Skip to content
Pactinel
Join the waitlist

Glossary

Certificate of insurance (COI)

Short answer

A certificate of insurance (COI) is a document issued by an insurer or broker that evidences a party's insurance coverage, showing the insurer, policy number, coverage types, limits and policy period. Contracts require COIs from suppliers and tenants and expect a fresh one each time the policy renews.

By Pactinel editorial teamReviewed on October 22, 2026

A COI is a snapshot, not a policy. It summarizes cover at the time of issue and does not change the policy. In the US, many COIs are issued on standard ACORD forms.

What it shows

  • Insurer and policy numbers.
  • Types of cover: general liability, professional liability, workers' compensation, auto, cyber.
  • Limits per occurrence and in aggregate.
  • Policy start and end dates.
  • Certificate holder and, where required, additional insured wording.

Why contracts ask for it

The contract sets minimum insurance requirements, and the COI is how the customer or landlord checks compliance. An insurance clause may require, for example: "general liability of at least USD 2 million per occurrence, naming Customer as additional insured".

Example

A vendor's COI shows general liability of USD 1 million expiring on June 30. The contract requires USD 2 million and continuous cover. This is a gap on two counts: the limit is below the requirement, and the cover will lapse unless a new COI arrives before June 30.

Tracking points

  1. Collect a COI at onboarding and at every policy renewal.
  2. Compare limits with the contract requirements.
  3. Set reminders before expiry dates.
  4. Follow up with the broker if no renewal COI arrives.

See obligation. This is general information, not legal advice.