ACORD 25 is the standard one page Certificate of Liability Insurance used across the United States. It summarizes a business’s general liability, auto, umbrella and workers compensation policies for a certificate holder. It is informational only and confers no rights. The current edition is ACORD 25 (2016/03).
Key takeaways
- The form has seven sections. Most compliance failures live in two of them: the coverages table and the description of operations box.
- ADDL INSD and SUBR WVD are broker assertions, not proof. The endorsements are the proof.
- The cancellation clause on the modern form only promises notice “in accordance with the policy provisions,” which usually means none for the certificate holder.
- Anything that does not fit goes on an ACORD 101 attachment. Always ask for it.
If you have ever asked a subcontractor for their COI, what landed in your inbox was almost certainly an ACORD 25. It is the form every broker’s agency management system produces, and it is the form your compliance requirements are written against. Our certificate of insurance guide explains what a COI is and why you need one. This guide is about the form itself, box by box, and what to check in each one before you approve a sub.
The disclaimer at the top
Before the first box, the form states that the certificate is issued as a matter of information only, confers no rights on the certificate holder, and does not amend, extend or alter the coverage afforded by the policies. Read that literally. If the additional insured or waiver of subrogation you need is not on an endorsement attached to the policy, the certificate saying so changes nothing. That is the core of our piece on COI vs endorsement.
The seven sections of ACORD 25
Producer
The insurance agency or broker that issued the certificate, with contact name, phone and email. This is who you call with questions and who you send your requirements to.
Check: the producer is a real agency you can reach. If the contact email is a personal address or the phone is disconnected, treat the certificate as unverified.
Insured
The named insured on the policies, with address. This is the legal entity the coverage belongs to.
Check: the name matches the entity on your subcontract exactly. “ABC Electric” on the COI and “ABC Electric of Florida Inc.” on the contract is a gap, especially for additional insured endorsements that reference the contract.
Insurer(s) affording coverage
Up to six carriers, lettered A through F, each with an NAIC number. The letters are used in the coverages table to show which carrier writes which line.
Check: the carriers are admitted or acceptable to you, and their AM Best rating meets your requirement, commonly A minus VII or better. The NAIC number lets you look this up.
Coverages
The table that fills the middle of the page. Each row is a policy line: commercial general liability, automobile liability, umbrella or excess, workers compensation and employers liability, and an open row for anything else such as pollution or professional. The columns are:
| Column | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| INSR LTR | Which carrier from section 3 writes this policy | Matches a lettered insurer above |
| Type of insurance | The policy line, plus sub options such as claims made or occurrence and whether the general aggregate applies per policy, project or location | Occurrence form for GL; per project aggregate if your contract requires it |
| ADDL INSD | Broker states an additional insured endorsement applies | Y on GL, auto and umbrella if required, then get the CG 20 10 and CG 20 37 |
| SUBR WVD | Broker states a waiver of subrogation applies | Y on GL, auto and workers comp, then get the CG 24 04, CA 04 44 and WC 00 03 13 |
| Policy number | The policy this row summarizes | Present on every row that shows limits |
| Policy eff and exp | Effective and expiration dates | Coverage is in force today and through the expected work period. Expirations inside the project are the number one cause of lapses |
| Limits | Each occurrence, general aggregate, products and completed operations aggregate, personal and advertising injury, damage to rented premises, medical expense, combined single limit for auto, each accident and disease limits for employers liability | Every limit meets or exceeds the subcontract insurance exhibit |
Check: workers compensation shows “per statute” ticked, and employers liability limits are filled in. A blank workers comp row on a sub with employees is a stop.
Description of operations, locations, vehicles
Free text. This is where the broker writes what the checkboxes cannot: which project the certificate is for, which endorsement forms are attached, who is additional insured, whether coverage is primary and noncontributory, and whether a waiver applies. If the text runs long, it continues on an ACORD 101 attachment.
Check: your project and your entity are named, the endorsement form numbers are listed, and the ACORD 101 is attached if the box says “see attached.” This box is where most of the useful information on the whole form lives.
Certificate holder
The party the certificate was issued to, with address. That is usually you.
Check: it is your correct legal entity and address. Being the certificate holder gives you nothing on its own; it just means you received the document. See certificate holder vs additional insured.
Cancellation and authorized representative
The current form says that if a policy is cancelled before expiration, notice will be delivered in accordance with the policy provisions. Most policies only promise notice to the first named insured, not to certificate holders. The form ends with the signature of the producer’s authorized representative.
Check: if you need notice of cancellation, require a notice of cancellation endorsement in your subcontract. Do not rely on this box. And confirm the certificate is signed.
Billy reads the ACORD 25 so your team does not have to
Upload a certificate or let subs send theirs through Billy. Every box is extracted, limits and dates are compared with your requirements, and missing endorsements are requested automatically. Results sync to Procore, Sage 300, Viewpoint Vista and more.
Book a demoSee how COI tracking worksA five minute review checklist
- Dates. Every policy in force, and not expiring before the sub demobilizes.
- Limits. Each line meets the subcontract exhibit. Watch the per project aggregate and the umbrella.
- Names. Insured and certificate holder match the contracting entities.
- Endorsements. Every Y in ADDL INSD and SUBR WVD is backed by an attached endorsement, and the form numbers appear in the description box.
- Attachments. ACORD 101 if referenced, and the endorsement PDFs themselves.
For a deeper process, including how to handle disputes with brokers, read how to review a certificate of insurance. If you are on the requesting side, how to request a COI from a subcontractor covers what to send and when.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current version of ACORD 25?
ACORD 25 (2016/03). Older editions such as 2014/01 and 2010/05 are still in circulation. The cancellation wording changed in the 2010 edition to the current “in accordance with the policy provisions” language.
Is an ACORD 25 the same as a certificate of insurance?
In practice yes. ACORD 25 is the specific form; certificate of insurance is the general term. Property coverage uses ACORD 24 or 28 instead.
Can I fill out an ACORD 25 myself?
No. It is issued by the insured’s agent or broker on behalf of the carriers. A self prepared certificate is a red flag.
What is an ACORD 101?
An additional remarks schedule used when the description of operations box on ACORD 25 runs out of room. It is part of the certificate and should be reviewed with it.
Does a Y in ADDL INSD make me an additional insured?
No. Only an endorsement to the policy does. The Y is the broker’s statement that such an endorsement exists. Ask for it.
