A Certificate of Currency (CoC) is a one-page document your insurer issues to confirm your policy is active. It shows your insured name, policy number, cover type, limit of liability, and expiry date. Head contractors, councils, and landlords request it before allowing site access. Obtaining one is typically free and takes minutes through your insurer or broker.
What Is a Certificate of Currency in Insurance?
It simply answers one question: is this policy active right now?
Requesters, head contractors, councils, and project owners, are not asking to read your full policy. They want a quick, reliable confirmation that cover exists before they allow you on site or sign a subcontract. The CoC gives them that in a single page.
The difference between a CoC, a Policy Schedule, and a PDS
A Policy Schedule is the document your insurer issues when a policy is first arranged or renewed. It sets out the specific terms of your cover: the insured name, the address, the premium, the excesses, and any endorsements or special conditions that apply to your policy. It is a detailed, binding record of what you and the insurer have agreed.
A Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) is a standardised document the insurer produces for all customers on a given product. It explains how the product works in general terms, what the cover does and does not include, and the conditions under which the policy responds. It is not specific to your policy.
A Certificate of Currency is issued on demand, reflects the current status of your policy, and is designed to be shared with third parties. It contains none of the sensitive pricing or excess detail found in a Policy Schedule. If a head contractor asks for your insurance documents, they almost always mean the CoC. Sending a PDS or a Policy Schedule instead is a common mistake that causes delays.
What Fields Must a Certificate of Currency Include?
Every field on a Certificate of Currency carries weight. A mismatch on any one of them can block your site access or void a contract requirement. The table below sets out the standard fields, what each one means, and what to check.
| Field | What It Shows | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Insured Name | The legal name of the policyholder | Must exactly match the legal entity named in your construction contract, not just a trading name |
| Policy Number | The unique identifier for this policy | Used to verify the certificate with the insurer if questioned |
| Cover Type | The class of insurance, e.g. Public Liability, Contract Works | Must match the cover type specified in the contract requirements |
| Limit of Liability | The maximum amount the insurer will pay per occurrence or in aggregate | Must meet or exceed the minimum limit stated in the contract |
| Policy Period | The start and expiry dates of the policy | The expiry date must fall after your expected project completion date |
| Insurer Name | The underwriting insurer | Confirms who is on risk; some contracts specify approved insurers |
| Date of Issue | When the CoC was generated | Requesters may ask for a recently issued certificate to confirm currency |
| Interested Party / Certificate Holder | A third party noted on the certificate | Head contractors or principals may require their name listed here |
The Insured Name field is the one that causes the most problems on building jobs. If your business operates as a company, the insured name must be the registered company name, not your trading name or your own name. If a contract is with "Smith Building Pty Ltd" and your CoC shows "John Smith Constructions," the head contractor has grounds to reject it.
The Limit of Liability field also deserves close attention. Limits vary significantly across policies and project types. A sample Allianz master policy for an entertainers group, for instance, carries a Public Liability limit of $30,000,000 per occurrence. That figure illustrates how widely limits can differ depending on the risk profile and the requirements of the principal. Your contract will specify a minimum, and your CoC must show a limit that meets it. Do not assume your existing limit is sufficient for every project without checking.
The Interested Party field is optional on some certificates but mandatory on others. Many head contractors and government principals require their organisation to be noted on your certificate. Confirm this requirement before you request the document.
Who Asks for a Certificate of Currency on a Building Job?
Several parties in a construction project may request a Certificate of Currency, and each one is checking for something slightly different.
Head contractors are the most common requester. Before they allow a subcontractor on site, they need to confirm that the subcontractor carries adequate cover, typically Public Liability insurance and, depending on the scope of work, Contract Works insurance. They are protecting themselves from being held liable for an incident caused by an uninsured subcontractor. Most head contractor subcontract agreements specify the cover types required, the minimum limits, and the requirement to be noted as an interested party.
Government councils and public authorities request CoCs when builders apply for development approvals, occupation certificates, or access to council-controlled land. Their requirements are set by internal policy and, in some cases, by state legislation. The specific thresholds and cover types required vary by state and by the type of work involved, so always check the relevant authority's requirements directly rather than assuming a standard limit will suffice.
Landlords and property owners ask for a CoC before allowing any building or renovation work on their property. A residential landlord commissioning a renovation and a commercial property owner engaging a fit-out contractor are both protecting themselves against property damage and injury claims that could arise during the works.
