If you’re running a startup or practicing a profession where you have to provide tangible services , clients might ask if you have liability insurance.
The only way to prove you own a business is to show your personal certificate of liability insurance or simply certificate of liability insurance. This article will explore certificates of liability insurance, how much a certificate of insurance costs, how to get a certificate of liability insurance, and more.
What is COI?
So what is a COI? COI is a short term certificate of insurance. A COI in insurance is, in essence, a document serving as the legal evidence that you’re insured. In auto insurance terms, COI is sometimes also called a certificate of cover.
Understanding What is a Certificate of Liability Insurance
There are many definitions as to what certificates of liability insurance are. And so, we’ll show you all of the meanings in this section.
What is Certificate of Liability Insurance: Most Simple Definition
Liability certificate of insurance is a one-page document that proves you’re covered by a specific liability insurance policy and can pay if ever a client makes a claim.
Certificate of General Liability Insurance
General liability is a type of liability insurance policy that protects you from the cost of client personal injury claims or property damage claims.
Your certificate of general liability insurance form contains vital information such as:
- Name of the policyholder (your business name or your name)
- Additional insureds (other entities or individuals you stated as covered by your general liability insurance policy)
- Name of insurer(s) or carrier(s) (the insurance company where you purchased the general liability coverage)
- The inclusions and exclusions in your general liability policy
- The general liability insurance’s effective duration
- Policy number (a unique number code that’s unique to your general liability insurance policy)
Certificate of Professional Liability Insurance
Professional liability insurance answers your financial liability upon causing economic loss or financial loss because of mistakes, negligence, misrepresentation, and violation of good faith. A certificate of liability insurance shows the following information:
- Name of the policyholder (your business name or your name)
- Additional insureds (other entities or individuals you stated as covered by your professional liability insurance policy)
- Name of insurer(s) or carrier(s) (the insurance company where you purchased the professional liability coverage)
- The inclusions and exclusions in your professional liability policy
- The professional liability insurance’s effective duration
- Policy limits
- Policy number (a unique number code that’s unique to your professional liability insurance policy)
What is a COI in Construction: Contractor Certificate of Insurance
The certificate of insurance for contractors or contractor COI for short proves that a contractor has the insurance policies providing coverage if ever the client makes a claim because of the following:
- Missed deadlines
- Breach of contract
- Violation of good faith
- Property damage
- Bodily injuries
- Any issues arising from a defective product or inadequate service
There are many formats for contractor insurance certificates. Here’s one we found online:
What is a Certificate of Insurance for Vendors?
Organizers always request for a confirmation of coverage from vendors , which is called vendors certificate of insurance. Typically, the format of vendor COI is similar to the format of certificate of liability insurance.
What is a COI in Business: Certificate of Business Insurance
A business coi or company coi, otherwise called certificate of insurance for business or business certificate of insurance, is a document that proves you’ve purchased a particular business insurance policy for yourself or your business.
Just as there are many types of business insurance, there are many types of companies’ certificates of insurance such as commercial property coi in business, commercial auto coi for business, workers comp business insurance certificate, and so on.
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What is a Business Certificate of Insurance for Commercial Property Coverage?
Commercial property insurance always comes with a coi’. So what can you do with a business certificate of insurance? Essential information inside a commercial property certificate of insurance are:
- Name of the policyholder
- Name of insurer(s) or carrier(s)
- NAIC number of the carrier
- Contact details
- Customer ID #
- Effective date and expiration date of the commercial property insurance policy
- Policy type
- Policy Number
- Property information
- Specific coverages included in your commercial property insurance
- Inclusions and exclusions
liability insurance? There’s a section in this coi’ which tells whether or not workers comp is purchased.
Certificate of Insurance from Different Companies
Thimble Certificate of Insurance
Thimble is a short-term insurance carrier that allows its policyholders to get a certificate of insurance online. According to the company, its certificate of insurance shows the following information:
- Policyholder legal name and business information as well as state location and street address
- The name of the insurance company where you bought your policy, its state, and street address
- Policy number, effective date, and expiration
- The type of coverage currently in force
- Insurance limits and deductibles
- The name of the party requesting the COI
- A section that tells whether the certificate holder is an additional insured
Thimble certificate of insurance follows the format of acord 25 certificate of liability insurance.
