What Is a Certificate of Currency? A Guide for Businesses

A certificate of currency is a short paper, often just one page, that proves an insurance policy is active. It is issued by the insurer or broker, and it shows who is insured, the type of cover, the policy dates and the amount of cover.

Businesses usually ask for one before a contractor starts work, because it's a quick way to confirm they're insured without reading the whole policy. If you're hiring a cleaner or a tradie to work at your site, it makes sense to ask. Our commercial cleaning team can send ours on request.

Most certificates show the same basic details. Tasmania's Consumer, Building and Occupational Services explains that a certificate of currency usually lists:

• The insured: the name and address of the business that holds the policy.
• Policy details: the policy number, the type of cover, and the start and end dates.
• Sum insured: the most the policy will pay. This is also called the limit.
• Premium: sometimes, how much was paid and when.

You'll also see the name of the insurer, and the date the certificate was made.

The certificate is a summary, not the policy. A Department of Defence guidance note on certificates of currency says it is not part of the policy and does not show the full terms or exclusions. If the two papers disagree, the policy wins.

So the certificate tells you that cover was in place on the day it was issued, but it doesn't tell you whether a particular type of work is covered. For big or risky jobs, ask more questions, or talk to your own broker.

A contractor may hold more than one policy, and each one has its own certificate. The two you'll see most are:

• Public liability insurance: covers claims if the contractor's work injures someone or damages property at your site.
• Workers' compensation insurance: covers the contractor's own employees if they're injured while working.

These are two different policies. WorkSafe ACT says every employer in the ACT must hold workers' compensation insurance, and that it is separate from public liability. Its page on employer obligations lists a certificate as one way to prove the policy is in place. In New South Wales, the state insurer icare shows employers how to download their certificate.

When a contractor sends you a certificate, take two minutes to check it:

1. Match the name. The name should match the business you're hiring. You can check a name and ABN on the government's ABN Lookup.
2. Check the dates. The policy should cover the dates of the work.
3. Check the type. Make sure it's the cover you asked for, such as public liability.
4. Check the amount. Compare it with any minimum your lease or contract needs.
5. Look at the issue date. A recent date means the details are up to date.
6. Note the end date. Ask for a new one when the policy renews.

A certificate only proves the policy on the day it was issued, so if a contractor works for you over a long period, the one you received at the start says nothing about the following year.

The Defence guidance suggests asking for a new certificate each year. For regular work like office cleaning, note the end date and ask for a fresh one when the policy renews.

Aussie Duo carries $20 million public liability insurance. We can send you our certificate of currency on request. For business clients, we also agree a written task list at a free site visit, and you get a checklist after every clean.

If you're comparing cleaning companies, our guide on how to choose a commercial cleaner lists other questions to ask. Our guide to what to put in a commercial cleaning contract shows how to write insurance into your agreement.

Aussie Duo is a family-owned Canberra business that has been cleaning since 2013. To ask for our certificate, or to book a free site visit for office cleaning in Canberra, contact us or call 02 5501 3316. We reply during business hours, Monday to Saturday, 7am to 7pm. You can also see all our cleaning services across Canberra.