в страховом полисе страховая компания в шапке указывает "страховой полис" как "Insurance Policy", а далее по тексту (только на рус):
"настоящий страховой полис выдан страхователю на основании заявления на страхование расходов по локализации … и удостоверяет факт заключения договора страхования расходов по локализации …. в форме настоящего страхового полиса (далее также - договор страхования, заключенный в форме настоящего полиса, или страховой полис) на условиях, изложенных в настоящем страховом полисе…"

но ведь Insurance Policy - это и есть договор страхования, а "страховой полис" переводится как "Certificate of Insurance" ? или я что-то не понимаю, и здесь просто стоит "страховой полис" писать как Insurance Policy, "договор страхования" - Insurance contract ?

Заранее большое спасибо!

То есть в данном конкретном случае это один и тот же документ.

The Insurance Policy ...... confirms the Insurance policy for .... has been purchased through this Insurance policy (hereinafter also referred to as an Insurance policy represented by the Insurance policy, or Insurance policy) pursuant to the terms and conditions laid down herein

текст несколько странным выходит.

если использовать Insurance contract как "договор страхования", тогда у меня получает более удобоваримый перевод, но возникает вопрос, в чем разница между Insurance contract и Insurance Policy ?

И здесь просто стоит "страховой полис" писать как Insurance Policy, "договор страхования" - Insurance contract
(с) Spiro

An 'insurance certificate' is a document that the insurance company sends you after you've initiated ('taken out') an insurance policy with them, which shows to third parties that you have a policy which covers you (=protects you financially) if your house is burgled, or your car is damaged, or whatever, and shows how long the insurance covers you for -- say, until 31st August 2017. It's not the same as an 'insurance agreement/contract' or 'insurance policy'.

'Полис' as it is used in Russia is not really a 'policy' or a 'contract', it is exactly what you call 'insurance certificate', i.e. (quoting you)
'a document that the insurance company sends you after you've initiated ... an insurance policy with them, which shows to third parties that you have a policy which covers you ..., and shows how long the insurance covers you for ... '. And indeed it is not the same as an 'insurance agreement/contract' or 'insurance policy'.

Страховой полис (англ. insurance policy, фр. police, итал. polizza — расписка, квитанция) — как правило, именной документ, подтверждающий заключение договора страхования, выдаваемый страховщиком страхователю (застрахованному). Полис выдаётся страхователю после заключения договора и внесения страховой премии.
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Страховой_полис

In insurance, the insurance policy is a contract (generally a standard form contract) between the insurer and the insured, known as the policyholder, which determines the claims which the insurer is legally required to pay.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurance_policy

Certificate of insurance (COI). Definition.
Document issued by an insurance company, it certifies that an insurance policy has been bought and shows an abstract of the most important provisions of the insurance contract.
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/certificate-of-insurance-COI.html

To summarize,
Страховой полис = Certificate of insurance,
Insurance policy is a contract between the insurer and the insured

In Britain (it's probably the same in most countries), if you drive a car, you have to have insurance so that if you crash into another vehicle and damage it, and the accident is your fault, your insurance company will reimburse the other party. When the police arrive at the crash, they'll ask both drivers for their insurance certificate.