What Is a Certificate of Insurance (COI)?

What Information Is Included on a COI?

A certificate of insurance summarizes important information about one or more insurance policies. Although the exact information may vary, a COI commonly includes:

• The insured business or policyholder name
• The insurance agent, broker, or producer
• The insurance carrier providing coverage
• Policy numbers
• Coverage types
• Coverage limits
• Policy effective dates
• Policy expiration dates
• The certificate holder
• Descriptions or remarks related to the certificate

Construction teams often review policy dates, coverage types, and limits first because those details help determine whether the insurance information appears to align with project requirements.

A COI is a summary, not the insurance policy itself. Contracts, endorsements, and supporting policy documents may still need to be reviewed when confirming compliance.

Who Issues a Certificate of Insurance?

A certificate of insurance is typically issued by an insurance agent, insurance broker, or insurance carrier on behalf of the insured contractor, subcontractor, or vendor.

The insured business usually requests the certificate from its insurance representative. The completed COI may then be sent to the general contractor, project owner, property manager, or other organization requesting evidence of insurance.

Certificate Holder vs. Additional Insured

The certificate holder is the person or organization receiving the certificate as evidence of insurance. Being listed as the certificate holder does not automatically provide rights under the insurance policy.

Additional insured status is different. It generally involves coverage rights under a policy and typically requires the appropriate endorsement. This is why construction teams should not assume that being named on a COI automatically confirms additional insured status.

What a COI Does—and Does Not—Prove

A certificate of insurance is an important compliance document, but it has limitations.

A COI can help show:

• The insurance information listed when it was issued
• The types of coverage shown on the certificate
• The policy limits displayed on the certificate
• The effective and expiration dates listed for each policy
• The insurance carriers identified on the document

A COI does not automatically prove:

• The subcontractor currently meets every contractual insurance requirement
• All required endorsements are attached or in effect
• Additional insured requirements have been satisfied
• The limits shown are sufficient for the specific project
• Coverage remains active after the certificate is issued
• The subcontractor is fully compliant

This distinction is one of the most important parts of construction insurance compliance. A COI on file does not automatically mean a subcontractor is compliant. The document must still be reviewed, expiration dates must be monitored, and project requirements must be compared with the information provided.

Why COI Tracking Matters

Collecting a certificate is only the first step. Insurance policies eventually renew, expire, or change. Without an organized tracking process, a construction team may not realize that a certificate is outdated or that updated documentation is still missing.

For companies working with many subcontractors across multiple projects, COI management becomes an ongoing process. Teams need visibility into which certificates are current, which are expiring, and which require follow-up.

Learn how to track COI expiration dates or review our Ultimate Guide to COI Tracking for a broader look at the process.

What Happens When a COI Expires?

An expired certificate no longer provides current evidence that the listed insurance policies remain active. If an updated certificate has not been received, the requesting company may need to contact the subcontractor and confirm whether coverage is still in place.

Expired COIs can contribute to:

• Additional administrative work
• Delayed subcontractor approvals
• Uncertainty about current coverage
• Compliance gaps
• Audit preparation problems
• Last-minute renewal requests

Proactive expiration tracking helps teams request updated documentation before a certificate becomes outdated.

Common COI Mistakes

Many COI problems begin with small process gaps. Common mistakes include:

• Assuming a COI guarantees full compliance
• Waiting until a certificate expires to request an update
• Storing documents across multiple inboxes and folders
• Failing to compare coverage with contract requirements
• Not confirming additional insured requirements
• Losing visibility across projects and subcontractors

Review our guide to common COI compliance mistakes for a closer look at the issues construction teams encounter.

COI Best Practices for Construction Teams

• Collect COIs before work begins
• Compare the certificate with project requirements
• Review coverage types, limits, and policy dates
• Confirm required endorsements separately when needed
• Track expiration dates throughout the project
• Store certificates in one centralized location
• Document renewal requests and follow-up activity
• Review compliance records regularly

Consistent processes help construction teams reduce uncertainty, improve visibility, and prepare for compliance reviews before they become urgent.

Frequently Asked Questions