What is ACORD 25?

How is the ACORD 25 form organized?

The ACORD 25 packs a lot onto one page in a fixed layout, which is exactly why it became the standard—reviewers know where to look. The main sections are:

• Producer — the agency or broker that issued the certificate, with contact details.
• Insured — the named policyholder the certificate describes.
• Insurer(s) affording coverage — each carrier, identified by an “Insurer A/B/C” letter and NAIC number.
• Coverages — rows for commercial general liability, automobile liability, umbrella/excess liability, and workers’ compensation, each with policy number, effective and expiration dates, and limits.
• Additional insured / subrogation columns — “ADDL INSD” and “SUBR WVD” checkboxes that flag whether those endorsements apply.
• Description of operations — a free-text box that often references the contract, project, or endorsement forms.
• Certificate holder — the third party receiving the certificate as proof of coverage.

Why does ACORD 25 matter for general contractors?

Standardization is the point. Because every subcontractor’s certificate of insurance arrives on the same form, a general contractor can verify coverage limits, confirm that policies are still in force, and check the additional insured and waiver columns the same way for every sub. That consistency is what makes it possible to review certificates quickly—and to automate the review.

It also means the GC knows precisely where to look for the high-stakes items: whether the sub lists the GC as an additional insured, whether there is a waiver of subrogation, and whether the coverage is primary and non-contributory.

What are the limits of the ACORD 25?

The form carries explicit disclaimer language: the certificate is issued as a matter of information only, confers no rights on the certificate holder, and does not affirmatively or negatively amend, extend, or alter the coverage in the policies. Two practical takeaways follow:

• A checked “ADDL INSD” or “SUBR WVD” box is a flag, not proof—the actual endorsement form governs.
• The certificate reflects coverage as of its issue date only; a policy can be canceled or expire afterward, so certificates must be refreshed each term.

Common mistakes when reading an ACORD 25

Reviewers often trust the description box without checking the underlying endorsement, overlook an expiration date that has already passed, or miss that the umbrella limit doesn’t sit over the right underlying policy. Another frequent error is accepting an “ADDL INSD” checkbox without confirming whether the endorsement covers ongoing operations only or also completed operations (CG 20 37).

How does Wardly read ACORD 25 forms?

Wardlyingests each subcontractor’s ACORD 25, extracts the limits, dates, and endorsement flags, and compares them to the requirements you define—then assigns an A–F grade so you can see at a glance which certificates are compliant. Subs upload from a link with no login. Comparing platforms? See Certificial and the full comparison hub.

This is general information, not legal or insurance advice.