Want to see what a certificate of insurance actually looks like before you ask vendors for one? Here's a free sample certificate of insurance in the standard ACORD 25 layout, plus a breakdown of what separates a good COI from a bad one.
Download the sample certificate (PDF) — a fictional ACORD 25-style COI you can use as a reference.
What's on the sample
The sample follows the standard ACORD 25 "Certificate of Liability Insurance" layout. Reading top to bottom:
| Section | What it contains on the sample |
|---|---|
| Producer | The agency that issued the certificate, with contact details |
| Insured | The vendor's legal business name and address |
| Insurers A–F | The carriers, each with an NAIC number |
| Coverages grid | General liability, automobile, liquor liability, workers' comp |
| Limits | $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate on general liability |
| Policy dates | Effective and expiration dates for each policy |
| ADDL INSD / SUBR WVD | Additional insured and waiver of subrogation flags |
| Description of Operations | Names the venue as additional insured for the event |
| Certificate Holder | The venue the certificate was sent to |
For a full field-by-field walkthrough with numbered callouts, see how to read a certificate of insurance (ACORD 25).
Good COI vs bad COI
The same layout can pass or fail. Here's what to compare:
| Check | Good COI | Bad COI |
|---|---|---|
| General liability limits | $1M occurrence / $2M aggregate or higher | Below requirement, or blank |
| Policy dates | Cover the event date | Expire before the event |
| Additional insured | "Y" + your venue named in Description of Operations | Only listed as certificate holder |
| Liquor liability (bar/catering) | Present where alcohol is served | Missing |
| Insured name | Matches the vendor you hired | A different or parent business |
| Producer | Verifiable agency with contact details | No contact details |
What this means for your venue
Use the sample as your reference sheet. When a vendor's certificate comes in, put it next to the sample and check the same spots: are the limits high enough, do the dates cover the event, and is your venue named as additional insured in the description of operations — not just sitting in the certificate holder box?
Doing that comparison for one vendor takes a minute. Doing it for every vendor on every event, and chasing the ones that come back wrong, is what VenueCOI automates. You can also upload a real certificate to our free checker and see a pass/fail against a standard requirement instantly.