The ACORD 25 form, explained

The header: producer, insured, insurers

The PRODUCER box identifies the insurance agency that issued the certificate — including contact details, which matter more than most people realize: the producer is who actually re-issues certificates at renewal, so chasing them beats chasing the vendor. The INSURED box must match the legal name of the party you contracted with (a common failure: certificate names a different entity than the contract). INSURER A–F list the carriers, each with a NAIC number.

The coverage grid

Each row summarizes a policy: type (general liability, auto, umbrella, workers comp), policy number, effective and expiration dates, and limits. Key things to check:

• GL 'EACH OCCURRENCE' is the per-incident limit your contract usually specifies; the 'GENERAL AGGREGATE' is the annual total.
• The ADDL INSD and SUBR WVD columns are checkboxes — they indicate, but do not prove, endorsements. The actual endorsement forms must be attached.
• Auto liability uses a COMBINED SINGLE LIMIT; workers comp shows statutory limits plus employer's liability.
• Dates: coverage must bracket your project or tenancy — an expiration mid-project is a diary entry, not a pass.

Description of operations & the certificate holder

The DESCRIPTION OF OPERATIONS box is where additional insured wording, waiver statements, and project references get typed — and where vague language goes to hide. 'Certificate holder is additional insured where required by written contract' still depends on the attached endorsement. The CERTIFICATE HOLDER box should name your exact legal entity; a certificate held by the wrong entity protects the wrong entity.

Frequently asked questions