What is a certificate of insurance?

Certificates of insurance are a basic summary of coverage that is simply used to confirm that someone has the insurance and may list the basic features on the policy. This certificate is not the same as the policy itself and may not be used in place of it, as stated by the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner.

These types of certificates can be issued for almost any type of insurance, including vehicle, medical and marine coverage. Copies of these certificates might be requested by other companies during claims to prove that the parties involved have the coverage required by law, as stated on the Five College Consortium website.