Certificate of Liability Insurance: What It Is, How to Get One

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What does a certificate of liability insurance include?
- Your insurer’s name and your policy numbers.
- Policy effective dates.
- Policy limits.
- The names of the insured parties.
How can you 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. Next Insurance, 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 if necessary. In some cases you may need to fill out an online form or send an email to your insurance company 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. However, the company says many customers receive their certificate of liability insurance instantly.
Does your business need a certificate of liability insurance?
- A landlord requiring proof of general liability insurance to ensure their property is covered against potential damage.
- A business partner checking that you have workers’ compensation insurance — which also appears on certificates of liability insurance — before issuing you a contract.