Why certificate of insurance (COI) matters to a first-time founder
Clients, landlords and event organisers may ask for a COI before allowing work to begin. It quickly shows named cover, limits and dates, but the policy controls the actual rights. Certificate formats, compulsory insurance and the effect of naming another party differ by jurisdiction and insurer.
Examples of certificate of insurance (COI)
A builder must show $5 million of public-liability cover before entering a client’s site. Its broker issues a COI naming the insurer, policy period and limit. The client checks the dates and asks about an exclusion because the certificate alone does not reproduce every policy term.
Common misunderstanding
COI is ambiguous and can also mean conflict of interest, so write the full phrase when context is unclear. A certificate is evidence, not the insurance contract and not a guarantee that every claim is covered. Only the policy wording, endorsements and applicable law determine cover.
When to use it
Request or provide a COI when a contract requires evidence of insurance. Check the insured name, activities, dates and limits against the agreement, and ask for policy details when exclusions matter. Do not alter a certificate or present expired cover as current; that may be fraudulent.