What Is a Certificate of Insurance?

A certificate is a summary of insurance information

A certificate of insurance (COI) is a document that summarizes selected insurance information for a particular business or organization. It is commonly used when a customer, property owner, general contractor, or another business wants evidence that coverage may be in place.

The certificate is useful for a quick review, but it is not the insurance policy itself. The policy and its endorsements control the coverage terms.

Who issues it and what it shows

The insured business commonly asks its insurance producer, agent, or broker to issue a certificate. The certificate may then be sent to the person or organization that requested it, often called the certificate holder.

Depending on the form and the policies involved, a COI may summarize:

• The named insured and the insurance producer or agency.
• Policy types, such as general liability, commercial auto, or workers’ compensation.
• Policy numbers, effective dates, expiration dates, and limits.
• The certificate holder and any descriptions or locations supplied for the certificate.

What a certificate does not do

A COI does not amend, extend, or replace an insurance policy. Listing an organization on the certificate does not, by itself, give that organization every right or protection described in the policy. Coverage, exclusions, conditions, and endorsements still depend on the actual policy documents.

Questions to ask when reviewing a COI

For a practical first review, compare the certificate with the request or contract and ask:

• Is the insured’s legal or business name shown correctly?
• Are the listed policy types and limits the ones the contract or request calls for?
• Are the policy dates current for the work or access period?
• Is the certificate holder named correctly?
• Does the situation call for an endorsement, policy language, or direct confirmation from the insurer or agent?