Establishing secure connection…Loading editor…Preparing document…

Insurance Performance Certificate of Insurance

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

INSURANCE PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE

Insurer and Producer

Producer / Broker:

Contact Phone:    Email:

Insured / Contractor (Applicant)

Date of Birth:    Phone:    Email:

Entity Type:

Certificate Holder & Project

Policy Information and Coverage Limits

This certificate attests that the policies described below are in force for the insured named herein for the period and limits indicated. Coverage provided is subject to all terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policies.

Commercial General Liability

Policy Number:    Policy Period From:   To:

Each Occurrence: $    General Aggregate: $    Deductible: $

Automobile Liability

Policy Number:    Policy Period From: To:

Combined Single Limit (or BI/PD): $    Vehicles Covered:

Workers' Compensation & Employers' Liability

WC Policy Number:    Policy Period From: To:

Employers' Liability Limits: $

Umbrella / Excess Liability

Policy Number:    Limit: $

Professional Liability (if applicable)

Policy Number:    Retroactive Date (if any):    Limit: $

Endorsements, Additional Conditions, and Waivers

The insurer attests that the following endorsements are: (check if provided)




Exclusions and Limitations

The coverage afforded under the policies described herein is subject to all exclusions and limitations contained in the policies. Typical exclusions may include, but are not limited to: punitive damages where not insurable, contractual liability beyond policy wording, loss arising from intentional acts, pollution unless specifically endorsed, and professional services unless specifically endorsed. This certificate does not alter, extend, or validate the coverage afforded by the policies.

I acknowledge that the Certificate Holder relies on the full policy language for rights and obligations and that the certificate is issued as a matter of information only.

Beneficiary Designation (If applicable)

Beneficiary Name:    Relationship:

Beneficiary Percentage:

Claims and Notice Information

Phone:    Email:

Declaration and Certification

The undersigned certifies that the policies described above are in full force and effect on the date of issuance; that the insurer named above is authorized to issue this Certificate of Insurance; and that the information set forth herein is true and correct to the best of the undersigned's knowledge. This certificate is issued as a matter of record and does not confer any rights to the certificate holder beyond those provided by the underlying insurance policy(ies). The insurer will provide notice of cancellation or material change as required by the policy language, subject to the policy provisions regarding notice periods and permissibility of such notices.

Applicant Name:

By (Signature):

Date Signed:

Title / Capacity:

Authorized Representative of Insurer (if applicable):

Enter text✕

What the Insurance Performance Certificate of Insurance Is and when it's used

An Insurance Performance Certificate of Insurance is a formal document issued by an insurer or broker that summarizes coverage relevant to a contractor's or vendor's performance obligations under a contract. It lists insurer name, policy numbers, policy periods, coverage types, limits, endorsements, and cancellation notice provisions so contract counterparties can verify required protections before work starts or payment is released.

Why this certificate matters for contracting and risk management

The certificate provides quick verification that required insurance is in force, supports contract compliance, reduces underwriting friction, and documents risk transfer elements such as additional insured endorsements and waiver of subrogation. It streamlines procurement and audit review when kept with contract records.

Why this certificate matters for contracting and risk management

Who requests, prepares, and reviews these certificates

Primary stakeholders who request or complete certificates include owners, contractors, brokers, and insurers responsible for contract compliance and risk verification.

  • Project owners and owners' representatives who require proof of coverages before accepting work.
  • General contractors and subcontractors who must demonstrate compliance with contractual insurance requirements.
  • Insurance brokers and agents who issue certificates and coordinate endorsements for clients and certificate holders.

Assign a single responsible party to prepare and distribute the certificate and retain a copy for audits and claims support.

Typical signers and their roles

Insurance Agent

An insurance agent or broker issues the certificate on behalf of the insurer or insured, verifies policy details, and arranges required endorsements; agents must confirm limits, effective dates, and additional insured wording before issuing the certificate.

