A certificate of currency is a one-page summary from an insurer confirming that a policy exists, who it covers, what it covers and when it expires. It is not the policy itself, and it is not a guarantee that a particular claim will be paid — but it is the document that gets you through the gate.
What It Actually Shows
- The insured entity name and ABN.
- The class of cover — for example public and products liability, contract works, motor, or plant and equipment.
- The limit of liability or sum insured.
- The period of insurance, with start and expiry dates.
- The insurer and policy number.
- Sometimes, interested parties or a description of the business activities covered.
Why the Entity Name Matters More Than People Expect
The most common reason a certificate is rejected is that the name on it does not match the name on the contract. If you tender as a trustee company, work through a related entity, or trade under a business name, the certificate needs to reflect that structure. Getting it wrong can stall a start date over a technicality.
What a Principal Contractor Checks
Site inductions and procurement teams generally look for four things: current dates, a limit at or above the contract requirement, an activity description that plainly includes the work you are doing, and the correct legal entity. Some contracts additionally require a principal’s indemnity extension or that they be noted as an interested party.
The Limits People Get Asked For
Public liability requirements commonly sit at $10 million or $20 million for civil and construction work, with lower limits accepted for lighter trades. If a head contract asks for more than your policy carries, the limit can usually be increased mid-term rather than waiting for renewal.
How to Get One Quickly
If your cover is in place, a certificate is usually a same-day request through your broker. To avoid delay, have ready:
- The exact legal entity name and ABN the certificate must be issued to.
- The class or classes of cover required, and the limit.
- Any party that must be noted, and the wording they have asked for.
- The site or project name, if it needs to appear.
Keep Them Current Without Thinking About It
Certificates expire with the policy, which means every renewal quietly invalidates every copy you have handed out. It is worth keeping a list of who holds one and re-issuing at renewal, particularly on long projects, so nobody is stood down mid-job.
Certificate of Currency vs the Policy Schedule
These two documents get confused constantly. The schedule is the document that sets out your cover in full — sections, limits, excesses, endorsements and exclusions. The certificate is a summary issued for third parties, and it deliberately does not include the detail.
That distinction matters when a contract asks you to “provide evidence of insurance”. A certificate satisfies most requests. Where a principal wants to verify a specific extension — principal’s indemnity, waiver of subrogation, cross liability — they may ask for a confirmation letter or the relevant endorsement instead. Sending the full schedule to a third party is rarely necessary and discloses more than you need to.
What to Do Before You Sign the Contract
- Read the insurance clause and list every class and limit it requires.
- Check the required period — some contracts require cover to continue after completion, particularly for products and professional indemnity.
- Look for extensions that are not automatic: principal’s indemnity, cross liability, waiver of subrogation, noting of interested parties.
- Confirm the legal entity that will sign is the entity insured.
- Send the clause to your broker before signing, not after mobilisation.
Almost every insurance dispute on a project traces back to a clause that was signed without being read. Our guide to subcontractor insurance requirements covers the clauses that come up most.
Keeping a Register
On any business with more than a handful of contracts, a simple register saves a great deal of chasing: who holds a certificate, for which project, which classes were required, and when each policy renews. Set a reminder thirty days before each renewal and re-issue in a batch. It takes an hour a year and it stops a start date being lost to a document.
Common Questions
Is a certificate of currency proof I am covered for this job?
It is proof the policy exists on the day it was issued. Whether a particular activity is covered comes down to the policy terms, which is worth checking before you sign a contract that describes work you do not normally do.
Can I get one for workers compensation?
Yes — that one is issued by the relevant scheme or insurer in your state rather than by a broker, and it is commonly requested alongside liability.
What if the contract wording asks for something my policy does not do?
Tell your broker before signing. Waivers of subrogation, principal’s indemnity and cross-liability clauses can often be arranged, but not retrospectively.
Need One Today?
Get in touch or call 1300 983 940 and we will have it issued and checked against the contract wording.
General advice only. This article does not take your objectives, financial situation or needs into account. Consider the relevant PDS and Target Market Determination before deciding on a policy.