How to Read an Acord 25 Certificate of Insurance

Quick Answer

The Acord 25 Certificate of Insurance is the standard one-page form that proves your insurance is active. It has six sections: producer info (broker), insured info (you), carriers, coverages with limits and effective dates, additional insureds/holder, and a description box for endorsements. Every California GC checks the same fields — here's what they look for. Call (858) 925-9555.

The Six Sections

1. Producer (top-left)

Your broker's name, address, and contact. Used by the certificate holder to verify or get a corrected certificate.

2. Insured (top-right)

Your business name and address. Must match exactly the entity named on your CSLB license and your contracts.

3. Insurers (carriers)

Each row shows the carrier's name and NAIC number for each policy.

4. Coverages (the big middle table)

For each policy (GL, Auto, Umbrella, WC, etc.): - Policy number - Effective and expiration dates - Limits (per occurrence, aggregate, etc.) - Endorsement letters (Y or N)

5. Certificate Holder

Who's receiving the certificate — usually the GC or project owner.

6. Description of Operations / Additional Remarks

Free-text field describing the project, listing additional insureds, listing waivers of subrogation, listing specific endorsement forms (CG 20 10, CG 20 37, etc.).

What GCs Check

• Effective dates cover the project
• Limits meet contract minimum
• Additional insured language present
• Waiver of subrogation present (if required)
• Primary & non-contributory language (if required)
• Specific endorsement forms named

Red Flags

• Effective date already expired
• Limits below contract minimum
• Missing additional insured language
• Producer field blank or sketchy
• Description box says "as required by contract" without naming the specific endorsements

Related: Same-Day Certificate of Insurance · Additional Insured Endorsement