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Insurance June 2026 · 4 min read ✓ Reviewed for accuracy

What Does 'Additionally Insured' Mean on an Insurance Policy?

Informational only. This article does not constitute insurance, legal, or financial advice. Coverage terms vary by carrier, policy, and jurisdiction. Full disclaimer.

You just got a contract from a venue, a GC, or a property management company. They want to be "additionally insured" on your policy. You've never dealt with this before. Here's exactly what it means — in plain English.

Simple definition: An additionally insured is someone added to your insurance policy so that your coverage partially extends to them. If a claim arises from your work at their property, they have protection under your policy.

Why do clients and venues ask for this?

When you work on someone's property or at their venue, there's a chance that something you do could get them sued too. If a guest trips on your equipment at a wedding venue, both you and the venue could be named in a lawsuit.

By requiring you to add them as additionally insured, they're ensuring that:

Who typically asks for additional insured status?

How to add an additionally insured

  1. Log into your insurance carrier's online portal or app.
  2. Find your policy details and look for "Add Additionally Insured" — it's usually in the settings or COI section.
  3. Enter the organization's exact legal name and address as it appears in the contract.
  4. Download an updated Certificate of Insurance (COI) showing them listed.
  5. Email the COI to whoever requested it.
Tip: With most online carriers, adding an additional insured is free and takes about 2 minutes. Don't wait until the day of the job — some venues want the COI 48–72 hours in advance.

Does this cost me extra?

Usually no. Most standard GL policies allow you to add additional insureds at no extra charge, as many times as you need. A few specialty policies charge a small fee per additional insured. Check with your carrier.

Important: Make sure you use the exact legal name of the organization — not a nickname or DBA. If the name on the COI doesn't exactly match what's in the contract, the COI may be rejected.

What's the difference between additionally insured and certificate holder?

These are different things:

Certificate HolderAdditionally Insured
What it isGets notified if your policy changes or cancelsGets actual coverage protection under your policy
Protection levelNotification onlyCoverage for claims from your work
Who asks for itAnyone tracking your insuranceClients with direct liability exposure
Bottom line: When someone asks to be "additionally insured," it's a normal, professional request. It costs you nothing, takes 2 minutes, and is often required to do the work. Have your insurance in place before you need to respond to this request.
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Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and is not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Always verify specifics with a licensed professional in your state.