Certificate of Insurance glossary
The vendor-insurance terms that show up on every certificate — explained in plain English.
Certificate of Insurance (COI)
A one-page document proving a business carries insurance, summarizing coverage types, limits, and dates.
ACORD 25 Form
The standard industry form used for a Certificate of Liability Insurance.
Additional Insured
An endorsement extending a vendor's policy to also protect the business hiring them.
Certificate Holder
The party a COI is issued to — usually the business requesting proof of coverage.
General Liability Insurance
Core coverage for third-party bodily injury and property damage caused by a business's operations.
Workers' Compensation Insurance
Coverage for a vendor's own employees injured on the job — often legally required.
Waiver of Subrogation
An endorsement preventing a vendor's insurer from later coming after you to recover a claim.
Primary and Non-Contributory
Wording ensuring the vendor's policy pays first, before yours is tapped.
Aggregate Limit
The most an insurer will pay in total during a policy period, across all claims.
Endorsement
An amendment that adds, removes, or changes coverage on an insurance policy.
Umbrella / Excess Liability
Extra liability limits stacked on top of underlying policies.
COI Tracking
The ongoing process of collecting, verifying, and renewing vendor certificates of insurance.