Download the ACORD 25 form as a free PDF. This is the one page certificate that insurance agents use to confirm your business carries liability coverage. Scroll down for a full breakdown of every section on the form.
Edition: 2025/12 (December 2025)Last reviewed: November 20269 min read
December 2025 edition update
New wording at the bottom of the form says the limits shown may be the amounts the certificate holder asked for, not the full policy limit. If a limit looks lower than expected, ask the agent whether the actual policy carries more.
What you get with this ACORD 25 certificate form
ACORD 25 is the standard one page form that insurance agents and brokers across the United States use to summarize liability coverage. It lists your general liability, auto liability, umbrella or excess liability, and workers compensation policies in one place, along with insurer names, policy numbers, effective dates and limits.
Clients, general contractors, landlords, lenders and event venues ask for this form when they need to see that a business carries the right insurance before a project starts or a lease is signed. Most people in the insurance world just call it a “certificate of insurance” or a COI.
One thing that catches people off guard: the certificate is a snapshot, not a contract. It shows what coverage existed on the day it was issued. It cannot add coverage, extend dates or change anything about the policy itself. Only the policy and its endorsements can do that.
Situations where you will need a certificate of liability insurance
These are the most common reasons someone ends up looking for the ACORD 25 form.
Starting a new contract
A general contractor or property owner asks for proof of insurance before they let you on the job site. You ask your agent for a certificate naming them as the certificate holder.
Signing a commercial lease
The landlord requires a certificate showing general liability coverage with certain limits. They want to be named as an additional insured before you get the keys.
Hiring subcontractors
You are the GC and every sub on the job needs a certificate on file before their first day. You have to check each certificate against your contract requirements.
Vendor or delivery work
A venue, warehouse or office building asks for proof of coverage before your crew enters. Cleaning companies, caterers, movers and event vendors see this request regularly.
Every section on the ACORD 25 form explained
Working from the top of the certificate to the bottom. Each card covers one section and tells you what to look for when you review it.
1
Producer
This is the insurance agent or broker who issued the certificate. Their name, address and contact number go here. If anything on the certificate looks wrong or you need to verify the policy, this is who you call.
Before accepting a certificate from someone you don’t know, call the producer directly to confirm the policy is real. Look up the agency independently instead of using the phone number printed on the certificate.
2
Insured
The named insured is the business or person who owns the coverage. This name should match the name on your contract exactly, including any LLC, Inc., or DBA. A mismatch here is one of the most common problems.
If the insured name says “Ridgeview Roofing LLC” but your contract is with “Ridgeview Roofing Inc.”, ask the contractor to have their agent fix it before work starts.
3
Insurers affording coverage
Up to five insurance companies can be listed, each with a letter from A through E. These letters match the coverage rows below, so you can see which company backs each type of policy.
Check whether an insurer is licensed and financially rated through your state’s department of insurance website or through AM Best. An unrated or unlicensed insurer is a reason to ask questions.
4
Coverage rows: types, dates and limits
The middle section is the core of the certificate. Each row shows one type of coverage: general liability, auto liability, umbrella or excess liability, and workers compensation. For every row you can see the insurer letter, the policy number, the effective and expiry dates, and the limits.
Compare each limit with what your contract requires. A general contractor might need $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate for general liability. If the numbers are lower, the certificate does not meet your requirements.
Check the dates too. If a policy expires before the job finishes, you will need a fresh certificate when it renews.
5
Additional insured and waiver of subrogation columns
These two small columns sit next to each coverage row. A “Y” under ADDL INSD means the agent is telling you the policy includes an additional insured endorsement for that line. A “Y” under SUBR WVD means there is a waiver of subrogation endorsement.
Important: the Y on the certificate is just the agent’s statement. It does not create the endorsement. If your contract requires additional insured status, ask for a copy of the actual endorsement so you can see the wording and confirm it names you.
6
Description of operations
Job details, project addresses, contract numbers and any special wording go here. If a certificate holder needs to be named as additional insured, that statement usually appears in this box too.
Wording in this box cannot add or change coverage. If the policy does not include the endorsement, writing it here has no effect. The agent is describing what exists, not creating something new.
If the text looks cut off, the agent may have attached an ACORD 101 (Additional Remarks Schedule) with the overflow. Ask for it if you see “See ACORD 101” in this box.
7
Certificate holder
The certificate holder is the person or company who asked for proof of insurance. Their name and address go in this box. Being the certificate holder means you receive the certificate and, in some cases, notice if the policy is cancelled.
Being the certificate holder does not make you an additional insured. Those are two separate things. A certificate holder gets a piece of paper. An additional insured gets coverage under the policy, but only if the endorsement says so.
