ACORD forms hub
ACORD 125 vs 126 vs 140: which forms does this submission need?
One account, three different jobs. The 125 identifies who is applying and where, the 126 prices what they do, and the 140 prices what they own. Compare them below, then jump into the field-level references.
Side-by-side comparison
| Form | What it is for | What it carries | When it is required | Repeats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACORD 125Commercial Insurance Application | Identifies the account and the premises shared by every line on the submission. | Applicant, entity type, FEIN, contacts, location schedule, general underwriting questions, prior carrier and loss history. | Every commercial submission. | Per account |
| ACORD 126General Liability Section | Prices the liability exposure behind the account. | Class codes, payroll or sales by class, limits requested, subcontractor and additional-insured detail, hazard descriptions. | Any account requesting GL, including packages and BOPs quoted on ACORD. | Per class / location |
| ACORD 140Property Section | Prices the physical property exposure building by building. | COPE detail — construction, occupancy, protection, exposure — plus building, contents, and business income values, deductibles, and causes of loss. | Any account with owned or leased property values to insure. | Per building |
ACORD forms are copyrighted by ACORD and licensed to agencies and carriers. This hub is a reference — blank forms come from ACORD, your carrier, or your agency management system.
Three common accounts
125 + 140
Vacant retail building, owner does not occupy
No operations to classify, so no 126. Expect the underwriter to ask for vacancy detail and protection class on the 140.
125 + 126
Contractor renting a shop, no owned buildings
The liability class and payroll drive the price. A 140 only appears if the tenant is insuring improvements, contents, or equipment.
125 + 126 + 140
Owner-occupied light manufacturing package
Full package. Location numbering on the 125 has to match the building rows on the 140 and the class rows on the 126.
Go deeper
ACORD 125, section by section
Every section of the Commercial Insurance Application: what it captures, where the data comes from, and what usually gets left blank.
ACORD 126, field by field
Class codes, exposure bases, subcontractor and products detail — the General Liability Section an underwriter rates from.
ACORD 140, field by field
COPE construction detail, protection class, values and valuation basis — the Property Section an underwriter rates the building from.
ACORD form automation
How PolicyFast AI assembles 125 and 140 structured data from a single property address into an audit-ready packet.
Free download
Commercial property packet checklist
24 items across 5 stages — applicant data, COPE detail, values, loss history, and the final pass before you email an underwriter. Print it, or work it inside PolicyFast AI.
1. Applicant and account basics
Everything the underwriter needs to identify and clear the risk.
- ACORD 125 complete and signed
- Prior carrier and expiring premium
- Website and operations description
- Broker of record letter (if applicable)
2. Property detail (COPE)
The construction, occupancy, protection, and exposure data that drives the rate.
- ACORD 140 property section
- Construction class and year built
- Roof age and updates
- Protection class and sprinkler detail
- Occupancy and tenant schedule
3. Values and coverage requested
The numbers underwriters reconcile before they quote.
- Statement of Values
- Valuation basis stated
- Deductible options requested
- Coinsurance or blanket request
- Business income worksheet
4. Loss history and supporting documents
The evidence package. Missing loss runs is the single most common reason a submission stalls.
- 5-year currently valued loss runs
- Large loss narratives
- Photos of each building
- Inspection or engineering reports
- Signed applications
5. Before you send it
The final pass that separates a quoted submission from a declined one.
- Address verified and normalized
- TIV reconciles across all forms
- Carrier appetite confirmed
- Surplus lines diligence (if non-admitted)
- Submission email subject standardized
Questions brokers ask
Do I need ACORD 125, 126, and 140 on every submission?
You always need the 125. Add the 140 when the account has property exposure and the 126 when it has general liability exposure. A package submission normally carries all three.
What is the difference between ACORD 126 and ACORD 140?
ACORD 126 is the General Liability Section and carries classification codes and payroll or sales by class. ACORD 140 is the Property Section and carries COPE detail and values by building.
Which form comes first in the packet?
ACORD 125 leads. It identifies the applicant and numbers the locations, and the line sections behind it reference those same location numbers.