Project owners and principals on larger commercial or infrastructure projects often have the most detailed requirements. They may specify approved insurers, require minimum limits well above standard thresholds, and ask for the certificate to be updated at each policy renewal during the project.
All of these requesters are checking the same three things: that cover exists, that the limit is adequate for the risk, and that the legal entity on the certificate matches the entity they have contracted with.
How to Get a Certificate of Currency for Building Insurance
Follow these steps in order:
Review your construction contract to identify the specific insurance types and minimum cover limits required for the project. Head contractors and principals often specify the cover type, the minimum limit of liability, and whether they need to be noted as an interested party. Collect all of that detail before you contact your insurer or broker.
Collect your policy number and the full legal name and address of the party requesting the proof of insurance. If a head contractor needs to be noted on the certificate, you will need their registered entity name, not just a trading name or project name.
Access your insurer's online member portal, mobile application, or contact your insurance broker. Most major insurers provide a self-service portal where you can generate a CoC without calling anyone. If you do not have portal access, your broker can request the document on your behalf, usually within the same business day.
Input the requester's details into the Certificate Holder field and generate the document. If the contract requires the head contractor or principal to be noted as an interested party, enter their details here. Leaving this field blank when it is required is one of the most common reasons a certificate gets rejected on submission.
Download the PDF and verify that the Insured Name exactly matches the legal entity on your construction contract rather than just a trading name. If your business trades as "Smith Constructions" but is registered as "Smith Building Pty Ltd," the certificate must show the registered company name. A mismatch here is grounds for rejection.
Check that the policy period shown is current and that the expiry date occurs after your expected project completion date. If your policy expires before the project finishes, you will need to renew before submitting the certificate, or arrange a new certificate immediately after renewal.
Generating a CoC through an insurer portal is free in most cases, and there is no limit on how many times you can do it during a policy period. Some contracts require the certificate to have been issued within a specific timeframe, such as within 30 days of submission, so check before sending an older copy. If your insurer's portal does not support adding interested party details, contact your broker directly. Brokers with access to a broad panel of insurers can resolve formatting or endorsement issues faster than going back and forth with an insurer's customer service team.
How to Verify Your Certificate of Currency Before Submitting It
Run through this checklist before you hand over any certificate of currency. Catching an error yourself takes seconds. Having a head contractor reject it on site costs far more.
Legal entity name
Confirm the Insured Name on the certificate is the exact registered legal name of your business. Check it character by character against the contract. A missing "Pty Ltd," a slightly different spelling, or a trading name in place of the company name will all cause problems.
Policy period
Check that the policy start date has passed and the expiry date falls after your expected project completion date. If the project is likely to run long, build in a buffer. Renewing mid-project and reissuing the certificate is manageable, but it creates an administrative gap you do not need.
Cover type
Confirm the cover type shown on the certificate matches what the contract specifies. A Public Liability certificate does not satisfy a requirement for Contract Works cover. If the contract requires both, you need a separate certificate for each policy.
Limit of liability
Check that the limit shown meets or exceeds the minimum stated in the contract. Do not assume your standard limit is sufficient for every job. If the contract specifies a higher limit than your policy shows, you need to arrange additional cover before you submit.
Interested party details
If the contract requires the head contractor or principal to be noted on the certificate, confirm their details appear correctly in the Interested Party or Certificate Holder field. Check the spelling of their legal entity name against the contract.
Insurer name
Some contracts specify that cover must be placed with an insurer that holds a certain financial strength rating or is approved by the principal. Confirm the insurer shown on your certificate meets any such requirement.
Date of issue
If the contract specifies a maximum age for the certificate, check the date of issue. If your existing certificate is older than the permitted window, generate a new one before submitting.
A certificate that passes all seven checks is ready to submit. If any field fails, resolve it before the document leaves your hands.
What to Do When Your Certificate of Currency Has a Problem
Three problems come up repeatedly on building jobs. Each one has a clear path to resolution.
Name mismatch
If the Insured Name on your certificate does not match the legal entity on the contract, do not submit it hoping no one will notice. Contact your insurer or broker immediately and request a corrected certificate. If the mismatch exists because your policy was arranged under the wrong entity name, your broker will need to correct the policy record first, then reissue the certificate. This can usually be resolved within a day, but it requires action before site access is requested.
