Certificate of Insurance in Florida
A certificate of insurance is a one page summary that shows a business has a policy; it does not change the policy. Here is what one shows, what it does not change and how to check it.
Facts checked Oct. 20, 2026 against Florida law, the state rules and the Division of Workers' Compensation.
What a certificate of insurance is
Your agent or insurance company gives it to you. It shows that a policy exists, with its dates and limits. People ask for one before you start a job or sign a lease.
Florida's workers comp rule is one example. It says a certificate must show the insurance company and the policy number. It must also show the limits and the policy dates.
Source: Florida Administrative Code, Rule 69L-6.032(2) , checked Oct. 20, 2026.
Need a certificate for a job? Need an additional insured or a waiver?
A licensed, independent Florida insurance agent can help you get it.
What a certificate shows
For workers comp, the state rule lists what a certificate must show when a contractor relies on it:
- The agent's name, address and phone
- The name of the insurance company
- The sub, shown as the one insured
- The policy number, or the binder number
- How much it pays for workers comp and for employers liability
- A signature from a person who has the right to sign
- Policy dates that cover the work dates
Source: Florida Administrative Code, Rule 69L-6.032(2) , checked Oct. 20, 2026.
The rule also asks for the agent or insurance company to confirm it in writing.
Source: Florida Administrative Code, Rule 69L-6.032(2) , checked Oct. 20, 2026.
What a certificate does not change
A certificate does not add coverage or change the terms. The policy is what counts. The certificate only reports it.
Florida has a law on unfair trade practices. It covers a certificate that is changed after it is issued so it misstates the policy. It applies to property and casualty ones.
Source: Florida Statutes, s. 626.9541(1)(a) , checked Oct. 20, 2026.
Additional insured requests
Only the policy can add someone as an additional insured. That is done with an endorsement, which is a change to the policy. A certificate can only report it. Ask your agent if your policy allows it and if it costs more.
Waiver of subrogation: what it means
Say someone else causes a work injury. Florida law gives the employer or workers comp carrier a lien on what the worker gets from that party. It is generally up to 100 percent of what the carrier paid.
Source: Florida Statutes, s. 440.39(3)(a) , checked Oct. 20, 2026.
A waiver of subrogation is a policy endorsement. With it, the carrier gives up that right against a named party, often the one that holds your certificate. Ask your agent for it. It is added to the policy, not to the certificate.
Certificates for Florida contractors
Florida law says a contractor must get proof of workers comp from each sub. A copy of the officer's exemption also counts.
Source: Florida Statutes, s. 440.10(1)(c) , checked Oct. 20, 2026.
Say a sub has no coverage. The Division says the sub's workers then become the contractor's employees for workers comp.
Source: Florida Division of Workers' Compensation, Coverage Requirements; Florida Statutes, s. 440.10(1)(b) , checked Oct. 20, 2026.
At a workers comp audit, the auditor looks at the certificates you got from your subs. The state rule says so.
Source: Florida Administrative Code, Rule 69O-189.003 , checked Oct. 20, 2026.
How to check a certificate
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Match the name on it to the business you hired.
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Check that the policy dates cover the work dates. For workers comp, the state rule asks for that.
Source: Florida Administrative Code, Rule 69L-6.032(2) , checked Oct. 20, 2026.
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Check the limits against what you asked for.
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Call the agent or insurance company listed on it to confirm. Do not use a number the sub gives you.
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For workers comp, look up the policy or exemption on the Division's site. The state rule says a contractor may keep a screen print from the Division's proof of coverage database. The policy's information page also works. Either can take the place of a certificate.
Source: Florida Administrative Code, Rule 69L-6.032(2)(b) , checked Oct. 20, 2026.
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Does the job run past the date the policy or exemption ends? Then the state rule says the contractor must get new proof.
Source: Florida Administrative Code, Rule 69L-6.032 , checked Oct. 20, 2026.
Other places a certificate counts
Florida law says drivers must carry proof of car insurance. A certificate of insurance is one kind of proof that counts.
Source: Florida Statutes, s. 316.646 , checked Oct. 20, 2026.
You can use one to register a commercial vehicle too. FLHSMV takes a certificate of liability insurance. It has to show the policy number, what it covers and the VIN.
Source: FLHSMV procedure RS-33, revised Dec. 12, 2019 , checked Oct. 20, 2026.
Companies that sell business insurance
To get a certificate, you first need a policy. These companies on our list sell general liability or workers comp in Florida. We went by their own sites:
- NEXT InsuranceSells general liability. Source: NEXT Insurance Florida page , checked Oct. 20, 2026.
- SummitSells workers' comp. Source: Summit's site , checked Oct. 20, 2026.
See all of the ones we track on our list of Florida commercial insurance companies.
Questions people ask about certificates of insurance
What is a certificate of insurance?It is a one page summary that shows a business has a policy, with its dates and limits.
It does not change the policy. For workers comp, Florida's rule lists what it must show, like the insurance company, the policy number, the limits and the policy dates.
Source: Florida Administrative Code, Rule 69L-6.032(2), checked Oct. 20, 2026.
How do I get a certificate of insurance?Ask your agent or insurance company to issue one.
Tell them who needs it and for what job.
Does being on a certificate make me an additional insured?No.
Only the policy can add an additional insured. That takes an endorsement. A certificate can only report it. Florida's unfair trade practices law covers a certificate that is changed so that it misstates the policy.
Source: Florida Statutes, s. 626.9541(1)(a), checked Oct. 20, 2026.
What is a waiver of subrogation?Say someone else causes a work injury.
Florida law gives the workers comp carrier a lien on what the worker gets from that party. A waiver of subrogation is a policy endorsement. With it, the carrier gives up that right against a named party. Ask your agent to add it to the policy.
Source: Florida Statutes, s. 440.39(3)(a), checked Oct. 20, 2026.
Do Florida contractors need certificates from subcontractors?Yes.
Florida law says a contractor must get proof of workers comp from each sub. A copy of the officer's exemption also counts. If a sub has no coverage, their workers become the contractor's employees.
Source: Florida Statutes, s. 440.10(1)(b) and (c); Florida Division of Workers' Compensation, Coverage Requirements, checked Oct. 20, 2026.
How do I check if a Florida business has workers comp?Look it up on the state's Division of Workers' Compensation site.
The state rule says a contractor may keep a screen print from their proof of coverage database. That can take the place of a certificate.
Source: Florida Administrative Code, Rule 69L-6.032(2)(b), checked Oct. 20, 2026.
Can someone change a certificate after it is issued?Florida has a law on unfair trade practices.
It covers a certificate that is changed after it is issued, so that it misstates the policy. Need a change? Ask the agent or insurance company for a new certificate.
Source: Florida Statutes, s. 626.9541(1)(a), checked Oct. 20, 2026.
Need a certificate or a policy for a job?
One call. A licensed agent shops other companies for you, free.