ACORD 24: Certificate of Property Insurance Explained

ACORD 24 is the Certificate of Property Insurance, a standardized summary used to show a third party that a property policy exists. It identifies the policy and selected property coverage information for the certificate holder. The certificate does not replace the policy, add an interest to it, or guarantee that coverage will remain unchanged after the certificate date.

The practical question is who needs the document. Vertafore says ACORD 24 is most commonly issued for commercial accounts when a recipient wants to verify property coverage but has no direct interest in the policy.^[1] A party with a mortgage, lien, or other direct financial interest may instead request evidence that addresses that interest.

What does ACORD 24 show?

ACORD 24 carries a snapshot of selected policy information for property insurance. Agency software draws certificate data from client and policy records, then lets the producer select policies, holders, supplemental names, and other interests before previewing the certificate.^[2] Because those records can be outdated or selected incorrectly, compare the finished certificate with the current declarations before sending it.

The recipient should verify names, addresses, policy numbers, effective dates, and property limits relevant to the request. A complete-looking certificate can still be wrong if the underlying policy changed or the wrong location was selected.

How is ACORD 24 different from ACORD 27 and ACORD 28?

ACORD 24 is a certificate used to verify property coverage for a holder without a direct policy interest in the common workflow Vertafore describes. ACORD 27 is Evidence of Property Insurance, while ACORD 28 is Evidence of Commercial Property Insurance. Lenders and other secured parties often specify an evidence form because they need information about their interest in the insured property, not only a coverage snapshot.

Do not substitute one form merely because each concerns property insurance. Ask the requesting party which form and interest wording its agreement requires, then have the producer confirm that the underlying policy supports the request.

Does ACORD 24 create or change coverage?

No. ACORD states that it is not an insurance company and does not provide coverage.^[3] The California Department of Insurance describes the policy as the written contract between the insured and insurer, and its consumer guidance directs readers to the actual policy to determine coverage.^[4]

A certificate therefore cannot fix an incorrect named insured, add a lender's rights, or extend an expired term by itself. If a contract requires a mortgagee, loss payee, or other policy status, request the appropriate policy endorsement and confirm it on the issued policy.

Where can you get the official ACORD 24 form?

The ACORD Forms Portal provides current forms to eligible users after login.^[5] Businesses usually receive ACORD 24 from the agent or broker that issued the certificate through licensed agency software. This page is an original explanation and does not offer an unofficial blank form or reproduce ACORD's wording and layout.

The Bottom Line

ACORD 24 is a property insurance certificate for sharing selected policy information with a third party. Match it to current declarations, use the form the recipient actually requests, and look to the policy for coverage and legal interests.

This guide is for educational purposes and describes ACORD 24 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.