ACORD 25 — Certificate of Liability Insurance
What is ACORD 25?
The ACORD 25 is the most widely used certificate of insurance form in the industry. It provides evidence that a policyholder carries specific types and amounts of liability insurance coverage. Certificate holders — typically general contractors, property owners, or clients — request this form to verify that adequate coverage exists before entering into a contract or allowing work to begin.
Unlike the policy itself, the ACORD 25 is an informational document only. It confers no rights upon the certificate holder and does not amend, extend, or alter the coverage provided by the listed policies. However, errors on the certificate can create significant E&O exposure for the issuing broker.
When do brokers use ACORD 25?
Brokers issue ACORD 25 certificates whenever a client's contractual partner, landlord, or project owner requires proof of liability coverage. Common scenarios include commercial lease agreements, construction subcontractor onboarding, vendor qualification for large corporations, and event venue requirements. High-volume brokerages may issue hundreds of certificates monthly.
Key fields explained
Producer
The insurance agency or broker issuing the certificate, including license number and contact information.
Insured
The named insured on the policy — must match the entity name exactly as it appears on the policy declarations page.
General Liability
CGL policy details including occurrence and aggregate limits, policy number, and effective dates.
Automobile Liability
Commercial auto coverage details, including any hired/non-owned auto coverage.
Umbrella/Excess Liability
Umbrella or excess policy details that sit above primary coverage layers.
Workers Compensation
WC policy details including statutory limits and employers liability limits.
Description of Operations
Free-text field describing the specific project, contract, or relationship. Additional insured and waiver of subrogation endorsements are noted here.
Certificate Holder
The entity requesting the certificate — their name and address must be accurate.
Common mistakes to avoid
Listing the wrong entity name for the insured — must match the policy declarations exactly
Noting additional insured status without confirming the endorsement actually exists on the policy
Including waiver of subrogation language without verifying the endorsement has been added by the carrier
Using outdated policy numbers or dates from prior terms
Failing to include all required coverage types specified in the contract
Not verifying that aggregate limits have not been eroded by prior claims
Related ACORD forms
Download the official form
Official ACORD forms are available from ACORD.org. This page explains how to complete the form — visit ACORD for the actual document.
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