The essentials
A COI is issued by the insurer or their broker. It lists the insured, the policy type, the coverage limits, the effective dates and any parties named as additional insured. It is not the full policy, it's the summary you share to prove cover exists.
The fields on a typical UK COI
| Field | What it means |
|---|---|
| Insured name | Legal entity covered |
| Policy type | Public liability, PI, employers', motor, etc. |
| Limit of indemnity | Maximum insurer will pay per claim / aggregate |
| Period of insurance | Cover start and expiry dates |
| Excess | Amount the insured pays before cover kicks in |
| Additional insured | Third parties named on the policy |
What to do with a COI when you receive one
File it against the supplier record, capture the expiry date, set a reminder 60 days out and check the limits meet your contract. Credbase does the last three automatically.
Frequently asked questions
Put this into practice today.
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