How to Get a Certificate of Insurance in Texas

⏱ 8 min read · Last updated: May 2026 · Reviewed by Mohammed Elkhalil, Texas License #2427360 · Sources: Texas Department of Insurance, ACORD

A certificate of insurance is the document that proves your business or commercial policy is active — and it is one of the most commonly requested documents in Texas contracting, commercial leasing, and vendor relationships. Getting one is straightforward: contact your broker, provide the certificate holder's information, and the certificate is typically issued the same day.

Where the process becomes complicated is when the requesting party has specific requirements — additional insured status, waiver of subrogation, specific coverage limits, or language that differs from your existing policy. Those requirements must be evaluated against your actual policy before the certificate is issued, because a certificate cannot accurately show coverage that does not exist.

This guide applies to Texas businesses and contractors broadly, with specific examples from Houston and surrounding areas — Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, The Woodlands, Spring, Humble, Baytown, and Pasadena — where TWFG Elkhalil Insurance works with many commercial clients. As a Houston-based independent broker who handles COI requests regularly, the most common mistakes I see are businesses treating a certificate as evidence of additional insured status when no endorsement has been issued, and contractors who don't understand the difference between what a certificate shows and what their policy actually covers.

In This Guide

• What is a certificate of insurance?
• What information a COI contains
• How to get a certificate of insurance in Texas
• ACORD 25 vs. ACORD 28 — which form do you need?
• Certificate holder vs. additional insured — what's the difference?
• Waiver of subrogation — what it means and when it's required
• What Texas law says about certificates of insurance
• Common COI requirements in Texas contracts and leases
• Houston-specific COI considerations
• Common certificate of insurance mistakes in Texas
• How to request a COI from your broker — step by step
• Frequently asked questions

What Is a Certificate of Insurance?

A certificate of insurance (COI) is a one-page summary document issued by an insurance broker or carrier that confirms the existence and basic terms of an active insurance policy. It is used to provide proof of coverage to a third party — a client, a general contractor, a landlord, or a project owner — without sharing the full policy document.

A COI is not a policy. It does not create, modify, or expand coverage. It does not grant rights to the certificate holder. It is a reference document that summarizes what a policy covers as of the date it was issued — and Texas law is explicit that it cannot be used to alter the terms of the underlying policy.

When a certificate of insurance is required

In Texas, COIs are commonly required in the following situations:

• Before starting work on a construction or renovation project
• When signing a commercial lease — most Texas landlords require proof of general liability and property coverage
• When a general contractor hires subcontractors
• When bidding on or winning a government or municipal contract
• When entering a vendor or supplier relationship with a larger company
• When renting equipment or vehicles for business use
• When applying for certain business licenses or permits

What Information a Certificate of Insurance Contains

A standard certificate of insurance contains the following information about the insured's coverage. Each field has a specific meaning — understanding them prevents misreading what a COI does and does not confirm.

Field	What It Shows	What It Does Not Confirm
Named insured	The business or individual the policy covers	Does not confirm additional insureds without a separate endorsement
Insurer name	The insurance carrier providing coverage	Does not confirm carrier financial rating
Policy number	The specific policy identifier	Does not confirm the policy is still active at time of claim
Policy effective and expiration dates	The policy period as of the date the COI was issued	Does not confirm renewal or continued coverage after expiration
Coverage types and limits	General liability, auto, workers comp, umbrella limits as shown	Does not confirm all policy exclusions or endorsements
Certificate holder	The party requesting the certificate	Being a certificate holder does not make the party an additional insured
Description of operations	Notes about the specific project, location, or additional insured status	Only reflects what was entered — does not guarantee underlying policy includes it

How to Get a Certificate of Insurance in Texas

Getting a certificate of insurance in Texas requires three inputs: your active policy information, the certificate holder's details, and any specific requirements from the requesting party. Your broker handles the rest.

ACORD 25 vs. ACORD 28 — Which Form Do You Need?

Most certificates of insurance in Texas use one of two standard ACORD forms. The correct form depends on what type of coverage is being certified.

Form	Full Name	Used For	When to Use It
ACORD 25	Certificate of Liability Insurance	General liability, auto, workers comp, umbrella	Most commercial contracts, leases, job site requirements
ACORD 28	Evidence of Commercial Property Insurance	Commercial property coverage	Lender requirements, landlord requirements for property coverage

The ACORD 25 is the most commonly requested form in Texas commercial contexts. Your broker will know which form applies to your situation — if the requesting party specifies a form number, share that with your broker when requesting the certificate.

