What information does a COI show?

A typical Certificate of Insurance can show the named insured, insurance companies, policy types, policy limits, effective dates, expiration dates, certificate holder information, and other policy-related information.

Does a COI prove that insurance coverage is currently in force?

A COI provides evidence and information about insurance policies as shown on the certificate, but it is not the policy itself and should not be treated as a guarantee that coverage remains unchanged or in force.

How long is a Certificate of Insurance valid?

A COI does not have its own independent coverage period. It shows policy effective and expiration dates, but insurance coverage can change or end before the scheduled expiration date. The underlying policy controls.

Is a certificate holder the same as an additional insured?

No. A certificate holder is generally the party receiving the certificate. Additional insured status relates to coverage under the insurance policy and may require an endorsement. The policy and applicable endorsement control.

What Is a Certificate of Insurance (COI)?

Q: What is a Certificate of Insurance?

A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is a document that summarizes information about insurance policies issued to a business, such as the named insured, insurers, policy types, limits, and policy dates. A COI is not the insurance policy itself and does not change the policy's terms or coverage.

A Certificate of Insurance summarizes information about a business's insurance policies. Learn what a COI shows, what it does not prove, and what to check.

Try QuickCheck See COI tracking

What is a Certificate of Insurance?

A Certificate of Insurance, commonly called a COI, is a document that summarizes information about insurance policies issued to a business. It commonly lists the named insured, insurance companies, policy types, limits, and policy effective and expiration dates. The certificate is evidence of insurance information, but it is not the insurance policy itself.

Why do businesses request COIs?

Organizations often request COIs from vendors and contractors so they can review insurance information against their own requirements. The important step is not simply collecting the certificate — it is comparing the listed information with what the organization actually requires.

Compare COI information with a requirement →

A COI is not the insurance policy.

The underlying insurance policy and applicable endorsements control coverage. A certificate should not be treated as a guarantee that coverage exists exactly as a contract requires.

Certificate Fields

What does a COI contain?

A typical liability certificate summarizes several pieces of insurance information that matter when reviewing a vendor or contractor.

COI

What a Certificate of Insurance shows

Insured name

ABC Plumbing LLC

Policy type

General Liability

Policy limit

$1,000,000

Effective date

Jan 1, 2026

Expiration date

Dec 31, 2026

Certificate holder

XYZ Property Mgmt

Named insured

The person or business identified as the insured on the certificate. Vendor identity should be reviewed carefully.

Insurance company

The insurer associated with the policy information shown on the certificate.

Policy type

The type of insurance shown, such as General Liability, Commercial Auto, or Workers' Compensation.

Policy limit

The coverage limit shown for the applicable policy. Organizations can compare this with their required minimum.

Effective date

The date the listed policy period begins.

Expiration date

The scheduled end date shown for the listed policy period. It is useful for renewal tracking but is not a guarantee that coverage cannot change earlier.

Certificate holder

The person or organization identified to receive the certificate. Certificate-holder status by itself does not create additional insured coverage.

Additional insured

A person or organization that may receive certain coverage under the policy when the policy and applicable endorsement provide it.

The exact information and form can vary. The underlying insurance policy and endorsements control the actual terms of coverage.

Certificate-holder status and additional-insured status are often confused on a COI. See the difference →

Reading a COI

What should you check on a COI?

Start with identity, then compare policy information and dates with the requirements that apply to the vendor relationship.

See Certificate Tracking Software

Policy Types & Limits

Does the listed insurance meet the requirement?

Review the policy types and limits shown on the certificate, then compare them with the organization's requirement. A current-looking COI can still show a coverage gap.

Compare requirements

Vendor Compliance Workflow

How to use a COI in vendor compliance.

Collecting the certificate is only the beginning. See COI tracking software →

1
Confirm the vendor identity
Check that the named insured corresponds to the vendor or contractor relationship being reviewed.
2
Review the required policy types
Compare the insurance types shown on the certificate with the organization's requirements.
3
Compare coverage limits
Check whether the listed limits meet the required minimums. A current COI can still show a coverage gap.
4
Review policy dates
Use the effective and expiration dates shown on the certificate to identify upcoming renewal attention.
5
Review special requirements
If the contract requires additional insured status or other policy provisions, review the appropriate policy documentation or endorsement rather than relying on certificate-holder information alone.
6
Track corrections and renewals
When information is missing, insufficient, or approaching expiration, request updated documentation and review it against the requirement.

The important distinction

A COI can show a future expiration date and still fail a vendor requirement because a required policy type, limit, or endorsement may be missing. Effective tracking compares the certificate information with the requirement instead of treating receipt of a COI as the finish line.

Coverage Gap Calculator

Compare a required insurance limit with available coverage.

COI Expiration Calculator

Calculate the time remaining until a listed expiration date.