The top block: producer, insured and insurers
The producer is the broker or agency that issued the certificate and the person to contact with questions. The insured is the named insured, which should match the legal name on the contract. Below that, the form lists up to several insurers affording coverage, each with a letter that the coverage section refers back to, and often the insurer's NAIC number, which identifies it in the regulatory system.
The coverages section
This is the grid most reviewers look at first. Each row represents a type of coverage, and each shows the insurer letter, policy number, effective date, expiration date and the limits. Commercial general liability is shown with its each occurrence, damage to rented premises, medical expense, personal and advertising injury, general aggregate and products and completed operations limits. Automobile liability, umbrella or excess liability and workers compensation follow, with an area at the bottom for other coverages.
Two small columns in this grid matter more than their size suggests. One indicates whether additional insured status applies and the other whether a waiver of subrogation applies. Marking them is a statement that the policy carries the relevant endorsement, so they should only be marked when that is true.
Description of operations
This free text box is where the certificate ties itself to a specific lease, project or agreement and states which parties are additional insureds. Counterparties often require specific wording here, and a mismatch is a frequent reason for rejection. It is also the place where the form reminds the reader that additional insured status is subject to the policy's terms.
Certificate holder and cancellation
The lower left box names the certificate holder and its address. The lower right box carries the cancellation language, which states that notice will be delivered in accordance with the policy provisions. The form does not promise any particular notice period to the holder, which is why contracts that need one usually have to arrange it separately.
Because the ACORD 25 is built for liability coverage, certificates for property insurance are issued on a different form. If your contract asks for evidence of property coverage, tell your broker so the right form is used.
Last updated October 22, 2026. Written by the Alton Risk placement team.