Rosalie Murphy is a small-business writer at NerdWallet. Since 2021, she has covered business insurance, banking, credit cards and e-commerce software, and her reporting has been featured by The Associated Press, MarketWatch, Entrepreneur and many other publications. Rosalie studied journalism at the University of Southern California and holds a graduate certificate in Quantitative Business Management from Kent State University, where she's now pursuing an MBA. She is based in Chicago.
Assigning Editor Ryan Lane
Assigning Editor | Small business, student loans
Ryan Lane is an editor on NerdWallet’s small-business team. He joined NerdWallet in 2019 as a student loans writer, serving as an authority on that topic after spending more than a decade at student loan guarantor American Student Assistance. In that role, Ryan co-authored the Student Loan Ranger blog in partnership with U.S. News & World Report, as well as wrote and edited content about education financing and financial literacy for multiple online properties, e-courses and more. Ryan also previously oversaw the production of life science journals as a managing editor for publisher Cell Press. Ryan is located in Rochester, New York.
Fact Checked
Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
A certificate of liability insurance is a document proving that your business has general liability insurance or other types of liability coverage. It tells customers and potential business partners that your company is insured against claims of property damage, bodily injury or other harms.
To get a certificate of liability insurance, you’ll first need to have a business insurance policy. Almost all businesses should have general liability insurance .
You can also request a certificate of liability from vendors you plan to work with to verify their coverage.
A certificate of liability insurance includes:
Your insurer’s name and your policy numbers. Policy effective dates. Policy limits. The names of the insured parties.The form should include information from your general liability insurance policy. If you have other types of liability protection — like commercial auto insurance , workers’ compensation insurance and excess liability insurance — your certificate of liability insurance may show those policy details, too.
You should be able to access certificates of insurance for all of your business insurance policies. In general, these documents include the same types of information that certificates of liability insurance do, like your insurance company’s name, your policy numbers, coverage limits and the names of additional insureds .
on Tivly's website
Tivly works with over 200 insurance providers, matching you to the one who fits your needs!
Follow these steps to get a certificate of liability insurance:
Get general liability insurance. You can shop for business insurance online or look for a business insurance agent near you .
See if you can access your COI online. Many business insurance companies let you access your COI for free through an online dashboard. Next Insurance , for instance, lets you pull up your COI on your computer or phone and share it electronically with others. With Hiscox , you can enter your policy number and email address and generate a copy.
Request a copy of your COI through your insurer if necessary. In some cases you may need to fill out an online form or send an email to your insurance company to get a copy of your COI. The Hartford , for example, asks customers to log on to their online account or contact their agent or the insurer directly to request a COI. However, the company says many customers receive their certificate of liability insurance instantly.
Some businesses have to show certificates of liability insurance often. For instance, if you’re buying cleaning business insurance or contractor insurance , make sure you know how to access your certificate of liability insurance online so you can provide it to clients or contractors upon request.
Other times you may need to show a certificate of liability insurance include:
A landlord requiring proof of general liability insurance to ensure their property is covered against potential damage.
A business partner checking that you have workers’ compensation insurance — which also appears on certificates of liability insurance — before issuing you a contract.
In general, business insurance providers offer certificates of liability insurance for free to existing policyholders.
You will need to purchase a policy to have access to a COI, and the cost of business insurance can vary widely depending on what your company does, how many employees you have, whether you’ve filed claims in the past and other factors. Getting quotes from several different insurance companies can help you find the best coverage at the best price.
If you have a business liability insurance policy, you may already have a certificate of liability insurance in your policy paperwork.
Some providers, including biBERK and Thimble, offer instant digital certificates of insurance that you can share electronically with your landlord, clients or subcontractors.
Other business insurance providers require you to request a copy online or over the phone, but they should typically be able to provide your COI in a matter of hours.
About the authorYou’re following Rosalie Murphy
Visit your My NerdWallet Settings page to see all the writers you're following.
On a similar note.
Smart money moves for your business Get access to business insights and recommendations, plus expert content.
Sign up for free MORE LIKE THIS Small BusinessThe best small-business insurance companies are financially secure and receive relatively few customer complaints.
Download the app
Disclaimer: NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific product’s site. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institution’s Terms and Conditions. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion® directly.
NerdUp by NerdWallet credit card: NerdWallet is not a bank. Bank services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust, member FDIC. The NerdUp by NerdWallet Credit Card is issued by Evolve Bank & Trust pursuant to a license from MasterCard International Inc.
Impact on your credit may vary, as credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.
NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539
California: California Finance Lender loans arranged pursuant to Department of Financial Protection and Innovation Finance Lenders License #60DBO-74812
Insurance Services offered through NerdWallet Insurance Services, Inc. (CA resident license no.OK92033) Insurance Licenses
NerdWallet™ | 55 Hawthorne St. - 10th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105
