# Certificate of insurance

Source: https://storiara.com/glossary/certificate-of-insurance
Last updated: 2026-09-14
Author: Spencer Kaufman, Storiara

> A certificate of insurance, or COI, is a document issued by a production's insurance broker that summarizes the production's policies, policy numbers, coverage limits, and dates. Film offices, location owners, and equipment rental houses ask for one, often naming them as additional insured or loss payee, before they grant a permit, access, or gear.

## What's printed on one

In the US most certificates use the ACORD 25 form. A production's certificate for a city permit would look roughly like this:

```
PRODUCER: Long Drive Productions LLC
INSURER A: (carrier name)      INSURER B: (carrier name)
COMMERCIAL GENERAL LIABILITY   Policy GL-000000   3/1 to 4/30
   Each occurrence $1,000,000    General aggregate $2,000,000
AUTOMOBILE LIABILITY (hired/non-owned)   Combined single limit $1,000,000
WORKERS COMPENSATION   Statutory limits
MISC: Third-party property damage (rented equipment) $500,000
DESCRIPTION: Filming "THE LONG DRIVE" at 1140 Alvarado St, 3/8 to 3/11.
   City of Los Angeles and FilmLA are named as additional insured.
CERTIFICATE HOLDER: City of Los Angeles, c/o FilmLA
```

The limits above are an example, not a recommendation. The holder sets the minimums.

## Who asks for one, and what they want

| Requester | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Film permit office | Liability at the office's minimum, with the city named. The City of Los Angeles, through FilmLA, lists $1,000,000 for motion picture filming, with the City and FilmLA added as additional insured ([FilmLA](https://info.filmla.com/area-requirements/area-requirements-city-of-los-angeles)). New York City's film office also requires insurance for permitted shoots. |
| Location owner | Liability naming the owner as additional insured, per the [location agreement](https://storiara.com/glossary/location-agreement) |
| Rental house | Coverage for rented equipment with the house as loss payee |
| Vehicle rental or picture car owner | Auto coverage, sometimes physical damage on the vehicle |

## Mistakes coordinators make

The standard ACORD 25 states that the certificate is for information only and doesn't change the policy. So a certificate that lists a party as additional insured without the matching endorsement on the policy may not protect them. Ask your broker to confirm the endorsement exists.

Other common problems: requesting the certificate a day before the permit deadline (FilmLA wants three business days to process City of LA location permits), a holder name that doesn't match exactly what the location or city asked for, and policy dates that end before a pickup day. Keep a log of every COI issued, with holder, date, and location.

## Where it fits

The [production coordinator](https://storiara.com/roles/production-coordinator) usually requests certificates and tracks them. A COI goes out with nearly every [film permit](https://storiara.com/glossary/film-permit) application and many [location releases](https://storiara.com/glossary/location-release). For city-specific requirements, read the [Los Angeles film permit guide](https://storiara.com/blog/film-permit-los-angeles) and the [New York City film permit guide](https://storiara.com/blog/film-permit-new-york-city).

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I get a certificate of insurance for a film shoot?

You buy a production insurance policy (short-term or annual) through a broker who handles entertainment insurance, then ask the broker for a certificate naming the specific holder. Brokers usually turn certificates around within a business day once the policy is bound.

### What does additional insured mean?

It extends the production's liability coverage to the named party (a city, a location owner) for claims arising from the production's work. The certificate shows it, but the actual extension comes from an endorsement to the policy.

### Do I need a COI to rent camera equipment?

Rental houses generally require proof of coverage for rented equipment, with the rental house named as loss payee, before releasing gear. Without it they may ask for a large deposit or refuse the rental.

## Sources

- [FilmLA Area Requirements: City of Los Angeles](https://info.filmla.com/area-requirements/area-requirements-city-of-los-angeles)
- [NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment: When a permit is required](https://www.nyc.gov/site/mome/permits/when-permit-required.page)