Waiver of subrogation, primary & non-contributory, and notice of cancellation

Subrogation is the insurer's right to recover what it paid from the party responsible for the loss. A waiver of subrogation means the vendor's insurer gives up that right against your organization.

Without it, your organization could be sued by the vendor's insurer after a loss — even though you were an additional insured. Look for the waiver noted in the description box, and on workers' compensation, a specific WC waiver endorsement.

This endorsement makes the vendor's policy pay first, without asking your organization's insurance to contribute. It keeps a vendor's claim off your loss history.

It is usually required alongside additional insured status for general liability, and should be stated explicitly — it is not implied by the additional insured endorsement alone.

Contracts often require the insurer to notify you if the policy cancels before its expiration date — commonly 30 days, or 10 for non-payment.

Be aware that modern ACORD forms limit what the certificate itself can promise here. The strongest protection is a policy endorsement plus a contract clause requiring the vendor to notify you directly.

Each of these endorsements should be a checkbox in your requirement groups, tracked per coverage line — a waiver on general liability does not cover workers' compensation. When every requirement is explicit, review becomes a checklist instead of a judgment call.