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CoverWallet’s Insurance Cert
CoverWallet isn’t an insurance company. However, it can sell the policies of its partners and issue certificates of insurance to the customer through the MyCoverWallet app. According to CoverWallet, its certificate of insurance shows the following information:
- Type of coverage
- Effective date
- Inclusions, exclusions, and policy limits
- The name of the representative issuing the certificate
- Policy number
- Cancellation details.
If you want to know what CoverWallet’s certificate of insurance might look like, we suggest you watch this video .
Progressive’s Certification of Insurance
Progressive doesn’t only offer a certificate of insurance. It also allows policyholders to get insurance cards containing the following information:
- Name and address of the insurance company
- NAIC#
- Effective date and expiration date
- Policy number
- Name of the policyholder
- Year, make, model, and VIN (only applies for cert of insurance of auto liability coverage for business and independent professionals)
Are there photos of Progressive’s COI? We found a proof of business insurance template following Progressive’s formatting:
How Long Does It Take to Get Proof of Insurance?
Getting or sending your insurance certification online to someone happens in an instant. On the other hand, if done with the help of agents or customer service representatives, you’ll receive your certificate within 1 – 2 days, provided that the COI will be faxed or emailed. If it will be mailed, then you’ll receive your COI within 3 – 5 days or longer.
How to Get Proof of Insurance Online?
To get your proof of insurance online, what you’ll usually do is either use your carrier’s certificate of insurance management software or website (if there’s any); or email and request for the COI to be emailed back. Now that you know how to get insurance certificate online.
How to Show Proof of Insurance Online?
You can do any of the following to show your proof of insurance online:
- Scan your proof of insurance and email it as a pdf file
- Take a picture of your proof of insurance, convert it into a pdf file, then send it via email
- Use your carriers online policy management tool (only applies if there is)
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How to Get Certificate of Liability Insurance and Certificate of Business Insurance
How to Get a COI from CoverWallet?
CoverWallet’s policyholders can get their certificate of insurance in the MyCoverWallet app or the CoverWallet website. These are the steps in how to get online proof of insurance from the company:
- Log in to the MyCoverWallet app or CoverWallet website
- Click or tap “My Insurance”
- Click or tap “Certificates”
- Click or tap “View Certificate” to see what a particular certificate of insurance looks like
- Click or tap “Save” or “Download”
How to Get a Certificate of Insurance from Thimble?
Thimble’s insurance by the hour, days, or weeks comes with a certificate of insurance. To get it, you can call a Thimble agent or broker. However, if you’re in a hurry, you can get Thimble’s certificate insurance through its app or website. These are the steps in how to get proof of insurance online from Thimble:
- Log in to the Thimble app or website
- Click or tap “View Certificate”
- Click or tap “Share” or “Download”
Certificate of Liability Insurance Cost
Certificate of insurance cost is zero. Never pay a dime for getting your certificate of liability insurance, certificate of business insurance, etc. COI is free and always will be. Report your carrier to the authorities or its agent if you’re asked to make a payment.
When Do You Need a Certificate of Insurance?
The table below shows the situations and what certificate of insurance you might need to provide:
| When | What COI You’ll Need to Show |
| You want to register your car registered as a commercial car | Commercial auto liability COI or commercial auto liability insurance card |
| You want to rent someone’s building | Commercial property certificate of insurance |
| You’re under a lawsuit accusing you of not providing compensation to employees for work-related injuries and need to prove that the opposite is true | Certificate of liability insurance template with a workers comp field/section |
| You’re bidding for a construction project | Contractors certificate of insurance |
| You plan to sell your goods at an event | Vendor certificate of insurance |
| Someone wants your services | Professional liability insurance certificate |
| You’re planning to get a business license as well as other related papers | Commercial property COI, general liability COI, auto liability COI. |
Instant Business Resources: Free Printable PDF Blank Certificate of Insurance Form
Blank Proof of Insurance California
Click the link below to download California’s certificate of liability insurance sample.
Texas Liability Insurance Card Template
Click the link below to download texas certificate of liability insurance form pdf fillable.
- Texas liability insurance card (courtesy of Texas Department of Insurance )
Certificate of Liability Insurance PDF: Other Free Printable PDF Blank Certificate of Insurance Form
Here are some sample certificate of liability insurance as well as other kinds of certificate of liability insurance available to download (note all the COIs provided here are sourced from the Texas Department of Insurance):
- ACORD 25 certificate of liability insurance
- ACORD 25 certificate of commercial property insurance
- Progressive certificate of insurance
- Hiscox certificate of insurance
- Geico certificate of insurance
- Farmers evidence of liability insurance
