General liability questions often show up as certificate requests. A customer, landlord, contractor, lender, or vendor may ask for proof of coverage, additional insured wording, waiver wording, project details, or limits before work can start. The deadline matters, but the wording matters too.
What to send with the request
- Certificate holder name and delivery email or mailing address.
- Job name, project address, lease, contract, or vendor requirement.
- Requested wording for additional insured, waiver, primary and noncontributory, or special limits.
- Deadline and whether work, payment, access, or a permit depends on the certificate.
- Any contract page that explains the insurance requirement.
A certificate is not a policy change by itself
A certificate shows proof of existing coverage. It does not automatically add coverage, change limits, or make every contract requirement acceptable. If the wording asks for something the policy does not already provide, the office may need to review the request before sending a final certificate.
Send contract wording early when timing matters. A request starts review; it does not bind, change, reinstate, cancel, or guarantee coverage.
A sheet to keep for your review
Hiring a subcontractor or working as one?
Start with the job and the written insurance request. These two paths help you gather useful information before relying on a certificate or representing that a requirement has been met.
You are hiring a subcontractor
- Describe the work and gather the contract's insurance request.
- Gather the relevant policy or certificate documents through the established process.
- Identify the terms or endorsements that still need review.
- Revisit open questions if the work, dates or requirements change.
You are working as a subcontractor
- Obtain the customer's written request and confirm the business, job and dates.
- Send the requirements and documents to the office through its established process.
- Distinguish existing policy terms from changes being requested.
- Confirm what has actually been issued or bound before representing coverage.
Three terms with different jobs
- Certificate holder
- The certificate identifies its recipient. That label alone does not make the recipient an additional insured.
- Additional insured
- The protection depends on the policy and applicable endorsements. The request and actual terms need to be checked.
- Policy endorsement
- An endorsement may change policy terms. A certificate cannot create a change that the policy does not provide.
Keep your notes
Print this sheet or use your own notes. Use the blank rows to record several activities, items or jobs together. On a phone, scroll across the table to see all columns. Leave uncertain details as questions for the office.
| Job or request | What to gather | What is unresolved | Date to discuss |
|---|---|---|---|
A preparation aid, not an application, certificate or coverage confirmation. A website request does not bind, change, cancel, reinstate, or confirm coverage.