ACORD Liability Insurance Certificate

An ACORD certificate is a simple, one-page proof of coverage form that lists the basics of your business insurance policy. Many companies request it to verify you have the liability insurance they require.
Author:
Chloe Silverman
Chloe Silverman,Staff Copywriter
Chloe Silverman
Staff copywriter specializing in small business insurance for The Hartford.
Updated: 05/01/2026
Read Time: 4 minutes
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Key Takeaways

  • An ACORD certificate of insurance is a standard, one‑page document that shows proof of your business liability coverage. It’s commonly required before entering into a contract or beginning work with clients, landlords or partners.
  • You may be asked to provide an ACORD certificate when renting space, signing contracts, working on projects or anytime another party needs to verify your insurance.
  • You can get an ACORD certificate when you purchase business insurance. Starting a quote helps you see your price, so you can take the next step toward proof of coverage.
certificate of liability insurance video

What Is an ACORD Certificate of Insurance?

ACORD liability insurance typically refers to an ACORD certificate of liability insurance — a standardized one-page document that proves your business has liability coverage. It’s also known as an ACORD 25 certificate of insurance, certificate of insurance (COI) or a certificate of liability insurance. Your insurance company typically provides an ACORD certificate of liability insurance when you buy a business insurance policy.
In the 1970s, the Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development (ACORD) was formed by insurance companies to minimize confusion and unify their approach to liability insurance policy forms. The ACORD corporation develops standard forms, including the ACORD COI, so that everyone in the insurance industry has more usable, readable forms.
 
ACORD is not an insurance company. ACORD develops standardized forms that insurance carriers use across the industry.

What Does an ACORD Certificate of Insurance Cover?

A certificate of insurance ACORD form covers key information about your business insurance policy, such as:
 
  • Named insured (insured business information)
  • Issuing insurance company (insurer information)
  • Types of liability coverage
  • Policy number
  • Policy effective and expiration dates
  • Insurance limits (limits of liability)
  • Description of operations or additional insured details

Why Do I Need an ACORD Liability Insurance Certificate?

You may need an ACORD liability insurance certificate to provide proof of coverage when clients, landlords or business partners want to verify that you have liability insurance. Businesses often request proof of liability insurance before entering into contracts, partnerships or project agreements.
  1. Property damage: If a vendor or sub-contractor you hired to do work for you causes damage to a client’s property, you may have to pay for repairs.
  2. Personal injury: If one of your employees causes bodily injury to someone else on a jobsite, you may be held liable.
  3. Substandard work: If your company fails to deliver the work product agreed to in the contract, you could be sued for additional costs to fix the errors.
Businesses and contractors often need to provide proof of liability insurance coverage before work begins.
Businesses are often asked to provide an ACORD certificate of liability insurance in these situations:
 
  • Leasing commercial space
  • Signing contracts or partnership agreements
  • Leasing equipment
  • Working on construction projects
  • Applying for certain loans
Providing an ACORD business insurance certificate can help prove that your business carries the liability coverage others may require before working with you.

What Is the Difference Between ACORD 24 and ACORD 25?

ACORD 25 is the most common form and shows proof of liability insurance, such as general liability coverage. ACORD 24 is used to show proof of commercial property insurance, like coverage for a building or business property. The key difference is that each form proves you have a different type of coverage. So, it’s important to understand which proof of coverage someone is asking you to show.
 

How Do I Get a Certificate of ACORD Liability Insurance?

When you get a general liability insurance policy from The Hartford, you’ll also get an ACORD certificate of insurance (COI) automatically as proof of insurance coverage. If you need another copy of your certificate of insurance, you have two different ways to get one:
 
  1. Contact your agent to request a certificate of general liability insurance.
  2. Visit our online portal, My Account, to request certificates of insurance. We process most requests instantly for quick access.
Your insurance company can also provide an ACORD certificate of liability insurance for a variety of small business insurance policies, such as:
 
business owner feels secure by having acord insurance

Get a Business Insurance Quote From The Hartford

With more than 200 years of insurance experience, we’ve helped over 1 million small business owners find coverage that fits their needs. Our business liability insurance comes with an ACORD insurance certificate, so you can quickly show proof of coverage when clients request it.
 
Get your price today and see how we can help protect your small business.
 
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Frequently Asked Questions About ACORD Liability Insurance

An ACORD form is a standardized insurance document used across the industry to show key policy and coverage information in a consistent format. Common ACORD forms include:
 
  • ACORD 25 – Certificate of Liability Insurance 
  • ACORD 24 – Certificate of Property Insurance
  • ACORD 27 – Evidence of Property Insurance
  • ACORD 28 – Evidence of Commercial Property Insurance
Yes, an ACORD COI is simply a certificate of insurance (COI) issued using the standardized ACORD form.
Yes, an ACORD certificate of insurance is an official document commonly accepted as proof that an insurance policy is in place.
Yes. General liability insurance is the actual coverage, while ACORD liability insurance refers to the certificate that shows proof of that coverage.
An additional insured is a person or business added to your policy who receives some protection under your liability coverage. It’s often required when working with clients, landlords or partners.
An ACORD certificate is typically valid for as long as the underlying insurance policy is active. The certificate will show the policy’s effective and expiration dates.
No. An ACORD certificate does not change or guarantee coverage. It only summarizes what the policy includes. The actual policy terms determine coverage.
ACORD event insurance usually refers to an ACORD certificate that is used to show proof of liability coverage for a specific event. Venues or organizers may request it before approving the event.

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The Hartford shall not be liable for any damages in connection with the use of any information provided on this page. Please consult with your insurance agent/broker or insurance company to determine specific coverage needs as this information is intended to be educational in nature.
 
The information contained on this page should not be construed as specific legal, HR, financial, or insurance advice and is not a guarantee of coverage. In the event of a loss or claim, coverage determinations will be subject to the policy language, and any potential claim payment will be determined following a claim investigation.
 
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