Certificate of insurance for filming
What locations and the city ask for, and how to get the certificate right the first time.
What a COI is
A certificate of insurance is a one-page summary from your broker that proves your production carries insurance. Locations ask for it before load-in. The city asks for one before it issues a film permit.
What locations usually ask for
- General liability with a per-occurrence limit set by the location.
- Additional insured wording naming the building owner, the managing agent and the location operator, exactly as they spell it.
- Workers' compensation for your crew, and sometimes auto liability if production vehicles come on site.
- Equipment or property damage coverage if you are bringing heavy gear or touching finishes.
What the city asks for
For a NYC film permit, MOME asks for commercial general liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence in the name of the entity requesting the permit. The Description of Operations box should read: "The City of New York, including its officials and employees, is additional insured." The certificate holder is The City of New York c/o Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, 1697 Broadway, Suite 602, New York, NY 10019. Workers' compensation and disability and paid family leave coverage may also be required.
How to avoid a held-up load-in
- Ask the location for its COI requirements when you hold the date, not the day before.
- Send the requirements to your broker word for word. Most rejected certificates have a misspelled additional insured.
- Ask the location to confirm in writing that the certificate is accepted.
When you book through us, we send the building's exact requirements with your confirmation and check the certificate before your call time.
Questions
Who do I name as additional insured?
Do photo shoots need a COI?
Want us to handle it?
Tell us the shoot. We match the location and sort the paperwork with the building.