8
Authorized representative
The agent or someone authorized at the agency signs or stamps here. An unsigned certificate is unusual and worth a phone call. The signature means the person who issued the certificate was authorized to do so.
9
Disclaimer and cancellation notice
At the bottom you will find a block of small print. Older editions promised to mail a notice if the policy was cancelled. The current edition says the certificate is informational and does not change the policy.
The December 2025 edition adds a new sentence: the limits shown are inclusive of amounts requested by the certificate holder. In plain words, the limit on the certificate may be only the amount you asked for, not the full policy limit. If a limit seems low, ask the agent whether the actual policy limit is higher.
Need the blank form?Download the ACORD 25 certificate of liability insurance as a free PDF and have it ready for your agent or your files.
Certificate of liability insurance review checklist
Run through these points every time you receive a certificate. Most problems show up in the first four items.
Before you accept the certificate
Named insured matches the contractCheck spelling, entity type (LLC, Inc.) and any DBA names.
Policy dates cover the full jobIf any policy expires before the job finishes, flag it now and request a renewal certificate.
Limits meet your contract requirementsCompare each occurrence and aggregate limit with what your contract says. Keep the new 2025/12 limits wording in mind.
Additional insured marked where neededA Y on the certificate is not enough by itself. Ask for a copy of the endorsement if your contract requires it.
Workers compensation is in placeIf the contractor has employees, this row should be filled in. Missing workers comp is a liability risk for you.
Certificate holder name and address are correctIf you need to be notified of a cancellation, the name here is how the insurer finds you.
Description of operations mentions your projectA generic description may not be enough if you need project specific additional insured status.
Certificate is signedAn unsigned certificate is unusual. Confirm with the producer that it was issued by an authorized person.
Common mistakes people make with the ACORD 25
Assuming the certificate IS the coverage. The certificate is a summary. It does not create, extend, or change any coverage. If the underlying policy does not have the right endorsements, the certificate means very little.
Not asking for the endorsement. A Y in the additional insured column is just the agent’s statement. The actual endorsement is a separate document that spells out who is covered and under what conditions. If it matters for your contract, you need to see the endorsement itself.
Accepting expired dates. A certificate with a policy that expired last month tells you nothing about current coverage. Always compare the dates on the certificate with the length of your project or lease.
Confusing certificate holder with additional insured. Being the certificate holder means you receive the form. Being an additional insured means the policy extends certain coverage to you. Those are completely different things and people mix them up regularly.
Ignoring the new limits wording. Since the December 2025 edition, the limits shown on the certificate may reflect only the amount you asked for, not the insurer’s full policy limit. If a number looks low, ask the agent.
Frequently asked questions about the ACORD 25 form
How long does it take to get a certificate of liability insurance?
Most agents can issue one the same day, sometimes within hours. If additional insured status is needed, the agent may need to add an endorsement to the policy first, which can take a day or two with some insurers. Many online insurers let you download a basic certificate instantly.
Can I fill out my own certificate of insurance?
No. Only your insurance agent, broker or insurer can issue a certificate. A certificate you fill in yourself will not be accepted by anyone who knows what to look for. Altering one can count as insurance fraud.
What does additional insured mean on the certificate?
Additional insured means the policy has been endorsed to extend certain coverage to another party, usually the certificate holder. On the certificate, a Y in the ADDL INSD column signals that the endorsement exists. The actual coverage depends on the wording of the endorsement, not the certificate.
Is the certificate holder automatically covered by the policy?
Not automatically. Being named as the certificate holder only means you receive the certificate. You are covered only if an additional insured endorsement has been added to the policy and specifically includes you.
What changed in the December 2025 edition of ACORD 25?
A new sentence says the limits shown are inclusive of amounts requested by the certificate holder. This means the limit on the certificate could be the amount you asked for rather than the full policy limit. If a limit seems low, ask the agent whether the actual policy carries more.
Do I need an ACORD 101 with my certificate?
Only if the description of operations or additional remarks do not fit in the space on the certificate. The agent will attach an ACORD 101, which is an extra page for overflow wording. If the description box says “See ACORD 101” and you did not get one, ask for it.
Will I be notified if the policy gets cancelled?
Not necessarily. Older editions of the certificate included a promise to mail notice of cancellation. Current editions removed that promise. Your best protection is to require a fresh certificate at regular intervals and before any renewal date.
How much does a certificate of liability insurance cost?
Issuing the certificate is usually free. If the certificate holder needs to be added as additional insured, the agent may need to endorse the policy, and some insurers charge a small fee for that. Ask your agent before assuming there is a cost.
Looking at a different form?
Use the form finder to figure out which ACORD form you need, or browse every form we cover.