While getting event liability insurance should be relatively quick and painless, there are a few steps you can take to ensure the process goes smoothly.

1. Plan ahead
You may need your COI before you can finalize your event plans. Plus, your insurer may even require that your event be more than 2 weeks out, says Forbes. So as soon as you nail down your date, add event liability insurance to your to-do list.

2. Gather your event details
The cost of your event liability policy will depend heavily on the specifics of your event. Before you buy your policy, you’ll need to know how many people you expect to attend your event, the date and duration, location, if it’ll be inside or outside, whether you’re serving alcohol, and any other risks involved. Once you have these details, you’ll be ready to get a quote.

3. Shop around
If you currently have other liability insurance policies like auto or home, start there. Get a quote from your current insurer and ask if you’d qualify for a discount as an existing policyholder. But don’t stop there; get at least three quotes from various insurers to be sure you’re getting most reliable coverage at the best price. If you’re considering an insurer you haven’t heard of before, check their rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Hopefully your event goes exactly as planned, but event liability insurance may help protect you should something unfortunate detract from your celebration.