If you're a general contractor, you've probably filled out more Certificates of Insurance (COIs) than you can count. Project owners, developers, property managers, and even your own subcontractors all want proof that the right coverage is in place before work begins. But not every COI request is the same. Depending on the project, the party asking for it may require specific language added to your certificate, and if that language is missing, it can hold up a bid, delay a project start, or leave you exposed on a claim.
Below, we break down the most common COI language requests we see from general contractors working across Indiana and surrounding states, what each one means, and why it matters.
What Is a Certificate of Insurance?
A Certificate of Insurance is a document issued by an insurance company or agency that summarizes the coverage a business currently holds. It typically shows policy types, limits, effective dates, and the insurance carrier. Project owners and general contractors often require a COI from every subcontractor before allowing them onsite, and general contractors are frequently asked to provide one themselves to secure a bid or contract.
A standard COI is a snapshot of coverage. Specific endorsements and conditions, like the ones below, have to be added to the policy and reflected on the certificate. Simply having insurance isn't the same as having the right insurance language in place.
Additional Insured - Ongoing Operations: What Does This Mean?
This endorsement adds another party, usually the project owner, developer, or general contractor, as an "additional insured" on your liability policy while work is actively underway. It extends coverage to that party for claims arising from your ongoing work on the project. If a third party is injured or property is damaged while your crew is actively performing the work, this endorsement helps protect both you and the party you've added.
Most contracts require this language before work begins, and it's one of the most commonly requested endorsements on a COI.
Additional Insured - Completed Operations: What Does This Mean?
Ongoing Operations coverage protects the additional insured while the job is in progress. Completed Operations coverage extends that protection after the work is finished. Construction defects and injuries don't always show up right away, sometimes a problem surfaces months or years after a project wraps. This endorsement helps ensure the project owner or general contractor is still covered for claims tied to your completed work, even after your crew has left the site.
Many owners and general contractors require both Ongoing and Completed Operations language on the same certificate, since each covers a different phase of the project's life.
What Does Primary and Noncontributory Mean?
When a claim happens on a job site, multiple parties may have insurance policies that could respond, your policy and the additional insured's policy, for example. "Primary and Noncontributory" language states that your policy will respond first and pay out before any other applicable insurance is called upon, and that your insurer won't seek contribution from the additional insured's own policy.
In practice, this protects the party you've added as an additional insured by making sure their own coverage isn't tapped into or forced to share the cost of a claim that stems from your work.
What Is a Waiver of Subrogation?
Subrogation is the right of an insurance company to seek reimbursement from a third party responsible for a loss, after it has already paid out a claim. A Waiver of Subrogation (sometimes called a Waiver of Rights of Recovery, or Transfer of Rights of Recovery Against Others to Us) means your insurance company gives up that right against a specific party, usually the project owner or general contractor named in your contract.
This is typically required so that if your insurer pays a claim, it can't turn around and sue the owner or general contractor to recover those costs. Many construction contracts won't move forward without this waiver in place.
What Does "30 Days Notice of Cancellation" Mean?
This provision requires your insurance carrier to notify the additional insured (the project owner, developer, or general contractor) at least 30 days before your policy is canceled or non-renewed. It gives that party time to confirm you have replacement coverage before your policy lapses, rather than finding out after the fact that a job site is currently uninsured.
It's worth noting that not all carriers offer true 30-day notice of cancellation as a standard endorsement, some only provide advance notice for certain cancellation reasons, like non-payment. If a contract requires this language, it's worth confirming with us whether your current carrier can accommodate it before you sign.
Why This Matters for General Contractors
Missing or incorrect COI language is one of the most common reasons a subcontractor gets held off a job site, or a general contractor loses a bid. Project owners and developers are increasingly specific about what they require, and generic certificates often don't cut it anymore. Getting ahead of these requirements, rather than scrambling once a contract lands on your desk, saves time and keeps projects moving.
How We Can Help
Every contract is different, and the COI language required on one job may not match what's needed on the next. Our team works with general contractors throughout Indiana and surrounding states to review contract insurance requirements, confirm the right endorsements are in place, and issue certificates that meet what project owners and general contractors are asking for, before it becomes a holdup. If you have a contract in hand and aren't sure what coverage or COI language it calls for, reach out to us and we'll walk through it with you.
This blog post is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or insurance advice. Coverage requirements, policy language, and endorsements vary by carrier and by contract. Please contact Shurr Insurance Agency directly to discuss your specific coverage needs and to confirm the terms of your policy.