ACORD Certificate of Insurance

An ACORD certificate of insurance is typically a one-page document summarizing key information about your business insurance policy. It is also known as an ACORD 25 certificate of insurance, certificate of insurance (COI) or a certificate of liability insurance. This form proves business owners have general liability insurance coverage and is typically provided by your insurance company when you buy a business insurance policy.

In the 1970s, the Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development (ACORD) was formed by insurance companies in an effort to minimize confusion and unify their approach to liability insurance policy forms. The ACORD corporation develops standard forms, including the ACORD certificate of insurance, so that everyone in the insurance industry has more useable, readable forms.

What Does an ACORD Certificate of Insurance Cover?

A certificate of insurance ACORD form covers essential information about your business insurance policy, such as:

• Policy number
• Types of insurance coverage
• Issuing insurance company
• Insurance limits
• Named insured
• Policy effective date
• Policy expiration date

Why Do I Need an ACORD Certificate of Insurance?

There are a few reasons why business owners may be asked to provide an ACORD certificate of liability insurance. Every company you hire or partner with should have their own business insurance protection. The ACORD certificate serves as proof that a business has the type of insurance coverage to protect against against claims of:

1. Property damage – If a vendor or sub-contractor you hired to do work for you causes damage to a client’s property, you may have to pay for repairs.
2. Personal injury – If one of your employees causes bodily injury to someone else on a job site, you may be held liable.
3. Substandard work – If your company fails to deliver the work product agreed to in the contract, you can be sued for additional costs to fix the errors.

All business owners want to feel confident that they won’t be held liable for mistakes caused by third parties. Companies or contractors who work for you should be able to provide proof of liability insurance coverage before any work begins.

How Do I Get a Certificate of Insurance for ACORD?

When you get a general liability insurance policy from The Hartford, you’ll also get an ACORD certificate of insurance (COI) automatically as proof of insurance coverage. If you need another copy of your certificate of insurance, you have two different ways to get one:

1. Request a certificate of general liability insurance through your agent.
2. Visit our online portal, My Account, to request certificates of insurance. We process most requests instantly.

Your insurance company can also provide an ACORD certificate of liability insurance for a variety of small business insurance policies, such as:

• General liability insurance
• Business owner’s policy
• Commercial auto insurance
• Workers’ compensation insurance
• Professional liability insurance

Get a Business Insurance Quote From The Hartford

We’re backed by more than 200 years of experience and have helped over 1 million small business owners. We know how to meet your business’ unique needs and will help ensure you get the right type of liability insurance coverage that fits your business best.