Insurance Verification: What Clients Should Ask For
A certificate of insurance is easy to fake and easy to misunderstand. Here's what clients should actually verify before hiring.
"I have insurance" is not the same as "I'm insured for your job." Clients who skip verification absorb the risk the pilot was supposed to carry.
Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI)
A COI is a one-page document from the pilot's broker showing coverage types, limits, and policy dates. It's the standard proof — not a business card claim.
Check the coverage limits
General liability limits vary. For most commercial work, $1M is a reasonable floor; construction and government-adjacent jobs often require $2M or more. Match the limit to the job's risk.
Request additional insured status
For larger jobs, ask to be listed as an additional insured on the policy. This gives you direct access to the coverage if something goes wrong, rather than depending on the pilot to file.
Verify it's current
Policies lapse. A COI from last year doesn't cover today's job. Check the policy effective dates and request a fresh COI for long projects.
Takeaways
- Require a current COI, not a verbal claim.
- Match liability limits to the job's risk level.
- For larger jobs, get additional insured status.
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