Certificate of insurance (COI), explained
A certificate of insurance — a COI — is a one-page summary that proves your business carries active coverage. Clients, landlords, and general contractors ask for one before you start work. It's not the policy itself; it's the standardized snapshot that says 'yes, this business is insured, here's what they have.'
What a COI shows
A standard COI (usually an ACORD form) lists who's insured, the insurance company, policy numbers, the types of coverage in force, the limits, and the effective and expiration dates. It's the quick, trusted way for someone to verify your coverage without seeing your entire policy.
The certificate holder — the party requesting it — is named on the form. That's typically the client, landlord, or contractor who wants proof before they let you on the job or sign the contract.
Why clients and landlords ask for one
Requiring a COI protects the requesting party. If your work causes damage or injury, they want assurance that your insurance — not theirs — responds. General contractors often require COIs from every sub before work begins, and commercial landlords require them from tenants. Many contracts won't move forward without one on file.
Sometimes they'll also ask to be added as an 'additional insured,' which extends certain protections of your policy to them. That's a specific endorsement, and it's noted on the certificate.
How to get a COI
Once your policy is active, getting a COI is fast — usually same-day. You tell us who the certificate holder is, whether they need to be listed as an additional insured, and any specific coverage or limit requirements from the contract. We issue the certificate to match.
A tip: send us the contract's insurance requirements upfront. That way we can confirm your coverage actually meets them before you've signed, instead of scrambling to adjust limits later.
01Does a COI cost extra?
Standard certificates are typically issued at no additional charge once you have an active policy with us. Some specific endorsements a client requests (like adding them as an additional insured) may affect your premium, but the certificate itself is usually free.
02What's the difference between a certificate holder and an additional insured?
A certificate holder simply receives proof of your coverage. An additional insured is actually extended certain protections under your policy via an endorsement. The second is a bigger ask and changes your policy; the first is just notification.
03How fast can I get a certificate?
Usually the same day, often within a couple of hours, once your policy is in force and we know the holder's details. Send us the contract requirements and we'll make sure the certificate matches exactly what they want.