Policy Lifecycle

Once a submission is quoted, you can bind it through the API to create an active policy. This guide covers the binding process and what happens after.

Binding a Quote

To bind a quoted submission, submit a PUT request to /bind/{displayId} with coverage selections, binding method, and shipping details.

Prerequisites

The submission must be in Quoted status
You must select which coverage lines to include
An effective date must be provided

Bind Request

curl -X PUT https://api.coverwhale.dev/v1/bind/2261310 \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Accept: application/json" \
  -H "AccessToken: YOUR_TOKEN" \
  -d '{
    "coverage": {
      "includeAL": "Y",
      "includeAPD": "Y",
      "includeMTC": "Y",
      "includeTGL": "Y",
      "includeNTL": "Y",
      "optInCWFinancing": "Y",
      "electTRIA": "N",
      "effectiveDate": "03/01/2026"
    },
    "bindingMethod": {
      "signFirst": "N",
      "retailAgentEmail": "agent@example.com",
      "insuredEmail": "insured@example.com",
      "insuredFullName": "John Doe",
      "electronicSignature": "Y"
    },
    "shippingAddress": {
      "dashcam_shipping_address": "insured",
      "street": "4310 W Jefferson Blvd",
      "city": "Los Angeles",
      "state": "CA",
      "zip": "90016",
      "county": "Los Angeles"
    }
  }'

A successful bind request returns:

{
  "status": "success"
}

The submission status then moves to Request to Bind while underwriting finalizes the policy.

Coverage Selection

At bind time, you choose which coverage lines to include. Set each to "Y" to include or omit to exclude:

Field	Coverage
`includeAL`	Auto Liability
`includeAPD`	Auto Physical Damage
`includeMTC`	Motor Truck Cargo
`includeTGL`	Truckers General Liability
`includeNTL`	Non-Trucking Liability

Broker Fees

Broker service fees are captured on the quote (or indication) request, not on bind. Submit them under coverage on POST /v1/quote:

brokerFeeAL, brokerFeeAPD, brokerFeeMTC, brokerFeeTGL, brokerFeeNTL

Each is a number between 0 and 1,000 (USD, per coverage line). When you bind, the fees you provided at quote are automatically carried forward for whichever coverage lines you include*. Any coverage line you omit at bind has its broker fee zeroed out for the resulting policy.

Financing

Set optInCWFinancing to "Y" to use Cover Whale’s premium financing option. When opted in, the payment type is automatically set to Cover Whale financing.

TRIA Coverage

Set electTRIA to "Y" to elect Terrorism Risk Insurance Act coverage, or "N" to decline.

Electronic Signature

The bindingMethod object controls how the policy documents are signed:

Field	Description
`signFirst`	`"Y"` if the insured must sign before the policy is bound
`electronicSignature`	`"Y"` to use electronic signature (instant bind method)
`insuredEmail`	Email address for the insured to receive signature requests
`insuredFullName`	Full name of the insured for signature
`retailAgentEmail`	Email of the retail agent

Dashcam Shipping

Cover Whale may ship dashcams as part of the policy. The shippingAddress object specifies where to send them:

Set dashcam_shipping_address to "insured" to ship to the insured’s address on file
Provide street, city, state, zip, and county for a custom shipping address

What Happens After Binding

Once a bind request is successfully submitted:

The submission status changes to Request to Bind
Cover Whale’s underwriting team reviews and approves the bind
Policy numbers are assigned for each coverage line
Policy documents are generated
The submission status changes to Bound
The agent and insured receive confirmation emails

Error Handling

The bind endpoint returns 404 if:

The submission is not in Quoted status
Required fields are missing or invalid
The submission cannot be found

{
  "status": "failed",
  "error": "Submission status must be quoted"
}

Post-Bind Operations

After a policy is bound, additional lifecycle operations are available:

Operation	Endpoint	Description
Endorsement	`POST .../endorsement`	Modify an active policy (full guide)
Cancel Request	`POST .../cancel-request`	Initiate cancellation
Cancel Approve	`POST .../cancel-approve`	Approve pending cancellation
Cancel Execute	`POST .../cancel`	Execute the cancellation
Reinstatement	`POST .../reinstatement`	Reinstate a cancelled policy
Non-Renewal	`POST .../non-renewal`	Mark policy for non-renewal
Decline	`POST .../decline`	Decline a submission

See the Policy Lifecycle section in the API Reference for full endpoint documentation.

Bind a Quoted Submission — Full bind endpoint schema
Get Submission Status — Check submission status after binding
Create Endorsement — Modify a bound policy

Getting Started

Guides

Webhooks

Policy Lifecycle

Policy Lifecycle

Binding a Quote

Prerequisites

Bind Request

Coverage Selection

Broker Fees

Financing

TRIA Coverage

Electronic Signature

Dashcam Shipping

What Happens After Binding

Error Handling

Post-Bind Operations

​Policy Lifecycle

​Binding a Quote

​Prerequisites

​Bind Request

​Coverage Selection

​Broker Fees

​Financing

​TRIA Coverage

​Electronic Signature

​Dashcam Shipping

​What Happens After Binding

​Error Handling

​Post-Bind Operations

​Related Endpoints

Policy Lifecycle

Binding a Quote

Prerequisites

Bind Request

Coverage Selection

Broker Fees

Financing

TRIA Coverage

Electronic Signature

Dashcam Shipping

What Happens After Binding

Error Handling

Post-Bind Operations

Related Endpoints