What a Certificate of Insurance Must Show
If someone asked you to send a certificate of insurance (COI), you need to show proof that your landscaping business has a workers' compensation policy. A COI is a short document that shows you have coverage. It is not the full policy, but it gives the most important facts in a simple way.
Here’s what a COI for a landscaper must show:
- The name of the insurance company
- The policy number
- What kind of coverage it is (workers' compensation)
- How much coverage is in place (the limits)
- When the coverage starts and ends (the dates)
You give the COI to the person who asked you for it. They check it to make sure you have the right kind of coverage in place.
What the Certificate Doesn't Show
The COI is not the full insurance policy. It leaves out important details, like:
- What the policy does not cover (exclusions)
- Special rules about how the policy works (conditions)
- Who is covered (in most cases, the owner is not included in a ghost policy)
If you want to know all the details of your policy, you need to look at the full policy documents. The certificate is just a quick way to prove you have coverage in place.
Why a Certificate is Needed for Landscapers
Landscapers are asked for a certificate of insurance because they work on job sites, often for clients or property owners. These people want to know that if someone gets hurt while working, there is insurance to help pay for medical bills and other costs.
Even if you work alone, the person asking for the certificate still wants to see proof. It shows you are responsible and that you are following the rules in your state.
Some places, like cities, neighborhoods, or property owners, may require a certificate. It helps them make sure you are covered before you start the job.
How to Get Your Certificate of Insurance
To get a certificate of insurance, you first need to buy a workers' compensation policy. This is a policy that covers injuries on the job. You can get your quote and buy a policy online in minutes.
- Start your quote and tell us about your landscaping work.
- We will give you a real price for your state and the kind of work you do.
- Once you buy the policy, you get the certificate of insurance right away. You can download it or print it.
You can share the certificate with anyone who asked for it. It shows your business is covered.
What a Certificate Shows for a Landscaper
As a landscaper, your certificate will show that you have workers' compensation for landscaping work. It will also show how much coverage you have. For example, it may show how much the policy pays for medical bills or lost time from work.
The certificate will mention the class code used for landscaping in your state. A class code is a number that helps decide the price of the policy. This number may be different in other states. You can learn more about class codes.
The certificate does not show if the owner is covered. By default, a ghost policy does not cover the owner. If you want to be covered, you must choose to include yourself. This is called an owner inclusion election. It costs more, but you can choose it when you get your quote.
What to Do Next
If you were asked to send a certificate, the fastest way to get one is to buy a workers' compensation policy. This shows you are prepared and meets the requirements of the person asking.
Click get your quote in minutes to get your quote. It takes only a few minutes and shows the real price for your business. You can start right away and get the certificate you need to send to the person who asked for it.
More About Certificates and Landscapers
Some people may ask for a certificate even if your state doesn’t require workers' comp. This is because they want to be safe. Always check with the person asking to make sure you understand what they need.
Remember, the certificate proves that your business has coverage. It does not prove that you, the owner, are covered. If you want to be covered, you must choose owner inclusion when you buy the policy. This is a separate choice and it costs more.
Once you have the certificate, you can share it with the person who asked for it. You can also keep a copy for your records. This can be helpful if you need to show proof of coverage again in the future.
