Certificates of Insurance, Done Right the First Time
Owners, GCs and landlords want the right certificate, with the right wording, before work starts. We keep a library of everyone who asks you for one, so the next request is already done.
Where Certificates Go Wrong.
Waiting on a certificate
A client or GC is holding a payment or a start date until the certificate arrives, and the request is sitting in someone’s inbox.
The wrong endorsements
The contract asks for additional insured, waiver of subrogation or primary and noncontributory. The certificate says it, but the policy does not include it.
Description of operations wording
The contract asks for exact language about the project, the owner and other parties. A generic certificate gets rejected.
Same requests every year
The same owners, GCs and landlords ask for new certificates at every renewal, and someone has to rebuild each one.
Certificate Holder or Additional Insured?
A certificate holder just receives proof of your insurance. It costs nothing and gives them no rights under your policy.
An additional insured can seek coverage under your policy if they are pulled into a claim because of your work. That is usually a general liability feature, and it usually requires a written agreement.
What to Send Us.
- The holder’s legal name and mailing address
- The insurance section of the contract, lease or agreement
- Whether they need to be additional insured, and on which policies
- Any waiver of subrogation or primary and noncontributory wording
- Exact description of operations language, if the contract gives it
Three Steps, Then It Runs Itself.
Send us your agreements or existing COIs
Contracts, leases, master service agreements, or the certificates you have issued before. Whatever you have.
We build your certificate holder library
Every party that asks you for a certificate, with the wording, endorsements and limits each one needs, checked against your policies.
You confirm, we reissue
At renewal, or when a new project starts, pick the holders you need. We reissue them with the right wording and send them out.
The Certificate Has to Match the Contract and the Policy.
- Certificate holder name and address
- Additional insured status, and for whom
- Waiver of subrogation
- Primary and noncontributory wording
- Per project aggregate
- Description of operations language
- Limits and policy dates for every line
- Notice of cancellation requirements
See every box on a certificate, explained →
A certificate is a summary. It does not add or change coverage. If a contract needs an endorsement, it has to be on the policy first. We check that before a certificate goes out.
| Ltr | Type of insurance | Addl insd | Subr wvd | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Commercial General LiabilityOccurrence · per project aggregate | Y | Y | Each occurrence$1,000,000 General aggregate$2,000,000 |
| B | Automobile LiabilityAny auto | Y | Y | Combined single limit$1,000,000 |
| A | Umbrella LiabilityOccurrence · follow form | Y | Each occurrence$5,000,000 | |
| C | Workers Compensation and Employers’ LiabilityStatutory | Y | E.L. each accident$1,000,000 | |
| D | Professional LiabilityClaims made | Per claim / aggregate$2,000,000 |
Certificates, in Plain Words.
What is the difference between a certificate holder and an additional insured?
A certificate holder is simply who the certificate is addressed to. It gives them no rights under your policy. An additional insured can seek coverage under your policy, usually general liability, if they are pulled into a claim because of your work.
Does it cost anything to add a certificate holder?
No. Issuing a certificate to a holder does not change your policy or your premium. Adding an additional insured can, when your policy does not already include it for parties you agreed to in writing.
Why do you ask for the contract?
Most general liability policies give additional insured status only to parties you agreed in writing to add. Reading the contract lets us confirm the policy actually backs up what the certificate says.
Can my professional liability policy list an additional insured?
Usually not. Professional liability covers your own professional services, so additional insured requests almost always belong on general liability.
My lease has insurance requirements. What should I check?
Leases usually ask for general liability with the landlord as additional insured, and sometimes property and umbrella limits. Read the insurance section before you sign. Some requirements, like high professional liability limits, are worth questioning.
I do not have a contract yet. Can I still get a certificate?
Yes. Send the holder’s name and address and we will issue proof of coverage. Additional insured wording can follow once the agreement is signed.
Tell Us About Your Firm. We’ll Tell You What We See.
Starting out or renewing, with a policy in hand or not. If something is worth discussing, we’ll call. If not, we’ll say so.