Certificate of Insurance vs. Endorsements: What Employers Should Know

If you're running a business - whether you're a contractor in St. Pete, a property manager in Richmond, or a restaurant owner in Tampa - chances are you’ve dealt with requests for a Certificate of Insurance (COI). And maybe, someone has also asked for an “additional insured endorsement.” It’s easy to assume they’re the same thing.

They’re not.

At Pelican Shield Insurance Group , we help businesses across Florida and Virginia understand the difference between these two key insurance documents. If you're not sure which one does what, you’re not alone. We walk our clients through situations like this every day. You can get to know us a bit better here , or check out our commercial insurance solutions to see what we offer.

Let’s clear up the confusion between COIs and endorsements - and explain why knowing the difference matters.

What Is a Certificate of Insurance?

A Certificate of Insurance is a summary document. It shows proof that a business or contractor has active insurance coverage.

Think of it like a receipt or snapshot. It includes:

The name of the insured business
Types of insurance carried (like general liability, auto, or workers' comp)
Coverage limits
Effective and expiration dates
Insurance company info
Contact details for the agent or agency

You’ll often be asked to provide a COI when bidding on projects, signing contracts, leasing property, or working with other vendors. It’s a quick way to prove you’ve got coverage in place.

But - and this is key - a COI doesn’t change your policy or extend coverage to anyone else.

What Is an Insurance Endorsement?

An endorsement is an actual amendment to your insurance policy. It changes what your policy covers, either by adding coverage, removing exclusions, or including third parties in specific ways.

Common types of endorsements include:

Additional Insured Endorsements – Extends your liability protection to someone else (like a property manager or general contractor)
Waiver of Subrogation – Prevents your insurer from pursuing a third party for reimbursement
Primary and Non-Contributory Language – Prioritizes your insurance in the event of a claim involving multiple policies
Per Project or Per Location Aggregates – Adjusts how liability limits are applied

Endorsements are legally binding parts of your policy. They’re what really grant coverage - not just a piece of paper stating that insurance exists.

So What’s the Big Difference?

The key difference is substance vs. summary.

A Certificate of Insurance shows proof of coverage—but doesn't change the policy.
An Endorsement actually changes the policy—adding, removing, or adjusting what it covers.

You can think of it like this: a COI is like a driver’s license showing you’re legally allowed to drive. An endorsement is like modifying your actual car with new equipment - it changes what you’re working with.

If someone asks for proof that you’re insured, the COI will do the trick. If they want to be covered under your policy, they’ll need an endorsement.

Why This Matters for Employers and Contractors

Let’s say you hire a subcontractor and request a COI. It shows they have insurance. Great. But if something goes wrong on your property and you’re named in a lawsuit, you might not be protected unless you were added to their policy via an endorsement.

Similarly, if you’re the one being hired and a client asks to be named as an additional insured, just sending them a COI won’t cut it. It may look the part, but it won’t hold up in a claim situation unless the endorsement is in place.

This is where businesses often get burned - assuming a certificate equals protection. It doesn’t.

Common Situations Where You Need Both

Many business relationships require both a COI and one or more endorsements.

Examples include:

Commercial leases – Landlords often want to be added as additional insureds on your general liability policy
Construction projects – General contractors usually require subcontractors to provide COIs and add the GC as an additional insured
Vendor agreements – Event organizers, venues, or property managers may want to be covered under your policy
Municipal contracts – Cities or government agencies typically require both documents for compliance

If you only provide a certificate, you could be in breach of contract - and left exposed.

At Pelican Shield, we help business owners get these requests right the first time, so they’re not scrambling before a job starts.

Don’t Let a COI Give You a False Sense of Security

It’s common for employers, landlords, or vendors to accept a COI and call it good. But if there’s no endorsement backing it up, there may be no legal coverage when something goes wrong.

Some insurance carriers even add disclaimers directly on the COI that state the certificate is “for informational purposes only” and does not extend coverage.

If you’re relying on a contractor’s policy to protect you, make sure you’re named in the endorsement. If you're not sure, ask for a copy - or let us take a look and confirm.

What Employers Should Do

Here’s how to avoid problems:

Request both a COI and required endorsements when hiring vendors or subcontractors
Read the contract carefully —it usually spells out what insurance and language are required
Ask for specific endorsement forms(like CG 20 10 for additional insureds under general liability)
Work with an insurance agency that knows how to get these issued properly and on time

Skipping these steps might save time now, but it can create a nightmare later if something goes sideways.

What Employers Should Provide

If you’re the one being hired and asked to provide proof of insurance:

Confirm what the contract requires
Request the proper endorsement from your insurance provider—not just the COI
Keep a copy of everything submitted for your records
Ask your agency to send documents directly to the other party if needed

At Pelican Shield, we handle this entire process for our clients so they can focus on doing the work, not chasing paperwork.

Final Thoughts

A Certificate of Insurance is a necessary document - but it’s not the same as having your client or business partner properly insured under your policy. That’s where endorsements come in. If you're an employer, contractor, or property owner relying on someone else's insurance, make sure the protection is real - not just printed.

At Pelican Shield Insurance Group, we help businesses get this right every day. Whether you're being asked for documentation or reviewing someone else's, we’ll walk you through what matters and make sure your bases are covered.

Visit pelicanshield.com to learn more, browse useful tips on our blog , or contact us to schedule a call. Or dial 727-369-9077. We’ll help you stop guessing and start knowing.