Subrogation is your insurer's right to chase whoever caused the loss. A waiver of subrogation gives up your insurer's right to recover from a named party after paying a claim. The certificate column headed SUBR WVD, short for subrogation waived, claims the endorsement exists. It is routine on general liability, auto, and workers compensation. Who this is for: anyone asked to waive subrogation in a contract.
The short version
- The subrogation waived column is a claim that an endorsement exists, not the endorsement itself.
- Waivers on general liability are usually free, and on workers compensation may cost a small percentage.
- Most waivers must be in place before the loss, not added afterwards.
- Agreeing in a contract to a waiver your policy cannot provide puts you in breach.
- Keep waivers tied to the specific engagement rather than open ended where you can negotiate.
What you are giving up
If your insurer pays a claim that somebody else caused, it can normally step into your shoes and recover from them. A waiver switches that off for a named party in advance. Your client asks for it so that a claim arising from the project cannot come back at them through your insurer.
Where it applies
| Policy | Commonly requested | Typical carrier response | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| General liability | Yes | Routine, often blanket | Usually free |
| Workers compensation | Yes | Available by endorsement | Free to a small percentage of premium |
| Commercial auto | Sometimes | Available by endorsement | Usually free |
| Commercial property | Sometimes, in leases | Available | Usually free |
| Professional liability | Sometimes | Varies widely, many decline | Varies |
| Cyber | Occasionally | Usually declined | Not applicable |
The workers compensation waiver is the one most often missed. It has to be endorsed by the carrier, and in several states it must be filed, so the timing is not instant.
Should you sign it?
Usually yes, with three conditions: confirm your carrier will issue it, keep it mutual where you can, and keep the scope tied to the engagement rather than extending to a client's affiliates and assigns forever. A waiver paired with a broad indemnity clause is where the real risk sits, because together they can move the whole financial consequence of a shared fault loss onto you.
Getting it issued
- Send the clause and the exact legal name of the party to your broker before signing.
- Ask whether your policy carries blanket waiver wording.
- Have the endorsement effective on or before the work start date.
- Have the certificate show the subrogation waived column checked for the right policies.
- File the endorsement copy with the signed contract.
Related reading: waiver of subrogation.
What this looks like in practice
Illustrative example. It is typical of what we see and is not a promise of how any specific situation would be handled.
The setup: A trade contractor signs a subcontract agreeing to waive subrogation on all policies including workers compensation.
What went wrong: The waiver endorsement on the workers compensation policy was never requested, and an injured employee's claim led the carrier to pursue the general contractor for recovery.
What it cost: The contractor was in breach of its own subcontract and ended up funding the difference in a negotiated settlement.
The fix: Request the workers compensation waiver at the same time as the certificate. It takes days rather than minutes, so it needs to be started early.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What does the subrogation waived column mean?
It claims that your policy carries a waiver of subrogation endorsement in favour of the certificate holder for that line of coverage.
Q: Should I agree to a waiver of subrogation?
Usually yes. It is standard in commercial contracts and most carriers will issue it. Confirm your policy can provide it, and try to keep it mutual and limited to the engagement.
Q: Does a waiver of subrogation cost money?
On general liability it is usually free. On workers compensation many carriers charge a small percentage of premium, and in some states the endorsement has to be filed.
Q: Can a waiver be added after a claim?
No. Waivers have to be in place before the loss. Adding one afterwards does not retroactively give up rights that already attached.
Q: Is a waiver of subrogation the same as a hold harmless clause?
No. A waiver limits your insurer's recovery rights. A hold harmless or indemnity clause is your promise to cover somebody else's losses, and it is usually the more dangerous of the two.
Q: What if my professional liability carrier will not waive?
Common. Ask the client to limit the waiver requirement to general liability, auto, and workers compensation, which is where the market reliably provides it.
How Morrow helps with certificates of insurance
Morrow is a licensed independent commercial insurance brokerage that specializes in certificates of insurance and the endorsements behind them. Getting waiver endorsements issued before work starts is the kind of thing we handle every day, for clients across construction, trades, professional services, trucking, real estate, and hospitality, so we know what a compliance reviewer will reject before you send it.
- We issue certificates the same day you ask, and usually within the hour.
- We read the contract first, so the endorsements the certificate reports actually exist on your policy.
- We push back on requirements the market will not issue, and give you language your client will accept.
- We keep a record of who was issued what, so renewals go out before anyone chases you.
Get in touch and we will see how we can help. Send us the contract or the certificate request and we will tell you what your current policy can support and what needs to change. Start at morrowinsure.com or reach the team through the contact options on that page.
One more thing. This article is general information and is not legal advice or a statement of coverage. Certificates report what a policy says, and the policy wording controls in every case. Forms and requirements vary by carrier, by state, and by contract, so have a licensed advisor review your own policy and your own contract before relying on any of it.
Last updated: Reviewed by the Morrow commercial lines team. Last updated August 2026.