---
title: "Certificate of Insurance (COI): What It Is | Riskado"
description: "A certificate of insurance is proof that coverage exists, not the policy. See what it shows, what it cannot do, and what to ask before you send or accept one."
url: "https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/certificate-of-insurance/"
lang: "en"
published: "2026-08-22"
modified: "2026-10-01"
image: "https://riskado.com/og/default.jpg"
alternates:
  es: "https://riskado.com/es/terminos-de-seguros/certificado-de-seguro.md"
---

# Certificate of insurance

[Business](https://riskado.com/business-insurance/) · Updated Oct 1, 2026

A certificate of insurance summarizes the insurer, policy types, limits, policy numbers and effective dates for a certificate holder, as evidence that coverage exists. It is not the policy, it does not pay claims, and it cannot add coverage, create additional insured status or change the premium or the policy's terms.

Also called: coi, acord certificate

A landlord, customer, general contractor or lender usually asks for a certificate of insurance before a lease or job starts, and the business sends the request to its [agent](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/agent/) or [insurer](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/insurer/). The certificate answers one question for the person who asked: does [coverage](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/coverage/) exist, and under what [policy](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/policy/) numbers, [limits](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/limit-of-liability/) and dates. What it does not answer is how a claim would be handled, because the policy and its [endorsements](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/endorsement/) decide that.

## How a certificate affects what is paid

A certificate itself changes no payment. The sample homeowners declarations page in the [NAIC (opens in a new tab)](https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-equ-pp-consumer-earthquake.pdf) guide shows a $250,000 dwelling limit, a $300,000 personal-liability limit, a $500 deductible and a $640 annual premium. These are sample figures, not average prices. With a $10,000 covered loss, the arithmetic looks like this:

Sample policy: what a certificate changes

Hover or tap a row to highlight it.

| Item | Amount |
| --- | --- |
| Covered loss | $10,000 |
| Deductible paid by the policyholder | $500 |
| Insurer payment | $9,500 |
| Annual premium in the sample | $640 |
| Certificate effect on premium | $0 |
| Certificate effect on claim payment | $0 |

A certificate can show the $300,000 liability limit and the policy dates to a third party, but it does not create that limit, waive the deductible or guarantee that a particular loss is covered. The same applies to a business certificate. If one shows $1,000,000 of general liability coverage, it does not raise a $500,000 policy to $1,000,000, because the policy itself must contain the stated limit.

## Forms and variations

Certificates vary by the coverage they evidence, according to the [Texas Department of Insurance (opens in a new tab)](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/certificates/faq.html) and the [Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (opens in a new tab)](https://portal.ct.gov/das/-/media/das/procurement-services/contracting/gl71-2025/gl71-101-current.pdf):

- **ACORD 25** is the certificate of liability insurance, commonly used for general liability, commercial auto, umbrella or excess liability and workers' compensation. It lists limits, policy numbers, insurers and effective and expiration dates.
- **ACORD 24** summarizes commercial property coverage, and **ACORD 27 or 28** is often used as evidence of property insurance for lenders, landlords or mortgage requests.
- **State or agency forms** may be required, since some government agencies reject ACORD forms.
- **Additional insured status** needs an endorsement or policy language. Being named as certificate holder does not provide it.
- **Waiver of subrogation and cancellation notice** exist only if the policy or an endorsement provides them, or the law does for notice.
- **Limits and deductibles** shown on a certificate, such as $1,000,000 per occurrence or $2,000,000 general aggregate, still operate under the policy's definitions, exclusions and endorsements. A certificate may not fully show a deductible or self-insured retention.

The certificate does not set the premium. A request that leads to a policy change, such as adding an additional insured or raising a limit, can change the premium, and that change comes from the policy change.

## Where you will see a certificate

Certificates appear most with commercial property and casualty coverage: general liability, commercial auto, workers' compensation, commercial property, professional liability, umbrella or excess liability and business owners policies. Personal auto, homeowners and renters policyholders more often use a declarations page, insurance identification card or binder as proof. For a wider look at which commercial coverages exist, see [what insurance a small business needs](https://riskado.com/what-insurance-does-a-small-business-need/) and [general liability vs professional liability](https://riskado.com/general-liability-vs-professional-liability-insurance/).

A certificate is usually requested after a quote becomes a policy, during a lease or contract, or at renewal. A quote is not proof that coverage exists, and a binder is temporary evidence of insurance that is legally distinct from a certificate. A declarations page belongs to the policy and shows the policyholder, period, limits, deductibles, premium and endorsements, while a certificate is a separate summary prepared for a third party.

## Connecticut and New York rules

In Connecticut, [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-322a (opens in a new tab)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/PUB/chap_700.htm#sec_38a-322a) covers certificates for risks located in the state. It prohibits issuing a certificate with false or misleading information, altering one so it no longer reflects the policy, or representing that it creates rights beyond the policy. A certificate also cannot warrant that the policy satisfies the insurance or indemnification requirements of another contract. A certificate is a coverage snapshot, does not make the holder an additional insured and creates no cancellation-notice duty unless the policy provides one, according to [Bulletin S-14 (opens in a new tab)](https://portal.ct.gov/cid/department-resources/bulletins/sales-bulletins/bulletin-s-14) of the Connecticut Insurance Department.

In New York, [Insurance Law § 501 (opens in a new tab)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/ISC/501) defines a certificate as a document prepared by an insurer or producer as evidence of property and casualty coverage, and excludes a policy or binder. [DFS Circular Letter No. 8 (opens in a new tab)](https://www.dfs.ny.gov/industry_guidance/circular_letters/cl1995_08) says a certificate should not amend, expand or alter the policy, and a certificate that changes policy terms is treated as a policy form under [Insurance Law § 2307 (opens in a new tab)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/ISC/2307). A certificate provision requiring extra cancellation notice cannot create that obligation unless the policy or law provides it, per [DFS Opinion No. 08-05-13 (opens in a new tab)](https://www.dfs.ny.gov/insurance/ogco2008/rg080513.htm).

## Questions to ask an agent or insurer

1.  **Does the certificate show my current policy numbers, limits, insurers and effective dates?** A certificate may become inaccurate after a renewal, cancellation or policy change.
2.  **Does the requesting party need to be an additional insured, or only a certificate holder?** Holder status alone does not provide insured status, and an endorsement or policy provision may be required.
3.  **Is the cancellation or nonrenewal notice they ask for provided by the policy, an endorsement or state law?** A certificate cannot create a new notice right.
4.  **Are there deductibles, self-insured retentions, exclusions, sublimits or endorsements the certificate does not show?** A listed limit may not describe the full exposure for a claim.
5.  **Does the contract require a policy endorsement or coverage change in addition to the certificate?** A certificate cannot satisfy a requirement the underlying policy does not meet.

## Frequently asked questions

These come up when a certificate request lands in the inbox.

### Does a certificate prove coverage is still active?

It shows the coverage and dates stated when it was issued. Cancellation, nonrenewal or a policy change afterward would not appear on it, so ask for a current certificate when continuing coverage matters.

### Does a certificate prove I meet my contract's insurance requirements?

No. Under Connecticut law a certificate cannot warrant that the policy satisfies another contract's requirements. The contract, policy and endorsements have to be compared.

### Does a certificate cost anything?

Ask the agent or insurer whether a fee applies and which form the requesting party accepts, since the form can vary by requester.

### Is a certificate the same as a declarations page?

No. A declarations page is part of the policy, while a certificate is a separate summary for a third party. Either can serve as evidence of insurance, depending on who is asking and what the law requires.

## Related terms