ACORD 25 Form: Download PDF & Step-by-Step Guide

Updated June 2026 · Reviewed by the Eduyush editorial team

What is an ACORD 25 form?

Construction, real estate, and many other industries require it as part of the contract process. For the wider family of forms, see what are ACORD insurance forms, and for the document in general, the certificate of insurance guide.

Current version: ACORD 25 (2025/12)

The current edition is the ACORD 25 (2025/12), which replaced the long-running 2016/03 version. Besides a refreshed copyright and a reformatted coverages grid, it made one change worth understanding before you rely on a certificate.

What an ACORD 25 does not do

The certificate is powerful as proof, but it has firm limits. An ACORD 25:

• Does not create coverage — it reports the policy; it does not grant any insurance.
• Does not modify or amend coverage — it cannot change policy terms.
• Does not replace the policy — the policy and its endorsements control what is actually covered.
• Does not guarantee a claim will be paid — coverage still depends on the policy's terms and conditions.
• Does not create additional insured rights by itself — those come from an endorsement on the policy, not from the certificate.

This is why the form states it is issued for information only and confers no rights on the certificate holder.

Who needs an ACORD 25 form?

Any business asked to prove liability coverage before starting work — contractors, vendors, tenants, consultants, and service providers. The quickest test is to match it to your situation:

ACORD 25 form PDF (template)

You can download the sample ACORD 25 template (2016-03 edition) to see the fields. Your agent generates and signs the live 2025/12 form from your actual policies.

How to fill out an ACORD 25 form, step by step

The form also carries a Certificate Number and Revision Number at the top, used to track certificates and identify an amended certificate that replaces an earlier one.

ACORD 25 example

A simplified example of how the key fields are completed:

What to check when you receive an ACORD 25

If you are the one requesting a certificate from a contractor or vendor, verify these before work begins:

• The named insured matches your contractor or vendor's exact legal name.
• The policy dates are current — not expired or not yet effective.
• The limits meet your contract's requirements (and remember they may reflect only the amounts requested).
• The additional insured box is supported by an actual endorsement — ask to see it, don't rely on the checkbox.

ACORD 25 red flags

Treat any of these as a reason to pause and request a corrected certificate:

• Expired or mismatched policy dates.
• Wrong legal business name for the insured.
• Missing or incorrect certificate holder.
• Coverage limits below your contract requirements.
• Additional insured shown but not backed by an endorsement.
• Missing authorised representative signature.

ACORD 25 vs ACORD 35

ACORD 25 vs certificate of insurance

People often use these interchangeably, but one is a specific form and the other is a category:

Best practices for submitting

• Submit before the requesting party's deadline so it does not hold up the project.
• Confirm any required endorsements (additional insured, waiver of subrogation) are actually on the policy.
• Keep a copy of every issued certificate for your records.
• Send an updated certificate whenever policies renew or change, to avoid a gap in proof of coverage.

Frequently asked questions

Get your ACORD 25 right the first time

An accurate, current ACORD 25 protects your business relationships and keeps you compliant. Request it early, check every field, and re-issue it whenever your policies change.