Carrier certificate of insurance: what to check
Updated 2026-10-25
A certificate of insurance is easy to fake and easy to misread. These checks take a few minutes and catch most problems before a claim does.
On the certificate
- The named insured matches the carrier's legal name exactly
- The policy dates cover the whole move
- Automobile liability meets your contract and the province's minimum (higher for dangerous goods)
- The cargo limit covers the value of this load
- You are listed as certificate holder, and as additional insured if your contract requires it
- The insurer and the agent or broker are named with their own contact details
Exclusions that bite
Read the cargo form for exclusions that match your freight: unattended-vehicle theft, reefer breakdown, specific commodities, or a per-load cap lower than the policy limit.
Confirm it at the source
Call the agent or insurer on a number you find yourself and ask them to confirm the policy is in force and to send the certificate directly. Ask to be notified of cancellation. HaulProof alerts you when a monitored carrier's filed insurance is cancelled.
General information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the province concerned.