General liability insurance certificate

A certificate of insurance (COI) is a document that verifies you have business liability insurance coverage and condenses crucial information about your policy into one page.

When do you need a certificate of general liability insurance?

A certificate of general liability insurance is the document you present when someone asks for proof of insurance – often when you are signing a contract with a new client, leasing commercial property, or applying for a professional license.

Insurance certificates ease business transactions. A COI shows potential business partners, clients, landlords, and others that the certificate holder is protected financially by commercial general liability insurance or another type of coverage.

Here are some situations where you might need a certificate of liability insurance:

A client requires it. Clients want to know that if you damage their property or cause them to suffer a bodily injury, you'll have business insurance to cover the damages. Typically, when you work with a larger company, they'll require insurance.

Your landlord requires general liability insurance. Many leases state that you need to have fire legal liability coverage, which is often included with general liability insurance. If a fire at your business causes property damage, your policy can help pay for repairs.

You apply for professional licenses. If you apply for certain professional licenses, such as a contractor's license, local laws may require you to have general liability insurance.

How much does general liability insurance cost?

General liability insurance costs an average of $42 per month. Your cost is based on a few factors, including:

• Amount of coverage
• Industry and risk factors
• Location
• Number of employees
• Claims history

What information does a certificate of insurance include?

A certificate usually lists the following information about your general liability insurance policy:

• The name of the insured
• The name of your insurance company
• Your general liability policy number
• Indication of whether the policy includes an additional insured or a waiver of subrogation
• Policy effective date and expiration date
• Policy limits, including a per-occurrence limit and an aggregate limit
• Policy deductible
• A description of operations, locations, and vehicles

The most common COI is the ACORD 25 form. To see what one looks like, check out this sample ACORD certificate of liability insurance [PDF].

How do you get a certificate of general liability insurance?

Hey there! Yeah, up here in the corner. Good news: You've purchased your policy to protect your business! But that's only the beginning.

A licensed expert will email you a Certificate of Insurance the day you buy a policy. I'd do it, but, you know, I'm an animated talking head.

The certificate means peace of mind. And you can access it on the Insureon online customer portal where you can review policy info and all of your insurance documentation.

Need additional assistance? Or want to make changes? Yeah, no problem! Call toll free, or reach out to a dedicated account manager with questions about billing and claims.

We're with you now, and as you grow. Behind the scenes, but there when you need us. Insureon. Protection is peace of mind.

To obtain a certificate of liability insurance, you must have an active insurance policy. If you don't have coverage, you can complete Insureon's easy online insurance application to get quotes from top-rated carriers.

Our licensed insurance agents can help you choose the right policy, coverage limits, and other options. Once your policy is active, you'll receive a certificate of liability insurance.

If you already have an active policy, contact your Insureon agent or log in to your account with our Customer Portal to download or request a certificate.