Question 1

What is an Accord 25 Certificate of Insurance?

Accepted Answer

An Accord 25 is the standard Certificate of Insurance form used in the United States. It shows your insurance policies, coverage limits, policy numbers, and expiration dates. Clients, contractors, and property owners request Accord 25s to verify you have adequate insurance coverage.

Question 2

What information does an Accord 25 include?

Accepted Answer

An Accord 25 includes: (1) Insured name and address, (2) Insurance company name and address, (3) Policy numbers, (4) Coverage types (GL, WC, Auto, etc.), (5) Policy limits (per occurrence and aggregate), (6) Deductibles, (7) Expiration dates, (8) Certificate holder name and address.

Question 3

Why do clients request Accord 25s?

Accepted Answer

Clients request Accord 25s to verify you have insurance before hiring you. They want to ensure you're covered for liability, workers' comp, and other risks. Most construction contracts require an Accord 25 before work begins.

Question 4

How do I get an Accord 25?

Accepted Answer

Contact your insurance broker or insurance company and request an Accord 25 Certificate of Insurance. They'll email it to you as a PDF. You can then share it with clients or request it be sent directly to them as the certificate holder.

Question 5

What coverage limits should my Accord 25 show?

Accepted Answer

Typical coverage limits for contractors: (1) General Liability: $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate, (2) Workers' Comp: Statutory limits (varies by state), (3) Commercial Auto: $1M combined single limit, (4) Umbrella: $1M–$5M. Specific requirements vary by client and project.

Question 6

What does 'certificate holder' mean?

Accepted Answer

The certificate holder is the person or company that receives the Accord 25. Usually it's your client or the property owner. When you request an Accord 25, you can specify who the certificate holder should be, and the insurance company will send it directly to them.

Question 7

How long is an Accord 25 valid?

Accepted Answer

An Accord 25 is valid until the expiration date shown on the form. Most are valid for 1 year. After expiration, you need to request a new Accord 25 from your insurance company. Many clients require an updated Accord 25 before renewal.

Question 8

What if my Accord 25 is missing coverage?

Accepted Answer

If your Accord 25 is missing required coverage (e.g., no umbrella policy), contact your insurance broker to add the coverage. Then request a new Accord 25. This is common when clients require higher limits or additional coverage types.

Question 9

Can I edit an Accord 25?

Accepted Answer

No. Only your insurance company can issue an official Accord 25. Do not edit or modify Accord 25s yourself. Always request a new one from your insurance company if information changes.

Question 10

What's the difference between an Accord 25 and a COI?

Accepted Answer

Accord 25 and COI (Certificate of Insurance) are the same thing. Accord 25 is the official form name (published by the Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development). COI is the common abbreviation.

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