ACORD 25: Certificate of Liability Insurance

ACORD 25 is the Certificate of Liability Insurance. It summarizes policy information such as insurers, policy dates, liability limits, and the operations or project described for a certificate holder.

What it is

The original request and the current policies do different jobs. The request tells you what the holder wants; the policies and endorsements tell you what you can accurately report. A certificate does not create coverage or additional insured status.

When it's used

A client needs a liability certificate for a job, lease, or business relationship.
A holder requests an updated certificate after renewal or a policy change.
Your team needs to compare a certificate request with the insurance already in place.

Section-by-section walkthrough

Producer

Your agency's name, address, and a contact person with phone and email. The certificate holder calls this contact when something looks off.

Review check: Provide a monitored service contact.

Insured

The named insured and mailing address, exactly as they read on the policy declarations.

Review check: Match the named insured and clarify DBA differences.

Insurers affording coverage

Each carrier on the account, assigned a letter. The letter ties each coverage row below to the carrier that writes it.

Review check: Match insurer letters to the correct coverage rows.

Coverages

The liability lines in force: general liability, auto, umbrella or excess, workers comp, with policy numbers, effective and expiration dates, and limits.

Review check: Use the limits and dates in the current policies.

Description of operations / locations / vehicles

The job or contract reference, plus any additional insured or waiver of subrogation language, worded to match the endorsements actually on the policy.

Review check: Read the actual endorsement conditions before describing an interest or waiver.

Certificate holder

The third party that asked for the certificate, with their mailing address.

Review check: Use the exact holder named in the request.

Cancellation

The form's standard notice language. Any notice obligation comes from the policy and its endorsements, not from this box.

Review check: Do not add a notice promise unsupported by the policy.

Authorized representative

Signature of a person authorized by the producer to issue the certificate.

Review check: Confirm who is authorized to issue the certificate.

In Relay

Relay can prepare supported ACORD drafts from the documents you provide. This reference guide explains ACORD 25; it is not a promise that this form or edition is available in your workspace. Check the supported form, then review the fields and missing answers before use. See how →

Common errors

Entering requested contract limits instead of policy limits.
Naming the wrong legal entity as certificate holder.
Copying additional insured or waiver wording without checking the applicable policy provisions.

Common questions

Does a certificate make the holder an additional insured?

No. Check the policy provisions and applicable endorsements. Naming someone on the certificate alone does not give them additional insured status.

What should we do when the request asks for something the policy does not show?

Identify the difference for the responsible producer. Resolve the request through the appropriate carrier or endorsement process before reporting that provision on the certificate.

Form references

Confirm the form edition and requirements with the market receiving the submission.

Part of the Relay ACORD form library. Updated 2026-07-11. See how we source content.

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