What's a Certificate of Insurance (COI)? Simple Guide 2025

A Certificate of Insurance, often called a COI, is a document that shows proof someone has insurance coverage.

In more detail, a Certificate of Insurance summarizes the key parts of an insurance policy. It usually lists the policyholder's name, the type of insurance they have, coverage limits, and the policy's effective dates. This document is essential in many business and personal situations to prove that insurance is in place, especially before starting a project or signing a contract.

The COI helps one party in a contract know the other party has valid insurance. For example, if a contractor is hired to do work, the client will often ask for a COI to confirm the contractor's general liability insurance is active. This protects the client from being responsible for certain accidents or damages.

You can think of a COI as a snapshot of an insurance policy without revealing all of the policy's details.

• Shows the type of insurance (like liability, workers' compensation, or auto)

• Lists coverage limits

• Includes the policyholder's name and effective dates

• May name additional insureds, who are extra people covered under the policy

For those who manage lots of COIs, understanding the nuances can matter. A COI doesn't transfer insurance coverage but proves that coverage exists. Sometimes, clients request certificates with specific wording or require additional insured status. Also, COIs can expire along with the insurance policy, so keeping them current is important.

This is where Strada, voice AI for insurance, comes into play. Strada automates Certificate of Insurance requests by pushing the request to your AMS to validate policy terms and generate the correct form, and instantly sending them via email or SMS, which saves time and reduces the risk of missing expired certificates.

• Verifies insurance policies in real time

• Generates accurate COIs quickly

• Sends certificates instantly to the right contacts