If you operate a Florida business in construction, professional services, or any industry where clients, landlords, or project owners require proof of insurance, you'll regularly deal with Certificates of Insurance (COIs). A COI proves to third parties that you carry specified insurance coverages — but it's frequently misunderstood, and relying on it incorrectly can create serious liability gaps. Here's what every Florida business owner needs to know about COIs.
A COI (typically on ACORD Form 25) summarizes: insured's name and address, carrier name and NAIC code, coverage types (GL, auto, workers comp, umbrella, etc.), effective and expiration dates for each coverage, coverage limits, and any specifically mentioned additional insureds or certificate holders. A COI is a summary — not the actual policy. It proves coverage existed as of the date shown; it does not guarantee the policy will remain in force, that specific activities are covered, or that the carrier will accept a specific type of claim.
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An additional insured endorsement extends your GL policy's protection to a named third party — your client, a general contractor, a property owner. When a GC in Florida requires you to name them as additional insured, they're asking your insurer to also protect them against claims arising from your work on their project. This is standard in Florida construction and service contracts. Your insurer can add additional insureds via endorsement; some carriers charge for additional insured endorsements, others include them automatically. Request COIs naming your GC as additional insured before every project that requires it.
Most Florida business owners can get a COI within minutes by: logging into their carrier's online portal (many carriers like The Hartford, Next Insurance, and Hiscox offer self-service COI generation), or calling their agent or broker who can typically generate and send a COI within hours. In an emergency, call your carrier's policyholder services line directly — they can often issue a COI over the phone with a follow-up email confirmation. Have your policy number, effective dates, and the third party's name ready.
A waiver of subrogation endorsement prevents your insurer from seeking reimbursement from the third party (client or GC) after paying your claim. Some Florida contracts require this alongside an additional insured endorsement. Example: if your employee damages a client's property and your GL covers it, without a waiver of subrogation, your insurer can then sue the client to recover its costs. A waiver prevents this, providing the client protection. Like additional insured endorsements, some carriers include waivers of subrogation automatically; others charge an additional premium.
A COI is not a guarantee of coverage — it's a snapshot of coverage at a point in time. A contractor's COI you received 6 months ago may be from a policy that has since lapsed, been canceled, or had coverage reduced. Best practice for Florida GCs requiring subcontractor COIs: (1) Require updated COIs annually and verify expiration dates; (2) Consider subscribing to a COI tracking service that alerts you to expirations; (3) For large projects, verify directly with the carrier that the policy is still in force. Never assume an old COI is still valid — coverage lapses happen.
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