ACORD 125 vs ACORD 130 — what's the difference?

If you write commercial insurance, you'll regularly work with both the ACORD 125 and ACORD 130. While they're often submitted together, they serve different purposes. Here's a clear breakdown of what each form does and when to use them.

ACORD 125 — Commercial Insurance Application

The ACORD 125 is the general commercial insurance application. Think of it as the foundation form for any commercial account. It captures:

• Business name, address, and contact information
• Entity type (LLC, corporation, sole proprietor, partnership)
• Nature of business operations
• Number of employees and annual revenue
• Prior insurance history and loss history

The ACORD 125 is required for virtually every commercial submission regardless of what lines of coverage are being written. It establishes the basic profile of the insured.

ACORD 130 — Commercial Auto Application

The ACORD 130 is specifically for commercial auto coverage. It captures information about a business's vehicles and drivers, including:

• Vehicle schedule — year, make, model, VIN, and use for each vehicle
• Driver information — names, license numbers, dates of birth, and driving history
• Radius of operations
• Types of goods hauled (if applicable)
• Desired coverage types and limits

The ACORD 130 is only required when a commercial auto policy is being written. It is always submitted alongside the ACORD 125, never on its own.

When do you need both?

You need both the ACORD 125 and ACORD 130 any time a business client needs commercial auto coverage — for example, a contractor with work trucks, a delivery company, or any business that owns or operates vehicles as part of its operations.

If a client only needs general liability, property, or other non-auto coverage, you typically only need the ACORD 125 (along with any line-specific supplemental forms).

What about ACORD 131?

The ACORD 131 is the Additional Remarks Schedule — a supplemental form used when there isn't enough space on the primary form to capture all relevant information. It's attached to the ACORD 125 or 130 when needed and references the section it's supplementing. AgencyAssist supports all three forms.

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