> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://watchmycover.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Endorsements and evidence levels

> Additional insured, waiver of subrogation and primary & non-contributory, and why a ticked box on a certificate is recorded as a statement rather than proof.

Most construction subcontracts require three endorsements on the subcontractor's policies. A template can require any of them on any coverage.

| Endorsement                    | What it does for you                                                                       | General liability   | Auto     | Workers' comp |
| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------- | -------- | ------------- |
| **Additional insured**         | Extends the subcontractor's policy to cover you as well, so their insurer defends you too. | CG 20 10 / CG 20 37 | CA 20 48 | —             |
| **Waiver of subrogation**      | Stops their insurer paying a claim and then coming after you to recover it.                | CG 24 04            | CA 04 44 | WC 00 03 13   |
| **Primary & non-contributory** | Makes their policy pay first, without asking yours to share the loss.                      | CG 20 01            | —        | —             |

These are the standard ISO and NCCI form numbers the finding asks for on each coverage. Where there is no standard form (a dash above, and every other coverage), the finding asks for "the endorsement form" without naming one.

## Why a tick is not proof

An ACORD 25 states on its own face that it confers no rights and does not amend the policy. A **Y** in the ADDL INSD or SUBR WVD column, or a line in the description box, is a statement by whoever filled the form in. The endorsement form attached to the policy is the proof.

So WatchMyCover records each required endorsement at one of three levels:

| Evidence level               | What it means                                                          | Effect on a mandatory coverage                                    |
| ---------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Not on certificate**       | The certificate does not show this at all.                             | **Non-compliant**: finding *Endorsement not evidenced*            |
| **Stated on certificate**    | The box is ticked on the certificate. That is an assertion, not proof. | **Needs review**: finding *Endorsement stated but not verifiable* |
| **Endorsement form on file** | You hold the actual endorsement form. This is proof.                   | Satisfied                                                         |

<Warning>
  **Stated on certificate** on its own leaves a subcontractor at **Needs review**, however good the rest of the certificate is. This is deliberate: reporting it as compliant would be exactly the false confidence the product exists to remove. To clear it, get the endorsement form and record the coverage again with **Endorsement form on file**.
</Warning>

If chasing is on, a subcontractor whose endorsements are only stated is emailed a request for the documents listed in the finding, with their broker copied. See [How chasing works](/docs/chasing/how-chasing-works).

## Choosing the level when you record a certificate

In the [certificate form](/docs/certificates/recording), each coverage has a selector for **Additional insured**, **Waiver of subrogation** and **Primary & non-contributory**. Each starts at **Not on certificate**: only the person reading the document can say what it shows.

* Choose **Stated on certificate** when the ADDL INSD or SUBR WVD column shows Y, or the description box states the endorsement.
* Choose **Endorsement form on file** only when you have the endorsement form itself, for example attached to the certificate or sent separately by the broker. Upload it to the subcontractor's **Documents on file** so the proof sits with the record.

The hint beside each selector shows whether the template requires it and what is on file now.

## From a spreadsheet import

An import can only record **Not on certificate** or **Stated on certificate**. `Yes`, `Y`, `X` (and even `On file`) are recorded as stated; `No` records not on certificate; and a blank cell is recorded as stated too. See [Importing from CSV](/docs/subcontractors/import-csv#endorsement-columns).

## Endorsements on optional coverages

If a coverage is included in the template but not mandatory, an endorsement problem on it is informational only and never changes the verdict. See [Coverage types](/docs/requirements/coverage-types#mandatory-or-optional).