Every contractor in Minnesota has dealt with the certificate of insurance request. You're about to start a job, the client or GC sends over a requirements list, and they need a COI before you can step on site. If you've ever been unclear about exactly what a certificate of insurance is, what it proves, and what it doesn't prove, this guide explains it plainly.
What Is a Certificate of Insurance?
A certificate of insurance (COI) — also called an ACORD certificate, after the standard form used — is a one-page summary document that shows evidence of your insurance coverage. It lists:
- Your insurance company (or companies)
- Your policy numbers
- The types of coverage you carry (GL, auto, workers' comp, umbrella, etc.)
- The coverage limits for each policy
- The policy effective and expiration dates
- Any additional insureds listed on the certificate
Your broker issues the certificate — not the insurance company directly, in most cases. Your broker has the information and authorization to produce certificates on your behalf. When someone asks for a COI, you contact your broker or agent and request one, typically with the name of the party requesting it (the certificate holder).
What a COI Proves — and Doesn't Prove
A COI is evidence of insurance. It shows that on the date it was issued, you had active coverage with the listed limits. It is not a guarantee of coverage for any specific claim. Policies can be canceled after a certificate is issued. Coverage can be disputed. Exclusions apply regardless of what the certificate shows.
The standard ACORD certificate includes language that explicitly states: "This certificate is issued as a matter of information only and confers no rights upon the certificate holder." The certificate holder — your client, the GC, the property owner — has no direct claim against the insurer based on the certificate alone. What they're really doing by requesting a COI is establishing that you had insurance at a baseline level before allowing you on their project.
If a certificate expires and a client asks for an updated one, contact your broker right away. Showing up to a job site with an expired certificate can result in you being turned away — or being liable for any incident that occurs before a current certificate is produced.
Additional Insured Requests
One of the most common (and sometimes confusing) requests you'll receive alongside a COI request is to be named as an "additional insured" on your policy. When a GC or property owner requests additional insured status, they're asking to be covered by your GL policy for claims arising from your work on their project — so if you cause an accident and the property owner gets sued, they can tender that claim to your insurer rather than their own.
Additional insured endorsements are typically added to your GL policy by your insurer. Your broker handles this — you request it, the endorsement is added, and the COI reflects the additional insured. There's usually no additional premium for standard additional insured requests, though some carriers charge for blanket additional insured endorsements.
Be careful about overly broad additional insured requests. Some contracts request additional insured status for your "completed operations" — meaning claims arising from your finished work, not just ongoing operations. This is a broader endorsement that not all policies include by default. Review the contract language and confirm with your broker whether your policy includes completed operations additional insured coverage.
Waiver of Subrogation
Another common request alongside COI requirements is a "waiver of subrogation." In insurance, subrogation is the right of your insurer — after paying your claim — to pursue the responsible party to recover what they paid. A waiver of subrogation means your insurer gives up that right against the named party.
If a property owner or GC asks you to waive subrogation in their favor, they're asking that if something goes wrong and your insurer pays a claim that turns out to be partly their fault, your insurer won't come after them to recover. This is common in commercial construction. Check with your broker whether your policy allows waiver of subrogation endorsements and whether it affects your premium.
How to Get a COI Fast
The process should be simple: contact your broker with the name and address of the certificate holder (your client, the GC, the property owner), any additional insured requirements, and any specific minimum limits required. A good broker can produce a certificate within hours — often same day.
Delays usually happen when: your policy has lapsed and needs to be renewed, the limits requested are higher than what you currently carry (which requires a policy change, not just a certificate), or you need a custom endorsement that takes time to process.
Keep a copy of every certificate you issue and who received it. Over time, your certificate history is documentation that you maintained insurance throughout the life of projects — which matters if a completed-operations claim arises years later.
Common COI Mistakes Contractors Make
- Letting policies lapse between projects. If you cancel your GL policy in the off-season to save money and reinstate it in spring, you have a gap in your policy period. Completed-operations claims for work done before the lapse may not be covered when the claim comes in after reinstatement.
- Not telling your broker about contract requirements upfront. Some contracts have very specific endorsement requirements — named insured language, primary and non-contributory provisions, waiver of subrogation — that your standard policy may not include. Review the contract before signing and make sure your policy can meet the requirements.
- Assuming subcontractors are covered under your policy. They're not. Require COIs from every subcontractor you hire and keep them on file. If a sub doesn't have their own GL, their work creates uninsured exposure under your project.
Getting It Right From the Start
Working with a broker who understands construction contracts and can respond quickly to COI requests makes a real difference when you're trying to start a job and a client is waiting on documentation. Dayton Insurance Agency works with contractors across Minnesota. Call (651) 243-0056 or email us and we'll get your certificates sorted out quickly.