Policy Schedule, Certificate and Cover Note: What Each Document Means
The cover note is temporary proof that your car is insured, the policy schedule lists your personal cover details, and the certificate of insurance is the legal form required under the Road Transport Act 1987. Together with the policy wording and any endorsements, they make up your insurance contract.
- Last reviewed:
- Reviewed by:
- Compliance
- Cover note: issued first, often electronically, as proof your cover has started.
- Policy schedule: your own details, such as period of cover, sum insured, excess and endorsements.
- Certificate of insurance: the prescribed form insurers must issue under road transport law.
- Read them together. The policy wordings we checked say the policy includes the schedule, the certificate and the endorsements listed in the schedule.
The documents side by side
| Document | What it is | What it usually shows | When you need it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cover note (e-cover note) | Temporary proof of insurance issued before the full policy | Car registration number, your name, period of cover, cover type, cover note number, insurer | Road tax renewal, proof of cover while the policy is being issued |
| Policy schedule | The page that personalises the standard policy to you | Name and address, period of insurance, sections that apply, premium, car, sum insured, excess, endorsements | Checking what you bought, making a claim, renewal |
| Certificate of insurance | A form the insurer must issue under the Road Transport Act 1987 | Insured car and the conditions of cover, including limits on how the car may be used | Proof of legal cover, cancelling a policy |
| Policy wording | The standard contract terms, the same for everyone on that product | What is covered, exclusions, conditions, definitions | Understanding a claim decision or a clause |
| Endorsement | A document that changes or extends the basic policy | Add-ons such as windscreen or agreed value, transfer of interest | Checking your add-ons are in force |
| Product disclosure sheet (PDS) | A summary given before you buy, not part of the contract | Key benefits, exclusions, premium breakdown, excess | Comparing quotes before you pay |
For what BJAK and the insurer send you after you pay, see what documents you should receive after buying insurance.
What each document means
Cover note: proof before the policy
A cover note shows your cover is in place while the insurer finishes the full policy. Paper cover notes were replaced by electronic records that insurers send to JPJ, so you rarely need a printed copy.
Policy schedule: your personal details
The schedule is where your sum insured, excess and listed endorsements live. Only endorsements printed in the schedule apply, so if an add-on you paid for is missing, ask about it straight away. For the pre-sale summary, see how to read a car insurance PDS.
Certificate of insurance: the legal form
The policy wordings we checked describe it as a prescribed form the insurer must issue under the Road Transport Act 1987. Under the same wordings, if you cancel, you return the certificate before any refund is worked out.
Cover notes, JPJ and road tax
Insurance comes before road tax
Your car must have active insurance before road tax can be renewed. On BJAK, the road tax renewal goes to JPJ once your insurance is active and your details are valid. See renewing car insurance and road tax together.
Road tax is digital
There is no road tax sticker. You can view it in the MyJPJ app, which BJAK says is enough for the authorities. Read more on how road tax renewal works.
How to access and check your policy documents
Watch your email and WhatsApp
BJAK sends policy or cover note updates after the insurer or takaful operator issues them. See how you receive documents and updates.
Check your status online
Use Check Policy Status with your NRIC, car registration number and mobile number.
Check every detail
Your name, IC number, car registration, period of cover, sum insured, excess and add-ons should match what you chose.
Report mistakes early
Wrong details can slow down a claim or road tax renewal, so contact support as soon as you spot one.
Keep a copy
BJAK sends a copy of your cover note to your email and your WhatsApp number.
Important
Payment alone does not mean your policy is active. Cover starts on the effective date shown on your policy or cover note. Read does payment mean my policy is already active.
Frequently asked questions
No. The cover note is temporary proof of cover. The full terms, exclusions and benefits are in the policy wording, schedule and endorsements.
Generally no. Insurers send cover note details to JPJ electronically, and road tax is now digital in MyJPJ.
It depends on the insurer. Check the dates on your cover note, and check your policy documents once they arrive.
Your policy or cover note number is usually the starting point. The schedule shows your excess and sum insured. See the car insurance claim process.
Know what you are holding
Once you know what each document is for, it is easier to spot a missing add-on or a wrong detail. Explore more answers in the BJAK Trust Centre.