Contracting Party

A contracting party (contractor or subcontractor) requests the certificate and provides insurer contact information; they are responsible for notifying the insurer of contractual insurance obligations and ensuring endorsements are secured.

Essential data fields shown on a professional certificate

Insurer Name: Primary carrier name and underwriting entity
Policy Number: Unique policy identifier for verification
Policy Period: Effective and expiration dates
Coverage Types: General, Auto, Workers' Comp, Umbrella
Limits: Per-occurrence and aggregate amounts
Endorsements: Additional insured or waiver of subrogation

Common risks from incorrect or missing certificates

Contract Noncompliance: Financial penalties or withheld payments
Coverage Gaps: Claims denied due to expired or missing coverages
Incorrect Limits: Insufficient limits for contract obligations
Missing Endorsements: No additional insured protection
Late Delivery: Work delays or contract breach claims
Incorrect Named Parties: Certificate holder mismatches lead to disputes

Avoidable preparation errors to watch for

  • Submitting a certificate with mismatched named insured or broker contact details causes verification delays and may trigger holdbacks.
  • Using an expired policy period or wrong effective date voids the intended protection for performance periods and can lead to claim denials.
  • Failing to list required endorsements, such as additional insured status or waiver of subrogation, leaves counterparties exposed and noncompliant with contract terms.
  • Relying on a plain certificate image without endorsement attachments often fails for proof-of-coverage during audits or claims.

Real-world examples of certificate usage

Two examples show how organizations use certificates to protect project performance and speed approvals while maintaining compliance.

Optica Ventures (Brian Fitzgibbons)

Optica used online certificate delivery to reduce administrative friction and speed contract acceptance.

  • Result: approvals processed faster.
  • By centralizing certificates and attaching endorsements they reduced manual follow-up and improved documentation for project audits and insurer verification.

Martin Properties (Tim Martin)

Martin Properties processed insurance proof online for remote closings and contractor onboarding.

  • Result: fewer in-person meetings.
  • Digital certificates with embedded policy details and attached endorsements enabled offsite verification, reduced paperwork, and maintained consistent recordkeeping across properties.

Step-by-step: completing an Insurance Performance Certificate of Insurance

Follow these core steps to prepare, verify, and share a professional certificate accurately.

  • 01
    Gather policy data: Collect insurer name, policy number, dates, and limits.
  • 02
    Confirm endorsements: Obtain additional insured and waiver of subrogation endorsements.
  • 03
    Complete certificate: Populate fields and attach endorsement documents.
  • 04
    Distribute and retain: Send to certificate holders and store a copy for audits.

How digital issuance and eSubmission typically flow

A standard eSubmission workflow reduces manual steps while preserving evidence of issuance and receipt.

  • Upload: Upload template or blank certificate file to platform.
  • Populate fields: Auto-fill insurer and policy details or use templates.
  • Authenticate signer: Verify agent identity via email, SMS, or KBA.
  • Deliver: Send PDF with audit trail to certificate holder.

Four features to include on a professional certificate

Ensure each certificate includes clear, actionable data and supporting attachments so recipients can verify coverage quickly and without further inquiry.

Coverage summary

Provide a concise table listing each policy type, limits, and the per-occurrence versus aggregate amounts so reviewers can confirm minimum contractual thresholds at a glance.

Endorsement details

Attach or reference the exact additional insured endorsement and any waiver of subrogation language to ensure the certificateholder receives intended protections.

Policy period

Display clear effective and expiration dates to confirm coverage applies across the contract performance timeline and avoid gaps that could void protections.

Cancellation notice

Include insurer cancellation provisions and required notice periods so the certificateholder understands how and when coverages may change.

Practical tips for accurate and efficient completion

Apply consistent controls and verification steps to reduce errors and speeding approvals across projects.