Expired policy
An expired certificate is not a CoC. It is a record that cover once existed. If your policy has lapsed, you need to renew it before you can obtain a valid certificate. Do not attempt to submit an expired certificate and hope the project completes before anyone checks. Head contractors and councils do check, and an expired certificate can expose you to personal liability for any incident that occurs while you are on site without valid cover.
If your policy is about to expire mid-project, arrange renewal early and request a new certificate as soon as the renewed policy is confirmed. Keep both the outgoing and incoming certificates so there is no question about continuity of cover.
Insurer refusing to note an interested party
Some insurers will not add an interested party or certificate holder to a certificate, or they will only do so under specific conditions. If this is blocking your site access, escalate to a broker rather than continuing to push with the insurer directly. A broker with access to a wide panel of insurers can either negotiate with the existing insurer or, if necessary, arrange a policy with an insurer whose standard certificate format meets the contract requirements. This is one of the clearest cases where working through a specialist broker, rather than direct, saves time on a live project.
How ABS Insurance Brokers Can Help Builders Stay Compliant
Working through a specialist broker becomes most valuable when a certificate issue threatens to hold up a live project. ABS Insurance Brokers is an Australian-owned insurance brokerage that sources and arranges specialist insurance policies for builders, construction businesses, and general commercial clients. When a contract requires an insurer format your current provider cannot produce, or when a name mismatch needs correcting before tomorrow's site start, a broker who knows construction can move faster than a general insurer's call centre. ABS works with builders to identify the right cover from the outset, so certificate requests, interested party endorsements, and mid-project renewals are handled as a matter of course rather than as emergencies.
FAQs
How much does a Certificate of Currency cost?
Obtaining a Certificate of Currency is free in most cases. Insurers do not charge to issue or reissue a CoC during an active policy period, and there is no limit on how many times you can request one. If you arrange your insurance through a broker, certificate requests are typically handled as part of the service at no additional cost. The only cost involved is the premium for the underlying policy itself.
How long is a Certificate of Currency valid for?
A Certificate of Currency reflects the status of your policy on the date it is issued. It does not have its own separate expiry date; it is valid as long as the underlying policy remains active. However, some contracts and principals require a certificate issued within a specific timeframe, such as within 30 days of submission. Always check the contract requirements and generate a fresh certificate if your existing copy is older than the permitted window.
Can a Certificate of Currency be emailed directly to a head contractor?
Yes. Most insurers and brokers issue the CoC as a PDF, which you can forward directly by email to a head contractor, council, or any other requester. Some insurer portals also allow you to enter a recipient's email address and send the document automatically at the time of generation. Confirm the head contractor's preferred method of receipt before submitting, as some principals require the certificate to come directly from the insurer or broker rather than from the subcontractor.
Is a Certificate of Currency the same as a Certificate of Insurance?
The two terms are often used interchangeably in Australia, and in practice they refer to the same type of document: a one-page confirmation that a policy is active. "Certificate of Insurance" is the more common term in North American contexts. In Australia, "Certificate of Currency" is the standard industry term. If a contract uses either phrase, treat them as equivalent and provide your CoC.
What happens if my Certificate of Currency expires mid-project?
If your policy expires before the project is complete, your CoC becomes invalid and you no longer have evidence of active cover. You need to renew the policy and request a new certificate before the expiry date, not after. Arrange renewal early, confirm the new policy period with your insurer or broker, and submit the updated certificate to the head contractor as soon as it is available. Keep both the outgoing and incoming certificates on file during the transition.
Do subcontractors need their own Certificate of Currency?
Yes. A subcontractor cannot rely on the head contractor's insurance to cover their own liability on site. Most subcontract agreements require each subcontractor to hold their own Public Liability insurance at a minimum, and often Contract Works cover depending on the scope of work. The head contractor will typically ask for the subcontractor's CoC before allowing them to start. If you engage subcontractors on your own projects, it is good practice to collect and file their certificates before work begins, and to check that their policy periods cover the full duration of their engagement. The guide on public liability insurance for builders covers how to structure and confirm that cover for individual projects.
Conclusion
A Certificate of Currency is a straightforward document, but the details on it matter precisely. The insured name, cover type, limit of liability, and expiry date all need to match the contract requirements before you submit. Getting any one of those fields wrong can block site access or create a gap in your compliance record.
Before your next project starts, pull your current CoC, run it through the seven-point checklist in this article, and confirm the policy period covers your expected completion date. If anything does not match, contact your insurer or broker before the certificate leaves your hands, not after a head contractor has already rejected it.
