What is a certificate holder on a certificate of insurance?
Every certificate of insurance has a Certificate Holder box at the bottom. It's the company the certificate was made out to, usually you, if you asked a vendor for proof of insurance.
It sounds important, and it's often mistaken for coverage. This guide explains what the box does and doesn't do.
The definition
The certificate holder is the person or organization a certificate of insurance is issued to. On an ACORD 25 it's the bottom-left box with the holder's name and mailing address.
General contractors, property managers, landlords, event venues, schools and facilities teams are typical certificate holders. Anyone who asks a vendor to "send us your COI" ends up as one.
What being the certificate holder gives you
- Proof, as of the date the certificate was issued, that the vendor had the listed policies, limits and dates.
- Information about the agent and insurers, so you know who to call.
- A record showing you asked and received something before the vendor started work.
What it doesn't give you
- No coverage. A certificate holder can't file a claim under the vendor's policy.
- No rights under the policy. The ACORD 25 says it "confers no rights upon the certificate holder."
- No guaranteed cancellation notice. The current form says notice is delivered "in accordance with the policy provisions." Most policies don't require insurers to tell certificate holders about a cancellation.
- No guarantee the policy is still active. A certificate is a snapshot. The policy can be cancelled for non-payment the next week. See what happens when a COI expires.
Certificate holder vs. additional insured
| Certificate holder | Additional insured | |
|---|---|---|
| How you get it | The agent puts your name in the Certificate Holder box | The vendor's policy has an endorsement naming or describing you |
| Shown on the ACORD 25 by | The Certificate Holder box | ADDL INSD marked on the policy row, plus Description of Operations wording |
| Can you claim under the vendor's policy? | No | Yes, within the endorsement's scope |
| Costs the vendor | Nothing | Sometimes a small charge, often included in contractor packages |
Most contracts require you to be both: the certificate holder, so you get the paperwork, and an additional insured, so you're protected. Answer four questions in the additional insured vs. certificate holder check to see where a certificate leaves you.
How the certificate holder name should look
Ask vendors to use your exact legal entity name and mailing address:
- ✅ Riverside Builders Group, LLC, 1200 Industrial Way, Suite 4, Austin, TX 78744
- ❌ Riverside
- ❌ Riverside Builders (when the contract is with Riverside Builders Group, LLC)
If an owner, lender or management company also needs coverage, they usually go in Description of Operations as additional insureds ("Owner XYZ Holdings LLC and Riverside Builders Group, LLC are additional insureds…"), not in the certificate holder box. There's only one holder per certificate.
Checking the holder on every COI
It's a small detail, but a certificate made out to someone else isn't proof for you. Certy checks the certificate holder name on every COI against your company name, along with limits, ADDL INSD, SUBR WVD and dates. Try it on one certificate with the free ACORD 25 checker.
This article is general information, not legal or insurance advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is a certificate holder?
The certificate holder is the person or organization that a certificate of insurance is issued to, usually the company that asked for proof of the vendor's insurance. Their name and address appear in the Certificate Holder box at the bottom of the ACORD 25.
Does being the certificate holder give me coverage?
No. Being the certificate holder only means you received proof of insurance. It gives you no rights under the policy. To be able to claim under the vendor's policy, you need to be an additional insured by endorsement.
Will the certificate holder be notified if the policy is cancelled?
Not necessarily. The current ACORD 25 says notice will be delivered in accordance with the policy provisions. Most policies don't require insurers to notify certificate holders, which is why tracking expiration dates matters.
What's the difference between certificate holder and additional insured?
The certificate holder receives proof of insurance. An additional insured is added to the policy by endorsement and can claim under it. You can be both, and contracts usually require both.