. Ask the contractor for the license number and the exact name the license is under. A number is the surest match.
  2. Look the license up with Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
  3. Check that the name on the record is the business you are hiring, that the license has not passed its expiry date or been suspended, and that the license type covers the work.
  4. This state publishes insurance dates for some licenses. Where the record shows one, check that date too.

Search the Washington records Tradesfile has read

Each result shows the license number, type, status and the date the file was read. A record missing here is not proof there is no license: see what is and is not covered.

Browse Washington

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