ACORD Forms

ACORD Forms Explained: A Complete Guide to the Most-Used Insurance Forms

If you work at an agency, an MGA, or on the claims side, ACORD forms cross your desk every day. This guide covers the ten forms that show up most often: what each one is for, who fills it out, and how they fit together.

What are ACORD forms?

ACORD (the Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development) is a nonprofit that sets standards for the insurance industry. Its forms give agents, carriers, and adjusters one shared layout for the same information, so a carrier doesn't need its own version of every application or claim report.

The forms aren't required by law. They're used because everyone recognizes them, which makes a submission or claim faster to review.

Most day-to-day ACORD work falls into three groups:

• Loss notices report a claim (ACORD 1, 2, 3, 5)
• Certificates prove coverage to a third party (ACORD 25)
• Applications ask a carrier to quote or bind a policy (ACORD 80, 125, 126, 130, 140)

Quick reference

Loss notices: reporting a claim

Loss notices are the first report of a claim to the carrier. They usually come from the agency on behalf of the insured, and they are what an adjuster reads first.

ACORD 1: Property Loss Notice

Used when a home or business property is damaged or lost, such as from fire, water, wind, or theft. It captures:

• Policy number, carrier, and insured contact details
• Date, time, and location of the loss
• Kind of loss and a description of what happened
• Estimated amount of damage
• Whether police or fire authorities were contacted

ACORD 2: Automobile Loss Notice

Used for auto accidents and vehicle damage. On top of the basics, it records each vehicle involved, the drivers, any injured people, witnesses, and police report details. A single accident can involve several parties, so these forms often run long.

ACORD 3: Liability Notice of Occurrence / Claim

Used when someone may hold the insured responsible for injury or damage, like a customer slipping in a store or a product causing harm. It notes whether the issue involves premises or products, who was injured or what was damaged, and any witnesses. If the description runs out of space, agencies attach an ACORD 101 (Additional Remarks Schedule).

ACORD 5: Aircraft Loss Notice

A specialty notice for aviation claims. It captures aircraft details, pilot information, and the circumstances of the loss. Most agencies rarely see it, but aviation specialists and the carriers that serve them use it regularly.

Certificates: proving coverage

ACORD 25: Certificate of Liability Insurance

The ACORD 25 is probably the most requested form in the industry. Landlords, general contractors, and clients ask for one before work starts, to confirm a business carries the coverage it claims.

It lists:

• The insured and the producing agency
• Each carrier, with its NAIC number
• Coverage types, policy numbers, effective and expiration dates
• Limits for general liability, auto, umbrella, and workers comp
• The certificate holder and a description of operations

One point trips people up constantly: a certificate is informational only. It doesn't change the policy. If a contract calls for additional insured status or a waiver of subrogation, that has to come from an endorsement on the policy. Checking the box on the certificate isn't enough.

Applications: quoting and binding coverage

ACORD 80: Homeowner Application

The personal lines application for home insurance. It covers the applicant, the dwelling (construction, year built, roof, heating, protection features), requested coverages and deductibles, and prior losses.

ACORD 125: Commercial Insurance Application

The starting point for almost every commercial submission. It describes the business itself, whatever coverage is being quoted: named insured, entity type, locations, nature of operations, classification codes, prior carriers, and loss history.

On its own, a 125 isn't enough to quote most policies. It is paired with one or more line-specific sections.

ACORD 126: Commercial General Liability Section

Added to a 125 when the submission includes general liability. It holds the details a GL underwriter needs, such as classifications, exposure basis (payroll, sales, or square footage), limits, and questions about products and completed operations.

For a side-by-side breakdown, read ACORD 125 vs 126: What's the Difference?

ACORD 130: Workers Compensation Application

The application for workers comp. Its core is the employee and payroll information by state and class code, plus officers and owners (and whether they are included or excluded), prior coverage, and loss history. Carrier requirements vary on whether a 125 must go with it.

ACORD 140: Property Section

Added to a 125 when the submission includes commercial property. It describes each location and building: construction type, occupancy, year built, square footage, fire protection, and the values and coverages requested. A business with several locations can produce a very long 140.

How the forms fit together

A typical small commercial account might involve:

• At submission: ACORD 125 + 126 + 140 for a package policy, and a separate ACORD 130 for workers comp
• After binding: a steady stream of ACORD 25 certificates for clients and landlords
• When something goes wrong: an ACORD 1, 2, or 3 depending on the claim

The same business name, address, and policy details get typed again on every one of these forms, and then again into the agency management system and carrier portals.

Tips for working with ACORD forms

• Check the edition datein the bottom corner. Some carriers won't accept outdated editions.
• Keep names identical across forms. A named insured that differs between the 125 and the 25 causes delays.
• Don't leave loss history blank.Write "none" if there are no losses, so the underwriter doesn't have to ask.
• Use ACORD 101when a description doesn't fit, instead of squeezing text into the margins.

Frequently asked questions