A certificate of liability insurance is a document that proves that your business has general liability insurance. It tells customers and potential business partners that your company is insured against claims of property damage, bodily injury or other harms.
To get a certificate of liability insurance, you’ll first need to have a general liability insurance policy. You can get one from almost any business insurance company.
You can also ask to see a certificate of insurance (COI) from vendors you plan to work with. That helps you verify their coverage.
What is a certificate of liability insurance?
A certificate of liability insurance is a document that proves you have insurance. It lists information like:
- Your insurer’s name and your policy numbers.
- Policy effective dates.
- Policy limits.
- The names of the insured parties, including additional insureds.
You can get certificates of insurance for all of your business insurance policies. All those documents include the same types of information.
Save up to 30% on business insurance
NerdWallet Small Business helps you get real-time quotes from 30+ insurers, and instant access to your Certificate of Insurance (COI) through our partner, Coverdash.
How can you get a certificate of liability insurance?
Follow these steps to get a certificate of liability insurance:
- Get general liability insurance. You can shop for business insurance online or look for a business insurance agent near you.
- See if you can access your COI online. Many business insurance companies let you access your COI for free through an online dashboard. Ergo Next, for instance, lets you pull up your COI on your computer or phone and share it electronically with others. With Hiscox, you can enter your policy number and email address and generate a copy.
- Request a copy of your COI through your insurer. In some cases you might need to fill out an online form or send an email to get a copy of your COI. The Hartford, for example, asks customers to log on to their online account or contact their agent or the insurer directly to request a COI.
Does your business need a certificate of liability insurance?
Some businesses have to show certificates of liability insurance often. For instance, if you’re buying cleaning business insurance or contractor insurance, lots of your clients or contractors will ask to see it. Make sure you know how to access your certificate of liability insurance online.
Here are some other times you may need to show a certificate of liability insurance:
- A landlord might ask for proof of general liability insurance to ensure you, not them, will cover legal fees if someone is injured on their premises.
- A business partner checking that you have workers’ compensation insurance — which also appears on certificates of liability insurance — before issuing you a contract.
How much does a certificate of liability insurance cost?
A certificate of insurance should be free.
But you have to purchase a policy to have access to a COI. The cost of business insurance can vary widely depending on factors like:
- What your company does.
- How many employees you have.
- Whether you’ve filed claims in the past.
Getting quotes from several different insurance companies can help you find the best coverage at the best price.
Save up to 30% on business insurance
NerdWallet Small Business helps you get real-time quotes from 30+ insurers, and instant access to your Certificate of Insurance (COI) through our partner, Coverdash.
How long does it take to get a certificate of liability insurance?
If you have a business liability insurance policy, you may already have a certificate of liability insurance in your policy paperwork.
Some providers, including biBERK and Thimble, offer instant digital certificates of insurance. You can share these electronically with your landlord, clients or subcontractors.
Other business insurance providers require you to request a copy online or over the phone. They should typically be able to provide your COI in a matter of hours or a day at the most.