Use a template with locked fields
Create standardized certificate templates that lock critical fields and require attachments for endorsements; this reduces free-text errors and ensures consistent output across agents and brokers.
Verify insurer contact details
Confirm insurer and broker contact names and email addresses before issuing so recipients can request verification directly and avoid duplicate requests that slow project starts.
Record retention policy
Store issued certificates and endorsement PDFs together for the full retention period. Indexed electronic storage makes retrieval faster during audits or claims.
Automate recurring distributions
For multi-project clients or periodic renewals, automate certificate renewal distribution to contract counterparties to prevent lapse-induced disputes.

Key milestones in certificate processing

Track milestones from request through archival to ensure certificates are issued and managed at contract-critical times.

01

Request Date

Client requests certificate before contract execution.

02

Issuance Date

Agent issues certificate with current policy data.

03

Review Period

Recipient verifies endorsements and limits.

04

Archive

Store certificate with contract records for retention period.

Timing considerations and typical deadlines

Certain actions should occur at specific times to avoid coverage gaps and contractual exposure.

Before contract start:

Obtain certificate verifying coverage effective on or before mobilization.

At policy renewal:

Issue updated certificate reflecting renewed policy dates and limits.

Upon endorsement changes:

Reissue certificate when endorsements or limits change mid-project.

After claims:

Retain copies of pre-claim certificates for claim defense and subrogation matters.

For audits:

Produce certificates and endorsements within requested audit timeframes.

Six data elements that reduce disputes and speed verification

Include these elements consistently to minimize follow-up and improve acceptance rates by counterparties, insurers, and risk managers.

Insurer

Full legal insurer name and underwriting entity shown to allow carrier validation and verification via broker contact.

Policy types

Explicitly list General Liability, Automobile Liability, Workers' Compensation, and Umbrella coverages to show full protection scope.

Policy period

Exact effective and expiration dates that confirm coverage covers the full contract performance window without gaps.

Limits

Per-occurrence and aggregate limits with currency units so contract minimums can be verified quickly.

Endorsements

Reference or attach additional insured endorsements and waivers of subrogation required by contract.

Broker contact

Broker or agent name, phone, and email for fast third-party verification and clarifying questions.

How to update or revise an issued certificate

Use a controlled update workflow to avoid confusion and ensure recipients have the latest version.

01

Request change:

Record request in writing with details.
02

Verify policy:

Confirm endorsement availability with insurer.
03

Issue revised:

Generate new certificate version and number.
04

Notify holders:

Send revised certificate to all recipients.
05

Record version:

Archive old and new versions with notes.
06

Confirm receipt:

Obtain acknowledgement when required.

Configuring a repeatable digital issuance workflow

Set up templates, authentication, and retention rules to support consistent certificate issuance and compliance.

Field Configuration
Authentication Method Email or SMS code for signer verification
Template Retention Retain templates and issued files for seven years
Conditional Fields Show endorsements fields only when required
Bulk Distribution Use bulk send for mass renewal notifications

Technical considerations for electronic issuance and signing

Ensure the platform supports required file formats, signer authentication, audit trails, and secure storage before e-issuing certificates.

  • File formats: PDF, DOCX supported
  • Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365
  • Authentication: Email, SMS, KBA options

How an Insurance Performance Certificate differs from a Performance Bond

Compare core attributes to determine which instrument satisfies contractual requirements or provides the intended protection.

Criteria Certificate of Insurance Performance Bond
Primary purpose proof of coverage payment/performance guarantee
Issuer insurer or broker surety company
Legal obligation no direct payment guarantee surety liable on bond
Typical use risk transfer verification financial guarantee

Common eSignature providers and pricing considerations

This table summarizes starting prices and feature-level differences across common eSignature vendors; signNow appears first per comparison convention.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Frequently asked questions about Insurance Performance Certificates

Answers to common questions about legal validity, notarization, signer authority, corrections, revocation, and secure storage.


Need help? Contact support

be ready to get more
Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users