Tow Truck Certificate of Insurance: What to Check

What should a tow truck certificate of insurance include?

Before sending your certificate, check the following:

• Business name and address: Your legal name, any applicable DBA and address should match the relevant application or contract.
• Policy information: Check the insurers, policy numbers and coverage dates.
• Coverages and limits: Confirm the requested auto liability, general or garage liability, on-hook, garagekeepers and workers’ compensation coverage.
• Vehicles and locations: Include a vehicle schedule, storage address or other details when the recipient requires them.
• Certificate holder: Use the complete name and address supplied by the organization requesting proof.

A single certificate can show several policies. Check that every requested coverage appears with the correct insurer, limits, and dates.

Certificate holder vs. additional insured

A certificate holder receives proof of your insurance. An additional insured receives protection under your policy, to the extent provided by its terms or an endorsement. Listing an organization as the certificate holder doesn’t automatically make it an additional insured.

Requirements vary by organization. Agero’s published instructions request additional-insured status for general and auto liability, while HONK’s public guidance describes optional certificate-holder information. Use the instructions for the specific program you’re joining. See Agero insurance requirements and HONK certificate guidance.

Tell us about requests for an additional insured, a waiver, or cancellation notice before you need the certificate. The insurer may need to approve a change to your policy first.

How are on-hook and garagekeepers shown?

You may find on-hook or garagekeepers coverage in a separate section, the description of operations, or an attached schedule. Wherever it appears, the coverage name, limit, and any deductible shown need to match your policy.

If you store vehicles after a tow, check that the certificate includes the requested proof for both towing and storage. Legal-liability and direct-coverage options work differently, so the wording should accurately describe what you purchased.

Workers’ compensation on a towing certificate

Workers’ compensation and employers’ liability often appear together on a certificate. Check whether the employees and owners who need coverage are included. If you qualify for an exemption, confirm that the recipient accepts it for the work you’re taking on.

Ohio employers generally use the state workers’ compensation fund or approved self-insurance. For an Ohio operation, you may need separate BWC evidence and employers’ liability documentation. See the Ohio workers’ compensation requirements.

Illinois tow truck registration certificates

Illinois tow truck registration has specific certificate requirements. Your insured name and address must match the registration, each vehicle must be identified, and policy numbers need to be shown.

The state also has requirements for the certificate holder, issue date, expiration or continuous-coverage wording, and cancellation notice. Our Illinois requirements guide explains the checklist and affirmation forms. You can also read the official registration publication.

Can a certificate change your coverage?

No. A certificate reports the insurance you already have. Higher limits, new coverages, or endorsements must be approved and in effect before they can be shown on the certificate.

If a customer requires on-hook coverage that you don’t carry, ask us for a quote. Once the coverage is approved and effective, we can include it on your certificate. Texas Department of Insurance certificate guidance explains why the document must match the policy.

View a sample towing certificate guide

The sample guide includes an annotated insurance-evidence worksheet, an Illinois registration checklist, and a comparison of network requirements. Use it to see which details a recipient may request.

Open the educational certificate guide

Your agent or insurer will issue the actual certificate for your business. The sample can help you review the information before you submit your own documents.

How to request your towing insurance certificate

Send us the recipient’s full name and address, written insurance requirements, and deadline. Include the contract or job involved and any trucks or locations the certificate needs to identify.

We’ll check your policies and coordinate any required changes with the insurer. If the requested coverage and endorsements are already in place, preparing the certificate involves fewer steps. Requests that need insurer approval can take longer.

If you need insurance first, we can help you compare towing policies and prepare the certificate once your coverage is in place.

Get a Tow Truck Insurance Quote

Review network insurance requirements and towing insurance filings and authority.