A certificate of insurance (COI) is a standardized document — typically an ACORD 25 form — that summarizes your insurance coverages, limits, and policy effective dates. It is not an insurance policy itself. It is proof that your policies exist and are currently in force. For roofing contractors, the COI is the gateway document that allows you to bid on projects, sign subcontracts, pull permits, and access jobsites.
What a COI Contains
The ACORD 25 certificate includes the following information: your company name and address, your insurance agent's name and contact information, each policy type (GL, auto, workers comp, umbrella), the carrier name and NAIC number for each policy, the policy number, effective and expiration dates, and the limits for each coverage. It also includes a certificate holder section where the requesting party — usually a GC, property owner, or property manager — is listed, along with any special notations about additional insured status, waiver of subrogation, or primary/non-contributory language.
When You Need a COI
You will need to produce a COI in virtually every professional interaction your roofing company has. Common situations include:
GC subcontracts. Before a general contractor will sign a subcontract or allow you on a jobsite, they require a COI showing your GL, workers comp, auto, and umbrella coverages meet their minimum requirements. The GC's risk manager will review every line of the certificate and compare it against their insurance requirements — which are spelled out in the subcontract's insurance exhibit. Deficiencies delay or kill the contract.
Building permits. Many municipalities require proof of insurance — particularly workers comp and GL — before issuing a building or roofing permit. Some jurisdictions require specific minimum limits, such as $1,000,000/$2,000,000 GL and statutory workers comp.
Property management companies. If you do maintenance or repair work for property managers, they will require a COI before you touch the first roof. Multifamily and commercial property managers are especially rigorous because their own insurance programs require them to verify sub coverage.
Homeowner contracts. Increasingly, informed homeowners ask roofing contractors for proof of insurance before signing a residential contract. Providing a COI proactively signals professionalism and differentiates you from unlicensed or uninsured competitors.
Common COI Deficiencies That Cost Roofers Contracts
The number one reason roofing contractors lose contracts or face project delays is a deficient certificate of insurance. The most common deficiencies include:
Missing additional insured endorsement. The GC requires additional insured status on your GL and umbrella, but your certificate does not confirm it. This requires your agent to endorse the policy and reissue the certificate — a process that can take days.
Insufficient limits. Your GL is $1M/$2M but the contract requires a $2M per-occurrence or per-project aggregate. Or your umbrella is $1M but the contract requires $5M. If your current policy cannot accommodate the requirement, you may need a policy change or a higher umbrella limit.
Missing waiver of subrogation. Many subcontracts require a waiver of subrogation on your GL and workers comp. If the endorsement is not on your policy, the certificate cannot confirm it. Adding a waiver of subrogation endorsement typically costs $50 to $250 per policy.
Expired policies. A certificate showing an expired policy is useless. If your renewal is pending and your current certificate shows old dates, you need your agent to issue a binder or a certificate reflecting the renewal terms.
Best Practices
Maintain a current COI template with your agent that includes the endorsements most commonly required by your clients: additional insured, waiver of subrogation, primary/non-contributory, and per-project aggregate. When you receive a contract insurance requirement, forward it to your agent immediately — not two days before the project starts. Build a 10-business-day lead time into your project planning for certificate processing. Keep digital copies of all issued certificates organized by project for audit and compliance purposes.
Finally, understand that a COI is a snapshot in time. It does not guarantee coverage will remain in force. If you cancel a policy mid-term, the COI becomes invalid — and most certificates include language stating that the issuing agent has no obligation to notify the certificate holder of cancellation unless a specific endorsement requires it.