A general contractor asks to be "added to your policy." What they mean matters, because "certificate holder" and "additional insured" are not the same — and giving the wrong one can cost you the contract.
The party that receives a copy of your certificate of insurance — proof the policy exists. That's it. Being a certificate holder gives them no coverage under your policy; it just tells them you're insured and that they'll be notified if it cancels.
An actual extension of your coverage to the other party. If a claim arises out of your work, your policy can defend and pay them too. This is what most GCs and property owners actually require in the contract — and it usually takes an endorsement added to your policy, sometimes for a small fee.
The contract language — "name us as additional insured" — is a coverage requirement, not a paperwork request. Send a certificate listing them only as certificate holder and a sharp risk manager will bounce it, and you're not starting Monday. See our contractor insurance page, and our article on getting a COI fast.
Some contracts also require "completed operations" additional insured — coverage that survives after the job is done. Read the insurance clause, and give your agent the actual contract, not a guess.
One caution: additional insured status can raise your own exposure. Get the endorsement the contract requires — not a blanket "everyone" grant you didn't intend.
Send it over — we'll issue the certificate and any endorsements exactly the way the contract requires.
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