How do I get a certificate of insurance as a painter?

First you need an active GL policy. Once you bind coverage with us, your COI is issued instantly. You can download and send it to your client or GC right away.

How much does a COI cost?

Certificates of insurance are free — there's no charge to issue a COI. The cost is your insurance premium, which is what you pay for the underlying coverage.

Can I get a COI the same day I buy insurance?

Yes. Once you bind coverage, your COI is issued instantly. Same-day coverage is typically available, so you can often get a policy and COI the same day a job requires it.

What if the GC requires specific language on my COI?

Contract-specific language on COIs is common. Tell us what's required when you request the certificate and we'll make sure it's included.

How many COIs can I request?

As many as you need. There's no limit on the number of certificates we can issue. Each job, each GC, each property manager — we handle it.

Certificate of Insurance for Painters | COI Guide

What Is a Certificate of Insurance?

A certificate of insurance (COI) is a one-page document that summarizes your insurance coverage. It shows the name of your insurance company, your policy numbers, coverage types and limits, policy effective dates, and who's named on the policy. It's not a policy itself — it's proof that a policy exists.

Clients, general contractors, property managers, and municipalities ask for COIs before allowing you to start work. It's their way of confirming you're insured and that if something goes wrong, there's coverage in place.

What a Painter's COI Typically Shows

Named insured — Your business name exactly as it appears on your policy
General liability coverage — Per occurrence and aggregate limits
Policy effective dates — Start and end date of your current policy
Certificate holder — The GC, property manager, or client requesting the COI
Additional insured — If required, the name of the party to be added as additional insured
Description of operations — Sometimes includes specific language required by contract

How Fast Can You Get a COI?

Once you're bound with us, your certificate of insurance is issued instantly — ready to download and send to your client or GC the same day. If you need coverage urgently for a job starting tomorrow or even today, same-day coverage is typically available. Fill out the quote form and our agents work quickly to get you covered.

What Is an Additional Insured?

An additional insured is a third party — typically a GC, property owner, or property manager — who is added to your GL policy and receives some of the same protections you do. If they're named on your policy as additional insured, your coverage also responds to claims made against them arising from your work.

GCs almost universally require to be named as additional insured on your policy before you can work on their projects. We can add additional insureds quickly, or include a blanket additional insured endorsement that automatically covers any GC you work for.

Common COI Requirements from GCs

General contractors typically require painting subcontractors to provide:

General liability with limits of at least $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate (some require $2M/$4M)
The GC named as additional insured
A waiver of subrogation in favor of the GC
Primary and non-contributory language (on larger commercial projects)
Workers compensation if you have employees

How to Request a COI

Once you're a client, requesting a COI is simple — contact us with the name and address of the certificate holder and any specific language required. We issue certificates quickly so you can get to work without delays.

Certificate of Insurance for Painters