A quick reference for terms specific to certificates of insurance. For a full breakdown of how these requirements actually work, see our article, Certificate of Insurance Requirements Explained, or the full Insurance Terms index.
ACORD Form
The standard industry form most certificates of insurance are issued on. You’ll often see it referred to by number, like ACORD 25.
Additional Insured Endorsement
The actual policy change that adds another party as an additional insured. A certificate of insurance can reference this, but the endorsement is what actually provides the protection.
Certificate Holder
The person or business requesting proof of your insurance, listed on the certificate itself.
Certificate of Insurance (COI)
A document that summarizes your insurance coverage, used to prove to another party, like a landlord or general contractor, that you’re insured.
Description of Operations
The section of a certificate of insurance that spells out what work is being done and any special wording required by the certificate holder.
Evidence of Coverage
A general term for any document showing that insurance is in place. A certificate of insurance is one form of this.
Primary and Noncontributory
A policy provision stating that your insurance pays first, before any other applicable insurance, and won’t be shared with the other party’s coverage.
Waiver of Subrogation
An agreement where your insurance company gives up its right to chase down another party for reimbursement after paying your claim. This is commonly required in contracts between businesses.
Read more: Certificate of Insurance Requirements Explained 192