What is a certificate of insurance?
A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is a standardized document — most commonly the ACORD 25 form — that summarizes an insurance policy. It shows:
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Who is insured — the name and address of the policyholder (your subcontractor).
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What's covered — general liability, workers' compensation, auto liability, umbrella.
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Coverage limits — per-occurrence and aggregate limits for each coverage type.
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Policy dates — effective date and expiration date.
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Certificate holder — that's you, the general contractor requesting the certificate.
What to check on every COI
Not all certificates are created equal. Here's what to verify before you let a sub on site:
Named insured matches
The sub's legal name on the COI should match the name on your subcontract. No nicknames, no DBAs unless properly listed.
Limits meet your requirements
Check per-occurrence and aggregate limits against your subcontract minimums. A $500K limit on a $1M requirement is a gap.
Additional insured endorsement
The COI may show a checkbox for additional insured — but you need the actual endorsement form attached. A checkbox is not coverage.
Dates cover the project
Effective date before mobilization. Expiration date after project completion. If the policy expires mid-project, you need a renewal on file.
The ACORD 25 form
The ACORD 25 is the standard Certificate of Insurance form used in the US. It's a one-page document with sections for:
- Producer (broker/agent) information
- Insured name and address
- Coverages grid (general liability, auto, workers' comp, umbrella)
- Policy numbers and expiration dates
- Certificate holder information
- Additional insured endorsements (in the description box)
When you receive an ACORD 25, verify all sections are complete and the coverage matches what your subcontract requires.
Why general contractors track COIs
A COI is proof of coverage at a single point in time. But policies expire. Subs cancel. Limits change. Tracking COIs means you always know who's compliant and who's not.
Manual tracking doesn't scale. At 20+ subs, you need a system. ComplianceTrack monitors every certificate daily, sends automatic reminders, and gives you a live dashboard of compliance status across all projects.
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