A certificate of insurance (COI) is a one-page summary of a company's insurance, usually on a standard form called the ACORD 25. It's the fastest way to see whether a trade carries the coverage you need. It's also easy to misread. Here's what to check before a crew starts work.
This guide is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Requirements vary by state and by contract. Ask your own insurance agent what limits and endorsements you should require.
1. Get it from the agent, not the sub
The most reliable certificate comes straight from the trade's insurance agent or broker, the "producer" listed at the top left. Ask the trade to have their agent send it to you. A PDF forwarded by the sub can be old, or edited.
2. Check the name and the dates
- Insured: the legal name should match the company you're hiring, the one on their bid and their W-9.
- Policy effective and expiration dates: every policy should be current through the end of the job, not just today. Put the expiration date on your calendar.
3. Read the coverage lines
| Coverage | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Commercial general liability | "Each occurrence" and "general aggregate" limits that meet what you require. Many contractors ask for at least $1,000,000 per occurrence. Look for "products-completed operations" coverage too. |
| Automobile liability | Coverage for the trucks and trailers that will be on your site. |
| Umbrella or excess | Extra limits above general liability, if your contract requires them. |
| Workers' compensation | Statutory coverage in the state where the work happens, plus employer's liability. If the trade is a sole owner with no employees, ask how your state handles exemptions. |
4. Check additional insured and waiver of subrogation
If your contract says the trade must name you as an additional insured, the certificate should say so, and the description box should reference your company and project. A checkbox alone isn't the coverage: the policy needs an additional insured endorsement. Ask the agent for a copy of the endorsement if it matters for your contract. The same goes for a waiver of subrogation.
5. Make sure you're the certificate holder
The certificate holder box at the bottom should list your company and address. That's how you're notified if the policy is cancelled, depending on the policy terms.
6. Read the fine print at the top
Every ACORD 25 says the certificate is "issued as a matter of information only and confers no rights upon the certificate holder." In plain terms: the certificate describes the policy; it doesn't change it. If something important isn't clear, call the agent listed as the producer and ask.
How this works on Contracting Bridge
Trades upload their certificate of insurance, and our team reviews it before the Insured badge appears on their profile and bids. We keep the expiration date on file. A badge is a good first check, but policies change, so for any job, ask for a current certificate from the trade's agent before work starts.