CG 20 01 Endorsement
An ISO endorsement that makes the named insured's CGL coverage primary and non contributory for an additional insured.
What It Is
The CG 20 01 is a standard ISO endorsement titled Primary and Noncontributory Other Insurance Condition. It modifies the Other Insurance condition of the Commercial General Liability form so that, when required by a written contract, the named insured's CGL responds on a primary basis and will not seek contribution from the additional insured's own CGL or umbrella policies.
The endorsement does not by itself add anyone as an additional insured. It works in tandem with an additional insured endorsement such as the CG 20 10 (ongoing operations) or CG 20 37 (completed operations). When both are attached, the upstream party gets the dual benefit of additional insured status and primary, non contributory treatment of the downstream contractor's policy.
Most commercial contracts in construction, real estate, and supply chain agreements now demand primary and non contributory wording, making the CG 20 01 one of the most frequently requested endorsements in the industry.
Why It Matters for Brokers
Failing to attach the CG 20 01 when a contract requires it is a textbook breach that exposes the insured to indemnification claims and exposes the broker to E&O. Worse, certificate language alone does not change policy coverage. A COI that says primary and non contributory but a policy that does not actually carry the CG 20 01 creates a fraudulent certificate scenario the agency cannot defend. Brokers must verify the bound endorsement against the contract, not rely on the COI box being checked.
Real-World Example
A property manager requires every vendor to provide CGL on a primary and non contributory basis. A landscaping contractor's broker issues a COI showing the box checked but the policy carries only the CG 20 10, not the CG 20 01. After a slip and fall, the property manager's carrier sues for contribution and wins because the contractor's policy was not actually primary. The contractor pays out of pocket and pursues the broker for E&O, with damages settled at $135,000.
Common Mistakes
- 1Issuing a COI that indicates primary and non contributory coverage without confirming the CG 20 01 or carrier equivalent endorsement is actually attached to the policy.
- 2Confusing the CG 20 01 with additional insured endorsements and assuming one form covers both requirements, when in reality both forms are usually needed.
- 3Forgetting to renew the CG 20 01 endorsement when changing carriers, leaving a coverage gap on multi year contracts that require continuous primary status.
- 4Relying on manuscript or proprietary primary and non contributory wording without comparing it to the contract's specific requirement language.
How brokerageaudit.com Handles This
Policy Checker reads the endorsement schedule and confirms the CG 20 01 (or proprietary equivalent) is attached when contracts demand primary and non contributory status. COI Tracker blocks issuance of a certificate showing primary and non contributory unless the underlying endorsement is verified in the Document Pipeline.