Insurance 101

What Is An Insurance Binder? Definition & Examples

Today you’ll learn what is an insurance binder, how does it work, and some examples.

Insurance Binder Definition

An insurance binder is a temporary placeholder for a formal insurance policy. It officially confirms in writing that you will be issued a formal insurance policy soon. 

A binder can be very helpful because it provides you with proof of insurance while your formal policy is still being underwritten (which means the insurance policy is being officially signed and prepared). 

If an organization or someone like a mortgage or auto loan lender is looking for proof of insurance, you can provide them with your insurance binder since it should be enough. In many cases, an insurance company or agent will be able to digitally issue you an insurance binder very quickly so that you can get approved for a loan in a timely manner. 

Your binder is temporary, so it will expire after a period of time, usually after a month to three months. After it expires, it’s important to remember that you will likely need to update your documentation with a certificate of insurance so that there are no complications.

What Does An Insurance Binder Look Like?

An insurance binder looks like a document, but it isn’t very complicated or lengthy. You can expect it to be fairly short, only one or two pages in length. The insurance binder should contain essential information regarding your insurance policy.

A typical insurance binder should include:

  • The effective start and end date of coverage 
  • Deductibles 
  • Who the insured parties are 
  • What coverage type you have 
  • Insurance limits 
  • Any endorsements for the policy
  • Any additional insureds
  • Address of the policyholder
  • The expiry date of the insurance binder

An insurance binder essentially includes the same kinds of insurance information as what you would expect to see on a real certificate of insurance. 

How Do I Get An Insurance Binder?

Not every insurance company will offer insurance binders to its customers. However, if your insurer does provide insurance binders, then it should be simple to get a binder. All you will have to do is request the binder from your insurance company or an insurance agent who officially represents that insurance company.

After your request for an insurance binder has been approved, your insurer will mail you a hard copy of the insurance binder. You may also be able to receive it electronically. Thanks to digitization, getting an insurance binder digitally can be as quick as only taking a few minutes.  

If you use an insurance broker to help you shop for insurance, they may also be able to give you an insurance binder for the policy you’ve chosen. However, it will still need to be validated.

Examples Of Insurance Binders

The most common types of insurance binders are home insurance binders and auto insurance binders. This is because when you’re closing on a house or a vehicle, you will be required by lenders to show your proof of insurance. 

An insurance binder can be very helpful because they act as proof of insurance in case some other party needs to see it from you. 

If you need to get qualified for an auto loan, the lender will expect you to show proof of insurance of some kind. Without proof of insurance like an auto insurance binder, you will not be able to receive an auto loan.

The reason that lenders require you to show proof of insurance is that they want to be financially protected in case of an incident. 

For example, what happens if you suddenly stop paying your mortgage? Your mortgage lender will be able to sell the property through foreclosure because the bank holds a lien on the property while you haven’t repaid the loan yet. However, lenders are concerned about cases in which the property has been severely damaged in some way. That would seriously lower the value of the property. So long as you have insurance, any covered damages and losses from those damages would be taken care of by the insurance company so that the lender does not need to worry. 

Types Of Insurance Binders

There are numerous types of insurance binders that you might receive while your formal policy is still being underwritten. They include:

  • Homeowners insurance binder
  • Auto insurance binder
  • Commercial property insurance binder

Typically, insurance binders are issued for industries in which lenders commonly require proof of insurance. You will usually be expected to update your binder with a formal proof of insurance (i.e. a certificate of insurance) when your binder does expire. 

Do All Insurers Issue Binders?

Some insurers will not accept or issue insurance binders. If you need an insurance binder for proof of insurance needs, it would be wise to ask your insurer whether they issue binders. Otherwise, you might end up waiting weeks before your formal policy gets underwritten. 

Insurance companies and agents can issue insurance binders to you. These binders will be valid. 

You can also have your insurance broker issue a binder to you, but it will not be considered valid until a binding authority has validated it. This means that an underwriter or another authorized representative needs to sign it before it becomes a legitimate insurance binder. 

Why Would You Need A Home Insurance Binder?

Having a home insurance binder is a great way to handle mortgage lenders who require a home insurance binder or proof of insurance before they will allow a home to be closed. 

Legitimate home mortgage lenders don’t issue mortgages unless you provide them with adequate proof of insurance, which usually includes a minimum amount of personal liability insurance coverage. A home insurance binder will act as that proof of insurance.

It is important to remember that a binder doesn’t last forever. The typical binder is only meant to work as insurance proof while your formal policy is being issued. After you have a formal policy, a certificate of insurance can be proof of insurance. Your binder document will indicate how long the binder will retain efficacy. 

Why Would You Need A Car Insurance Binder?

Like with other kinds of insurance binders, a car insurance binder is helpful in giving you the proof of insurance you might need. If you’re financing your vehicle through an auto loan or want to refinance your current car plan, lenders will expect to see proof of insurance. A car insurance binder can be shown to your lender and act as adequate proof. 

Another benefit to having a car insurance binder, other than your lender approving you, is that a binder often allows you to legally drive your new car even before your formal insurance policy has been issued. 

Car insurance binders are extremely helpful because auto insurance is mandatory for driving in nearly every state. Having a binder can prevent you from getting in trouble if you drive your new car from a dealership without a formal insurance policy. 

Driving a car without an insurance binder or insurance policy means that you might be subjected to fines, penalties, or even jail time. 

What Should I Do After My Insurance Binder Expires?

After your insurance binder expires, it is very important that you have insurance coverage in place so that you can offer proof of insurance to any lender or organization that requires you to show them continued proof. 

Generally, an insurance binder is enough proof of insurance because it essentially is an authorized document that tells the lender that you will indeed be insured by an insurance company. 

Even though you should have your insurance policy issued before the binder expires, this might not always be the case. That’s why it is important to check with your insurance company as to whether your formal policy is in place already. That way you will have the proper coverage in case something happens. 

It can be dangerous and financially costly if you believe that you have an insurance policy active just because your binder has expired, but there is actually no active policy in place. 

Insurance Binder FAQs

1. What is the point of an insurance binder?

An insurance binder acts as proof of insurance when you haven’t received your formal insurance policy yet. 

2. How long does an insurance binder last?

An insurance binder typically lasts only from 30 to 90 days. It’s meant to serve as temporary insurance proof, so it won’t last forever. 

3. Who issues an insurance binder?

Either the insurance company will issue you a binder or an insurance agent will issue it to you on the insurance company’s behalf. 

If an insurance broker issues one to you, it won’t be activated unless a binding authority has signed it. 

4. Is an insurance binder the same as a declaration page?

No. Even though both include a lot of overlapping information, an insurance binder is different from a declaration page. 

A declaration page is the official policy wording document that is issued after everything has been finalized and underwritten. 

5. Is an insurance binder the same as a certificate of insurance?

No. A certificate of insurance (COI) is the formal policy proof of insurance. It isn’t the same as an insurance binder, which serves as temporary proof of insurance. 

6. What happens to an insurance binder after you get your formal policy?

After your formal policy is issued by your insurance company, your binder will be dissolved. 

Have more questions about insurance? 

Here at Worth Insurance, our professional team is happy to answer questions you might have concerning insurance. Reach out to us by phone at (561)-463-5814 or get a free quote if you’re shopping for property insurance.