ACORD 126 — Commercial General Liability Section

Edition 2025/03 · PDF format

Supplemental application section for commercial general liability (CGL) coverage. Captures detailed information about business operations, premises, products, and completed operations exposure.

What is ACORD 126?

ACORD 126 (Commercial General Liability Section) is the supplemental application form that accompanies ACORD 125 when an applicant is seeking commercial general liability coverage. It captures the operational, premises, products, and completed-operations details underwriters need to price liability risk.

Without ACORD 126, no CGL underwriter can produce a firm quote. The 126 distinguishes between a contractor, retailer, manufacturer, and service business, and asks targeted questions about each exposure.

Who needs this form

Any commercial business applying for general liability coverage, whether stand-alone, package, or BOP.

When to use it

Submit alongside ACORD 125 whenever GL coverage is being quoted, written, or renewed. Required by virtually every carrier for non-BOP commercial submissions.

Key Fields on ACORD 126

The information the form captures, in the order it typically appears:

Premises information by location: square footage, occupancy
Subcontracted operations and indemnification language
Products and completed operations: product types, sales, recalls
Independent contractor exposure
Hold harmless agreements with vendors or clients
Prior GL claims summary
Coverage requested: occurrence vs claims-made, limits, deductibles
Endorsements requested: Additional Insured, waiver of subrogation, primary/non-contributory

Common Mistakes

Recurring errors that delay processing or expose brokers to E&O claims:

Underreporting subcontractor spend

Subcontractor costs drive premium for many trades. Underreporting risks audit chargebacks. Report accurately and provide certificates of insurance from subcontractors.

Missing product recall history

Even minor recalls must be disclosed. Failing to disclose a known recall can void coverage for a future claim arising from the recalled product.

Skipping the hold-harmless section

Hold-harmless agreements affect coverage and pricing. List every standing agreement with vendors, landlords, and clients.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between occurrence and claims-made GL coverage?

Occurrence: coverage applies to events that happen during the policy period, regardless of when claims are filed. Claims-made: coverage applies to claims filed during the policy period for events that happened on or after the retroactive date. Most CGL is written on occurrence form.

Do I need ACORD 126 for a Business Owners Policy (BOP)?

Generally no. BOPs use ACORD 160 instead, which combines the property and liability questions in a single application. Some carriers may still request ACORD 126 supplements for unusual exposures.

Related ACORD Forms

ACORD 125