Certificates

Certificates of insurance, and why one is often not enough

What a certificate of insurance proves, what it does not, and the five reasons a general contractor rejects one.

Same dayCertificates available

4 pointsWhat a GC checks

Ongoing + completedBoth halves matter

WaiverOften required too

What a certificate of insurance actually is

A certificate of insurance, usually called a COI, is a one-page summary showing that a policy exists, who it covers, what the limits are, and when it runs out. It is issued by the insurance carrier or the agent, not by the contractor.

The important thing to understand is what it is not. A certificate is evidence of coverage. It gives the person holding it no rights under the policy and no ability to claim on it. That distinction is why general contractors ask for additional insured status as well, and why a contractor who sends only a certificate may find the requirement is not actually satisfied.

What a general contractor looks at

Is the policy still in force
Are the limits what the contract requires
Is the general contractor named as additional insured
Does additional insured include completed operations
Is there a waiver of subrogation
Is the named insured the same entity that signed the contract

Request a certificate

The five things that cause a certificate to be rejected

The named insured does not match the contract. If the contract is with an LLC and the policy is in a personal name, the requirement is not met. This is the most common and most easily avoided problem.
Additional insured is missing. A certificate alone does not protect the general contractor. They want to be named on the policy.
Completed operations is not included. Additional insured status has two halves. Ongoing operations covers the job while it is happening. Completed operations covers claims that surface afterwards, which is where construction claims usually land.
No waiver of subrogation. Without it, your carrier can pay a claim and then pursue the general contractor to recover what it paid. The waiver removes that right, and contractors who have been through it always require it afterwards.
The certificate has expired. A certificate shows the policy period. If the policy renewed and nobody sent the new certificate, the general contractor sees an expired document and stops work.

What to send us to get one

Certificate requests move fastest when the requirement is quoted rather than described.

The name and address of the party who needs to be named, spelled exactly as it appears in the contract
The limits the contract requires, and whether additional insured is required for ongoing, completed, or both
Whether a waiver of subrogation and primary and non-contributory wording are required
Any project-specific language, such as a project name or a per-project aggregate requirement

Why this matters. A certificate request that arrives as "they need a COI" gets a standard certificate, and a standard certificate is often not what the contract asks for. Quoting the requirement saves a round trip and sometimes saves the job.

Common questions

Is a certificate of insurance proof of coverage?

It is evidence that coverage exists, which is not the same thing. It gives the holder no rights under the policy and no ability to claim on it. Additional insured status is what actually protects the general contractor.

How fast can I get a certificate?

Once a policy is in force and we have the requirement in writing, certificates are typically issued the same business day. A certificate for a new general contractor on an existing policy is usually a matter of hours.

Who should be named as the certificate holder?

The entity that signed the contract with you, named exactly as it appears there. Naming the wrong entity, or a parent company rather than the contracting subsidiary, is a common reason a certificate is rejected.

What is a waiver of subrogation?

An agreement that your carrier will not pursue the certificate holder to recover money it paid on a claim. General contractors require it because without it, your insurer can pay your claim and then sue them for the cost.

Request a certificate of insurance

Send us the requirement exactly as the contract states it and a licensed specialist will confirm what is needed.

Email and a short message are required, plus either your name or your business name. The qualification fields below are optional, and filling them in means we can come back with real numbers rather than a question.

First Name

Last Name

Email *

Phone

Business name

Trade

State

Total annual payroll

Full-time employees

Part-time employees

Total gross receipts

What do you need?

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