"Name us as additional insured" is one of the most important lines in a venue's vendor insurance rules — and one of the most misunderstood. Here's what it actually means and how to confirm it on a certificate.
What additional insured means
By default, a vendor's liability policy protects the vendor. Additional insured status adds another party — your venue — to that policy, so the vendor's coverage can also respond to claims that arise from the vendor's work on your property.
If the caterer's staff causes a fire and a guest sues both the caterer and your venue, being additional insured means the caterer's policy can defend and cover your venue, rather than the claim falling entirely on your own insurance.
The endorsement vs the certificate
This distinction matters. The additional insured endorsement is the actual change made to the vendor's policy. The certificate of insurance merely reports that the endorsement exists.
So a COI that says you're additional insured is a signal, not proof. For high-value events, you can ask for a copy of the endorsement itself. Day to day, most venues rely on the certificate wording plus a reputable producer.
How it shows on a COI
On an ACORD 25, additional insured status appears in two places that should agree:
| Where | What to look for |
|---|---|
| ADDL INSD column | A "Y" on the General Liability line (and any other line you require) |
| Description of Operations | Wording like "Certificate holder is named as additional insured with respect to General Liability where required by written contract" |
If the box is checked but there's no supporting wording — or the wording names a different venue — treat it as not confirmed.
Blanket vs scheduled additional insured
- Scheduled additional insured names each party specifically on the policy.
- Blanket additional insured automatically covers any party the vendor is required by written contract to add. This is common, efficient, and perfectly acceptable — just make sure your vendor agreement actually contains that requirement, since blanket wording keys off "where required by written contract."
This is why venues pair an additional insured requirement with a signed vendor agreement. See our vendor insurance requirements guide for how to set that up.
What this means for your venue
Your rental company delivers a tent, tables and a dance floor. If a table collapses and injures a guest, you want their policy — not yours — responding first. You require additional insured status, and their COI shows a "Y" in ADDL INSD on the general liability line with your venue named in the Description of Operations. Confirmed.
A friend-of-the-couple bartender sends a certificate with no additional insured wording at all. Even if their limits are fine, your venue isn't protected by their policy. You'd ask them to have their agent add you as additional insured before the event.
Being listed only in the certificate holder box is the classic trap — it does not make you additional insured. We break that down in certificate holder vs additional insured.
Checking additional insured wording on every vendor, every event, by hand is exactly the kind of thing VenueCOI's certificate checks automate — or try a free check on a certificate you already have.