Certificate Holder vs. Additional Insured — What's the Difference?

This is the most commonly misunderstood distinction in Texas commercial insurance — and getting it wrong creates real exposure for both parties involved.

What a certificate holder is

A certificate holder is the party to whom the certificate of insurance is addressed. Being a certificate holder means you receive a copy of the certificate and are entitled to notice of cancellation if the policy is cancelled or not renewed — nothing more. A certificate holder has no rights under the named insured's policy. If a loss occurs, the certificate holder cannot file a claim against the named insured's policy simply by virtue of being on the certificate.

What an additional insured is

An additional insured is a party added to the named insured's policy by endorsement — meaning they have actual rights under the policy and can be covered for certain claims. Additional insured status requires a specific endorsement to the underlying policy, not just a notation on a certificate. When a general contractor requires subcontractors to name them as additional insureds, they need both a certificate and written confirmation of the additional insured endorsement.

Waiver of Subrogation — What It Means and When It's Required

A waiver of subrogation is a provision in which your insurer agrees not to pursue recovery from a third party after paying a claim on your behalf — even if that third party was responsible for the loss. It is commonly required in Texas commercial contracts, particularly in construction.

Why waiver of subrogation is requested

Without a waiver of subrogation, if your insurer pays a claim caused by a third party's negligence, the insurer has the right to sue that third party to recover what it paid. A waiver of subrogation contractually eliminates that right. General contractors, property owners, and large clients often require it to prevent being sued by a subcontractor's insurer after a job-site claim.

How to add a waiver of subrogation

A waiver of subrogation requires a specific endorsement to your policy — it is not automatically included. Contact your broker to add a waiver of subrogation endorsement. Some carriers include blanket waiver of subrogation endorsements; others require per-project endorsements. There may be an additional premium charge depending on your carrier and policy terms.

What Texas Law Says About Certificates of Insurance

Texas has specific statutory language governing certificates of insurance — one of the few states with explicit COI law. Texas Insurance Code Chapter 558 addresses certificate requirements and prohibitions.

What Texas law prohibits

Under Texas law, a certificate of insurance cannot be used to alter, amend, extend, or modify the terms of the underlying insurance policy. A certificate cannot show coverage that does not exist in the actual policy. A certificate holder cannot require language on a certificate that conflicts with the actual policy terms.

Cancellation notice requirements

Texas law and most standard policies require the insurer to provide advance notice of cancellation to certificate holders — typically 30 days for most cancellations and 10 days for non-payment of premium cancellations. This notice requirement is informational only — it does not give the certificate holder rights to continue coverage.

Fraudulent certificates

Issuing a certificate that misrepresents the actual coverage — showing limits, endorsements, or coverage that doesn't exist in the underlying policy — is fraud under Texas law and can expose both the issuing broker and the insured to significant liability. Certificates must accurately reflect the actual policy terms.

Common COI Requirements in Texas Contracts and Leases

Different industries and contract types in Texas have different standard COI requirements. Knowing what's commonly required in your industry helps you maintain the right coverage in advance — rather than scrambling at contract time.

Context	Typical Coverage Required	Common Additional Requirements
Commercial lease (Houston)	General liability: $1M–$2M per occurrence; property coverage	Landlord as additional insured; waiver of subrogation
General contractor subcontract	GL: $1M–$2M; auto; workers comp; umbrella: $1M–$5M	GC and owner as additional insureds; waiver of subrogation; primary/non-contributory
Government/municipal contract (Houston, Harris County)	GL: $1M–$2M; auto; workers comp	City or county as additional insured; specific language requirements
Oil and gas / energy sector	GL: $1M–$5M; auto; workers comp; umbrella: $5M–$25M+	Operator as additional insured; waiver of subrogation; mutual indemnity
Vendor/supplier agreement	GL: $1M; auto if vehicles used; product liability	Client as additional insured; waiver of subrogation
Equipment rental	GL and commercial auto; inland marine for equipment	Rental company as additional insured; coverage for rented equipment

Houston-Specific COI Considerations

Houston's commercial and industrial environment creates COI requirements that are more demanding than many other Texas markets — driven by the energy sector, large commercial construction volume, and the city's significant port and logistics activity.

