COIs and Insurance for Designer Furniture Deliveries

Doorman buildings, country clubs, and most high-rises won't let a truck approach without a COI on file. Here's what interior designers should know about the certificates of insurance their receiver should be producing routinely.

What a COI is

A certificate of insurance is a document showing that a contractor (in this case, your receiver / delivery crew) carries specific insurance coverage. Buildings use it to make sure you're covered if something goes wrong during a delivery.

What's typically required

General liability. Usually $1M–$2M per occurrence.
Workers' compensation. Required in almost every state for anyone bringing crew on site.
Auto liability. Coverage on the delivery vehicle.
Additional insured. The building, the management company, and sometimes the client are listed as additional insured.

What "additional insured" means

It means the entity is covered under your contractor's policy for the specific job. Buildings care about this because it means their insurance isn't the first stop if something goes wrong.

How to get a COI without a fire drill

Send your receiver the building's COI requirements as far ahead of the install as you can — 2-3 weeks is comfortable, a few days is usually workable. Include the exact language for additional insureds, coverage minimums, and the certificate holder's name and address.

What Pope's does

COIs are routine. Send us the requirements, we issue one that meets them. Doorman buildings, historic co-ops, high-end country clubs — we've done all of it. See our full FAQ.