A certificate of insurance (COI), usually an ACORD 25 certificate of liability insurance, is a one-page summary of a business's insurance: who is insured, which policies, the insurers, policy dates and limits. Your agent or insurer issues it as information only, so it shows coverage but does not change, add or replace it.
Clients, landlords and general contractors often ask for a COI before work starts. This guide explains what a certificate shows, what it costs, how to get one, how to check one you receive, and what Texas law says certificates can and cannot say.
Already a Thumann client? Request your certificate of insurance or call (972) 991-9100. Need coverage a client will accept? Get a quote for your business.
How Much Does a Certificate of Insurance Cost?
Usually nothing beyond your premium. Insurers and agents typically issue certificates at no separate charge while your policy is active, and The Hartford says there is no cost to get one. What you pay for is the insurance itself.
Extras can change the picture. If a client requires additional insured status or a waiver of subrogation, ask your agent whether your policy already includes it or whether an endorsement may add a charge, which depends on the insurer and the policy. Thumann clients typically pay nothing extra for a certificate while their policy is active.
How we compiled this: the cost answer reflects The Hartford's COI page (reviewed on October 17, 2026) and common industry practice. Charges for endorsements vary by insurer and policy, and this is not a Thumann Insurance Agency price quote.
What Does a Certificate of Liability Insurance Show?
The ACORD 25 is the standard certificate of liability insurance form. Property insurance is usually evidenced on a different ACORD form. A typical ACORD 25 shows:
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Date issued: coverage can change after this date.
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Producer: the agent or broker that issued the certificate.
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Insured: the named business covered by the policies.
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Insurers: the companies that provide each policy.
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Types of insurance: commercial general liability, automobile liability, umbrella or excess liability, and workers' compensation and employers' liability.
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Policy numbers and dates: when each policy starts and expires.
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Limits: the most each policy may pay for the coverage listed.
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Additional insured and waiver of subrogation boxes: these show whether the policy includes an endorsement naming the certificate holder, according to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI).
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Description of operations, locations and vehicles: job-specific notes.
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Certificate holder: the party the certificate was issued to.
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Cancellation: notice is delivered in accordance with the policy provisions.
If you want to see the layout, TDI hosts a sample ACORD 25. Our general liability insurance and commercial auto insurance for contractors pages explain the policies those rows describe.
A Certificate Is Not the Policy
Every ACORD 25 says it is issued as a matter of information only and confers no rights upon the certificate holder. It also says the certificate does not amend, extend or alter the coverage the policies provide. Your coverage depends on the policy's terms, exclusions and conditions, not on what the certificate says.
That is why a certificate works best as proof that a policy exists. When a contract requires specific protection, the policy and its endorsements are what count.
Certificate Holder vs. Additional Insured
These two terms are easy to confuse.
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Certificate holder: the person or business the certificate is issued to. Being named in the certificate holder box gives no rights under the policy. In Texas, TDI says the box may not be used to imply or confer new or additional rights beyond what the policy or an endorsement provides.
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Additional insured: a party added to the policy through an endorsement or policy provision. The endorsement's terms determine what protection the party has.
TDI says the additional insured box should be checked only if the policy includes an endorsement naming the certificate holder. If the policy has only a blanket additional insured endorsement, the certificate can say so, but it may not name the holder as an additional insured. Listing your name on a COI does not make you insured, so ask for a copy of the endorsement. TDI notes that Texas law does not prohibit an agent or insurer from providing a copy of the policy or endorsements.
How to Get a Certificate of Insurance
You cannot create or edit a certificate yourself. Your agent or insurer issues it.
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1. Contact your agent or insurer. If you are a Thumann client, use our certificate request form or call (972) 991-9100.
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2. Share the details. Give the certificate holder's exact legal name and address, any job or contract number for identification, and any additional insured or waiver wording the contract requires.
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3. Review the certificate. Check names, limits, policy dates and the description of operations before you send it.
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4. Send it to the holder. Keep a copy for your records.
Texas limits what an agent can add to a certificate, so some contract language cannot appear on it. The Texas rules section below explains why.
How Long Is a Certificate of Insurance Good For?
A certificate shows coverage as of the day it was issued. It stays accurate only while the listed policies remain in force and unchanged. Policies can be cancelled or changed, and cancellation notice is delivered under the policy provisions, not through the certificate.
Under Texas law, a person has a legal right to notice of cancellation only if the person is named in the policy or an endorsement and the policy or a Texas law requires notice. Ask for a fresh certificate at each renewal, before a long project, and whenever limits or endorsements change. If you already insure with us, you can also request a commercial renewal review.
Certificates of Insurance for Contractors and Subcontractors
General contractors, property owners and managers often require certificates from the contractors and subcontractors they hire. If you are the one collecting them, check each certificate against your contract:
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Limits: they meet or exceed what the contract requires.
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Policy dates: coverage runs through the whole project.
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Additional insured status: ask for the endorsement, and ask whether it covers ongoing and completed work if your contract requires that.
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Waiver of subrogation and primary and non-contributory wording: ask whether the policy includes these endorsements if the contract requires them. A statement on the certificate does not replace the endorsement.
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Workers' compensation: ask whether the contractor carries it or has a documented non-subscriber status. Our workers' compensation insurance page explains the options.
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Auto coverage: confirm it if the contractor drives for the job.
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Names: the legal name on the certificate matches the contract.
