ACORD 23 is the Vehicle or Equipment Certificate of Insurance. It reports insurance information about identified vehicles or equipment to a certificate holder as of the issue date. Like other certificates, it does not create coverage, change policy terms, or guarantee that insurance will remain in force for a contract's full duration.
When is ACORD 23 used?
Vertafore identifies ACORD 23 as the Vehicle or Equipment Certificate of Insurance and provides it as a selection within its property-certificate workflow.[1] Its release documentation also lists the same title and an integrated form edition.[2]
A lender, lessor, rental company, project owner, or other party may request it when a business must show insurance associated with a vehicle or piece of equipment. The certificate should reflect actual policy data, not simply copy every phrase in a contract.
What should be checked on ACORD 23?
Confirm the named insured, insurer, policy number, effective and expiration dates, covered property description, coverage and limits, certificate holder, and any stated interest. Match identifiers exactly. A transposed VIN or equipment serial number can make the evidence ambiguous even when the policy is otherwise correct.
Then distinguish the certificate holder from any policy-recognized interest. A lender or owner may require loss-payee or lender's-loss-payable treatment. That status must come from the policy or an endorsement. It is not created merely by typing the party's name in a certificate field.
Does ACORD 23 guarantee payment after a loss?
No. Claim payment depends on the policy, covered cause of loss, covered property, valuation, deductible, exclusions, conditions, and the party's insured or loss-payee status. ACORD itself does not provide coverage or process claims.[3]
If the certificate conflicts with the policy, the policy controls. Ask the producer to correct inaccurate evidence and obtain the applicable endorsement when a contract requires a particular interest. Do not alter a certificate after issuance.
Where can you get the official ACORD 23?
Eligible users can search for current licensed forms in the ACORD Forms Portal after login.[4] The producer responsible for the policy should issue the certificate from verified insurer records. This guide is not an official certificate or blank form.
Frequently asked questions
Is ACORD 23 proof that every listed item is covered
It reports information from the cited policy. Verify each vehicle or equipment identifier and review the policy schedule and endorsements because the policy determines coverage.
Does a certificate holder receive cancellation notice
Not automatically in every case. Notice rights depend on the policy, endorsement, applicable law, and the party's recognized interest. Ask for the actual provision that supports the requirement.
The Bottom Line
ACORD 23 communicates vehicle or equipment insurance information. Match the property identifiers and policy details carefully, distinguish certificate-holder status from an endorsed interest, and resolve discrepancies through the insurer or producer. The certificate is useful evidence, but it cannot rewrite the policy.
This guide is for educational purposes and describes ACORD 23 in original language. Form numbers and titles are cited for identification only, and Menlo Insurance Services is not affiliated with ACORD Corporation. The policy and endorsements control.
References
- 1.Vertafore. “Certificate of Property Insurance.” Accessed September 2026. https://help.vertafore.com/AMS360/content/contextsensitive/acordforms/afcertprop.htm ↩
- 2.Vertafore. “ACORD Forms Updated in AMS360 2017 R1.” Accessed September 2026. https://help.vertafore.com/AMS360/content/releasenotes/v2016r2_to_2017r1/forms_updated_in_ams360_2017_r1.pdf ↩
- 3.ACORD. “Contact Us: Important Note About Insurance Claims.” Accessed September 2026. https://www.acord.org/ACORD-about/contact-us ↩
- 4.ACORD. “Forms Portal.” Accessed September 2026. https://formsportal.acord.org/Home ↩