Glossary term
Certificate of Insurance (COI)
A certificate of insurance summarizes active insurance coverage, limits, policy dates, and insured parties at a point in time.
Updated
Read time
What Is a Certificate of Insurance?
A certificate of insurance, or COI, is a document that summarizes insurance coverage in force at a point in time. It commonly lists the insured, insurer, policy types, limits, effective dates, certificate holder, and sometimes additional insured information.
A COI is often requested before a contractor starts work, a tenant moves into commercial space, or a vendor begins a job. It is proof of reported coverage, but it is not the insurance policy itself.
Key Takeaways
- A COI summarizes coverage information but does not replace the policy.
- Businesses often use COIs to show clients, landlords, or lenders that insurance is in place.
- The certificate holder should verify that limits, dates, and required endorsements match the contract.
- A COI can be outdated if coverage is canceled, changed, or misreported.
What a COI Shows
Most certificates are short and standardized. They help third parties review basic coverage quickly, but they do not include every exclusion, endorsement, condition, or claim rule.
COI Field | What to Check |
|---|---|
Named insured | The person or business actually covered by the policy. |
Policy types | General liability, auto, workers' compensation, umbrella, or other coverage. |
Limits | Maximum amounts the policy may pay, subject to policy terms. |
Effective dates | Whether coverage is active for the work period. |
Endorsements | Whether required additional insured or waiver language is actually included. |
Contract and Risk Context
A COI is often part of vendor management. A property owner may ask a contractor for proof of general liability. A client may require professional liability. A lender may require property coverage. The certificate helps confirm the broad outline before work begins.
However, a COI does not guarantee claim payment. The underlying policy, endorsements, exclusions, and facts of the claim control. If a contract requires additional insured status, the endorsement matters more than a note on the certificate.
What to Watch
Review the certificate directly from the agent, broker, or insurer when possible. Check dates, limits, policy numbers, insured names, and required coverage types. If a project is high risk, ask for copies of relevant endorsements or policy pages.
The Bottom Line
A certificate of insurance is a useful proof document, not the coverage itself. It helps confirm insurance status, but the real protection lives in the policy and endorsements behind it.