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Issuer: call the producer listed to confirm the certificate is genuine.
Without proof of coverage, you may have no way to confirm a contractor is insured, and a loss could be harder to recover. Ask for a certificate before work starts.
Contractors can learn more on our contractors insurance, subcontractor liability insurance and contractor liability insurance pages.
Need coverage that meets a contract? Get a contractor insurance quote or call (972) 991-9100.
How we compiled this: the checklist reflects common industry practice for reviewing certificates, plus the ACORD 25 and TDI statements above. Contracts and carriers differ, so have your own agreements reviewed by a qualified professional.
Texas Rules for Certificates of Insurance
In most private business situations, a certificate request comes from a contract, lease or client. Texas does regulate the certificates themselves. TDI's certificate FAQ explains Chapter 1811 of the Insurance Code, added by Senate Bill 425 in 2011. Key points:
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Approved forms only. For risks located in Texas, certificates must use forms approved by TDI. Standard ACORD, AAIS and ISO forms are deemed approved when filed.
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No new rights. A certificate cannot say anything that differs from the policy, and it cannot amend, extend or alter coverage or give the holder rights beyond the policy.
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No references to other contracts. A certificate may not refer to the insurance requirements of another contract, such as a construction contract. A job or contract number can appear for identification only.
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No substitutes. An agent cannot complete a supplemental questionnaire or a contract-compliance affidavit in place of an approved certificate. The agent may show the relevant policy language instead.
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Penalties. Possible penalties include cease and desist orders, injunctive relief, administrative penalties and civil penalties of up to $1,000 for each infraction. TDI says these can apply to certificate holders, agents and insurers.
For the full text, see Insurance Code Chapter 1811. For the wider picture of what Texas businesses must carry, read our guide to Texas business insurance requirements.
Workers' compensation certificates on government construction projects
A different rule applies to public work. Under Texas Labor Code Section 406.096, a governmental entity that enters into a building or construction contract must require the contractor to certify in writing that it provides workers' compensation coverage for each employee on the public project. Each subcontractor provides its certificate to the general contractor, who provides it to the governmental entity.
How we compiled this: these points come from TDI's certificate FAQ (last updated October 31, 2022), the statutes cited and the Texas Labor Code, reviewed on October 17, 2026. Laws can change, so confirm the current text. This is general information, not legal advice.
Common Certificate of Insurance Mistakes
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Accepting a certificate that isn't official. Confirm it came from a legitimate agent or insurer, and call the producer if anything looks off.
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Assuming a certificate makes you an additional insured. Only a policy provision or endorsement does.
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Ignoring coverage dates. Make sure the policies run through the whole project.
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Skipping the limits check. Confirm the lines and limits your contract requires are actually listed.
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Editing a certificate yourself. Texas does not allow approved forms to be altered without TDI approval, so ask your agent for a corrected certificate.
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Forgetting renewals. Request a new certificate when a policy renews or changes. If a term is unfamiliar, our glossary of common insurance terms can help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Certificates of Insurance
What is a certificate of insurance?
A one-page summary of a business's insurance, usually the ACORD 25, showing the insured, insurers, policy dates and limits. It is issued for information only and does not change coverage.
How much does a certificate of insurance cost?
Usually nothing beyond your premium. Agents and insurers typically issue certificates at no separate charge while the policy is active. An endorsement a client requires may carry a charge, depending on the insurer and policy.
Does a certificate of insurance make me an additional insured?
No. Additional insured status comes from a policy provision or endorsement. The certificate can only report it, and in Texas the additional insured box should be checked only if the policy includes an endorsement naming the holder.
How long is a certificate of insurance valid?
It reflects coverage on the day it was issued. Request a new one at renewal, before a long project, and whenever coverage changes.
Can I edit a certificate of insurance myself?
No. Ask your agent or insurer. In Texas, approved certificate forms cannot be altered without TDI approval.
Does Texas regulate certificates of insurance?
Yes. Under Insurance Code Chapter 1811, certificates must use TDI-approved forms, and they cannot change the policy's coverage or refer to the insurance requirements of another contract.
Do Texas government construction contracts require a workers' compensation certificate?
Yes. Under Labor Code Section 406.096, governmental building or construction contracts require the contractor to certify workers' compensation coverage, and subcontractors provide certificates through the general contractor.
What should a certificate show for commercial auto?
The automobile liability row shows the policy number, policy dates, the liability limits and which autos the policy applies to, such as owned, hired or non-owned autos. Ask your agent which applies to your policy.
Cost figures in this FAQ come from the sources described in the cost section above.
Need a Certificate of Insurance or a Quote?
Thumann clients can request a certificate any time. Tell us the certificate holder's name and address, any additional insured or waiver wording your contract requires, and the project name. Request a Certificate of Insurance
Need insurance a client will accept? Get a Business Insurance Quote, call (972) 991-9100, or contact our team. Options depend on eligibility, underwriting and carrier availability.
Author: Lauren Thumann, Director of Marketing
Last Updated: October 17, 2026
Sources: TDI Certificate FAQ, Texas Insurance Code Ch. 1811, Texas Labor Code 406.096, ACORD 25 Sample (TDI), The Hartford COI Guide
Disclaimer: This article is general information compiled from public sources, including Texas statutes, TDI guidance and carrier resources. It is not legal advice, insurance advice or an offer of coverage, and terms vary by policy and carrier.