What is a certificate of insurance?
Short answer
A certificate of insurance is a one-page summary showing that a policy exists, who is insured, the policy dates, and the limits. It is evidence of coverage, not a policy or an endorsement, so it cannot add an additional insured or change any term.
What a COI shows
- Named insured and policy number
- Policy effective and expiration dates
- Carrier and type of coverage
- Limits per claim, aggregate, and any sublimits listed
- Additional insured or waiver wording, when the endorsement exists
What a COI does not do
A certificate does not amend, extend, or create coverage. It also does not grant additional insured status on its own, does not change limits, and does not override an exclusion in the policy. If a contract requires additional insured status or a waiver of subrogation, the carrier has to issue the endorsement, not just the certificate.
Who asks for one
- Clients and enterprise procurement teams before work begins
- Landlords and property managers under a lease
- General contractors and project owners before allowing site access
- Lenders and investors during diligence
- Vendors and referral partners verifying professional liability limits
What to check before sending one
Confirm the certificate matches the current policy, that the limits satisfy the contract, and that any required wording such as primary and non-contributory or waiver of subrogation is actually on the policy. Sending a certificate that promises terms the policy does not contain can create a professional liability problem for the person who issued it.
How to get one
Ask your broker or carrier. Most issue certificates the same day from the policy record, and many provide an online portal so you can generate them as contracts require. Keep copies with the contract files so you can show what was in force on the date work began.
Common questions
- Does a certificate of insurance prove I am covered?
- It shows that coverage existed on the date it was issued, subject to the policy terms. It is not a guarantee of coverage for a later claim, because the policy can be cancelled, non-renewed, or amended after the certificate is issued.
- Can a COI add an additional insured?
- No. Additional insured status requires an endorsement to the policy. A certificate can list the endorsement if one exists, but the certificate itself does not grant coverage to anyone.
- Who should be listed as the certificate holder?
- The party that asked for proof of coverage, usually the client, landlord, or contractor, at the address in their contract. The certificate holder is not automatically an additional insured.
- Do I need a new COI every year?
- Usually yes, because certificates show policy dates. Clients and landlords typically ask for an updated certificate at each renewal so their file reflects the current policy period and limits.
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Professional Resource Insurance Agency, LLC. CA License #0G81238. Definitions are general information, not coverage advice for a specific policy.