Business insurance insights
Texas COIs and Blanket Additional Insured Endorsements: What to Request
In Texas, a certificate cannot name you as an additional insured when the policy has only a blanket endorsement. See what a Texas certificate may say, how Chapter 151 limits construction requirements, and what to ask for.
In Texas, when a policy contains only a blanket additional insured endorsement, the certificate of insurance may not name the certificate holder as an additional insured. It can state that the policy contains a blanket additional insured endorsement. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) gives this answer in its certificate FAQ, citing Texas Insurance Code §§1811.051(a), 1811.054 and 1811.152. The same rule applies to a blanket waiver of subrogation.
So in Texas, the document that shows whether you qualify is the endorsement, read with the written contract that meets its condition, not the certificate. The rule applies to certificates for property or casualty operations or risks located in Texas, wherever the certificate holder is (Texas Insurance Code §1811.002).
For the general difference between blanket and scheduled endorsements, and between a certificate holder and an additional insured, read our certificate holder vs. additional insured guide. This article covers only what is specific to Texas. To list what your contract asks for, use the COI & Contract Insurance Checklist.
What a Texas certificate may and may not say
Chapter 1811 of the Texas Insurance Code, added in 2011, controls the content of certificates for Texas risks. A certificate "shall not confer to a certificate holder new or additional rights beyond what the referenced policy or any executed endorsement of insurance provides" (§1811.153). TDI's FAQ applies that rule to common requests:
| Request | What TDI says a Texas certificate may do |
|---|---|
| Name the holder as additional insured under a blanket endorsement | Not name the holder; it may state that a blanket additional insured endorsement exists |
| Show a waiver of subrogation in the holder's favor under a blanket waiver | Not show it in the holder's favor; it may state that a blanket waiver endorsement exists |
| Check the ACORD "Additional Insured" box | Only if an endorsement names the certificate holder as an additional insured |
| Check the ACORD "Waiver of Subrogation" box | Only if a waiver endorsement names the certificate holder |
| Add officers, employees, subsidiaries and affiliates to the "Certificate Holder" box | The box may not be used to imply or confer rights beyond the policy or an executed endorsement (§1811.153) |
| Refer to the insurance requirements of a construction or service contract | Not allowed (§1811.154); a job or contract number for identification only is allowed |
| State that there are "no limitations or exclusions for residential construction exposure" | Only if the policy says exactly that |
| Complete a supplemental questionnaire or affidavit about the contract's insurance requirements | Not allowed; only approved certificates are permitted, though the agent may show the relevant policy language |
TDI also confirms that Chapter 1811 does not stop an agent or insurer from providing a copy of the policy or endorsements. That is the document to ask for.
Which form, who issues it, and the penalties
Texas law requires a TDI-approved certificate form for a risk located in Texas, regardless of where the certificate holder is (§1811.052(b), as explained in the FAQ). A standard form from ACORD, AAIS or ISO is deemed approved when filed (§1811.103), and TDI's list of approved certificates includes ACORD 25 (2016/03) and a 2025 ACORD 25 filing.
When an insured headquartered in Texas needs a certificate for its operations in another state, issued to a holder in that state, TDI says a Texas-approved form is not required.
The agent who issues the certificate must hold an appointment with the insurer or managing general agent that issues the policy (TDI FAQ, citing Insurance Code §4001.201). Penalties for violating Chapter 1811 include cease-and-desist orders, administrative penalties and civil penalties of up to $1,000 for each infraction. TDI says these can apply to certificate holders as well as agents and insurers, and §1811.054 bars anyone from requiring a certificate that contains false or misleading information about the policy.
Construction contracts: Chapter 151 limits additional insured requirements
Texas also limits what a construction contract can require. Under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 151, in effect since January 1, 2012:
- A provision that requires one party to indemnify, hold harmless or defend another against a claim caused by the other party's own negligence or fault is void and unenforceable to that extent (§151.102).
- A contract provision requiring additional insured coverage, or an endorsement providing it, is void and unenforceable "to the extent that it requires or provides coverage the scope of which is prohibited" for an indemnity agreement (§151.104).
- The limits do not apply to claims for bodily injury or death of the indemnitor's own employees, or those of its agent or subcontractor (§151.103).
- They also do not apply to a single family house, townhouse, duplex or related land development, or to a public works project of a municipality, among other listed exclusions (§151.105). The parties cannot waive the chapter by contract (§151.151).
In practice, a Texas construction contract may ask for broader additional insured protection than Texas law allows. Ask your agent how the endorsement on your policy applies to Texas construction work, and ask a construction lawyer how Chapter 151 affects the contract you are signing.
What to request before you sign
| Document | Why you need it in Texas |
|---|---|
| The blanket additional insured endorsement, with form number and edition | The certificate can only say it exists. The endorsement shows who qualifies and for what work. |
| The signed written contract | If the endorsement's condition is a written contract, keep the signed version with the endorsement. |
| The blanket waiver of subrogation endorsement, if the contract asks for a waiver | The certificate can say a blanket waiver exists, not that it names you. |
| Confirmation of the certificate wording | Ask the agent what the remarks will say about blanket endorsements, so the contract's administrator expects it. |
| Any notice endorsement | Texas grants notice only where the policy, an endorsement or a law requires it. See Can a COI promise 30 days' cancellation notice? |
If your customer insists on a certificate that names it as an additional insured, the policy needs an endorsement that names it; a different certificate cannot do it. Ask your agent whether the insurer will add one and what it changes.
Next steps
Read the Texas business insurance guide for other state rules, and the general liability coverage page for how additional insured coverage fits the policy. Contractors can find wider project checks in business insurance for contractors. If you want PolicyBenchmark to follow up about your coverage, request coverage help.
Sources checked October 3, 2026. These are Texas rules for Texas risks; outside Texas, ask that state's insurance department.
About this article
- Published by
- PolicyBenchmark Editorial Team
- Published
- Updated
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute insurance advice. Always consult with a licensed insurance professional before making coverage decisions.