Energy and oil and gas sector requirements

Companies working in Houston's energy sector — in the Ship Channel area, Baytown, Pasadena, and La Porte — routinely face COI and insurance requirements that significantly exceed standard commercial levels. General liability limits of $2M–$5M, umbrella limits of $10M–$25M, and specific endorsements including broad form additional insured and waiver of subrogation are common baseline requirements for energy sector contracts. If your business serves energy sector clients, your policy structure should be built around these requirements — not adjusted reactively each time a contract comes in.

Houston commercial construction

Houston's commercial construction market — including Katy, Sugar Land, and The Woodlands where significant development continues — requires contractors to carry COIs with additional insured endorsements for project owners and general contractors on virtually every job. Having a blanket additional insured endorsement on your general liability policy and maintaining updated certificates on file for each active project is standard practice for Houston-area contractors.

Harris County and City of Houston vendor requirements

Vendors and contractors working with the City of Houston or Harris County face specific COI requirements including minimum liability limits, additional insured language naming the relevant government entity, and sometimes specific policy endorsements. Requirements vary by contract type and department — confirm the specific requirements for each government contract before submitting your certificate.

Common Certificate of Insurance Mistakes in Texas

These are the mistakes that create real exposure — for the business providing the certificate and the party receiving it.

Mistake 1: Assuming a certificate makes someone an additional insured

A certificate lists a certificate holder. Being listed on a certificate does not grant additional insured status. If a contract requires additional insured status, a policy endorsement must be issued — the certificate only confirms that the endorsement exists. Verify the endorsement is in place before signing the contract.

Mistake 2: Letting coverage lapse between renewal and certificate issuance

If your policy lapses — even briefly during a renewal — any certificate issued during the lapse period is inaccurate. Carriers can cancel policies for non-payment with as little as 10 days' notice in Texas. Maintain continuous coverage and monitor renewal dates carefully, particularly if you have active certificates in circulation.

Mistake 3: Showing coverage limits that don't match the contract requirement

If a contract requires $2 million in general liability and your policy only carries $1 million, issuing a certificate showing $1 million satisfies the disclosure requirement — but does not satisfy the contractual requirement. The contract may require you to increase your limits before work begins. Review contract insurance requirements before submitting a bid, not after winning the contract.

Mistake 4: Not reading the description of operations box

The description of operations section on an ACORD 25 is where additional insured status, waiver of subrogation, primary/non-contributory language, and project-specific information are noted. If your contract requires specific language in this field, provide that language to your broker explicitly — don't assume it will be included automatically.

Mistake 5: Using an outdated certificate

A certificate is issued as of a specific date. If your policy has been renewed, amended, or if additional endorsements have been added since the certificate was issued, the certificate may no longer accurately reflect your coverage. For long-term contracts, request updated certificates at each policy renewal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Getting a certificate of insurance in Texas is a straightforward process — contact your broker, provide the certificate holder's information and any special requirements, and the certificate is typically ready the same day. What requires more attention is making sure the underlying policy actually supports what the certificate shows: the right coverage limits, the right endorsements, and the right additional insured and waiver of subrogation provisions before a contract is signed.

In my experience working with Houston-area businesses, the COI problems that cause real damage are almost always discovered after a contract is signed or a claim occurs — not before. The time to confirm your policy supports your contractual insurance requirements is before you start the job, not after a claim is denied because the endorsement was missing.

• Commercial insurance in Texas — how we structure coverage for Houston businesses
• General liability insurance in Texas — the policy most COIs are issued against
• Contractors insurance in Texas — COIs, additional insured requirements, and job site coverage
• Umbrella insurance — additional liability above your commercial policy limits
• Request a commercial insurance review — we confirm your coverage supports your contract requirements

Last updated: May 2026 · Reviewed by Mohammed Elkhalil, Texas License #2427360 · Sources: Texas Department of Insurance, Texas Insurance Code Chapter 558, ACORD

Coverage availability, policy terms, endorsement requirements, and contractual insurance obligations vary by carrier, policy form, contract, and individual circumstances. This article is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for reviewing your specific policy and contract requirements with a licensed insurance professional.