Additional Insured & Certificate of Insurance (COI)

Certificate of insurance (COI)

A COI is a snapshot venues use as proof you purchased the insurance they required. Send it as a PDF and confirm they accepted it - do not assume a silent inbox means approval.

Additional insured

When a venue is an additional insured, they are given certain insured status under your policy for liability arising out of your event, as defined by the endorsement and policy. That is why contracts say things like “Owner shall be named as additional insured.”

Practical tips

Use the venue’s legal name exactly as provided.
Include the mailing address they specify for the certificate holder.
If they want “primary and noncontributory” or “waiver of subrogation,” ask whether those can be provided for your policy.
Request the COI early; revisions happen.

Named insured vs. additional insured vs. certificate holder

Role	Who	Purpose
Named insured	You / hosting entity	Owns the policy
Additional insured	Venue, landlord, city	Shares defined protection under your policy
Certificate holder	Often the venue’s office	Receives the COI document

A party can be both certificate holder and additional insured.

How to request the right COI

Copy the insurance requirements from your contract.
Quote and purchase through The Event Helper.
Enter additional insured details carefully.
Download and email the COI to your venue contact.
Save confirmation that it was approved.

Broader context: Venue requirements & COI · When venues require insurance.

City and park certificates

For public property, the additional insured may be “City of ___” or a parks department entity. Festival and race organizers should budget time for municipal review. See festival & concert and sports & race.

Related guides

Appointed agent/affiliate of The Event Helper. Certificate wording follows carrier rules.