Guides
How to check an agent's or adjuster's license
How to confirm an agent, broker, adjuster or public adjuster is licensed in your state, what the lookup shows, and what to do if you cannot find a name.
You check a license by looking the person up in your state insurance department's license search, using the name or license number they gave you, and confirming three things: the license is active, it covers the right kind of work, and it is issued in your state. Most states offer a free online search, and the NAIC's state insurance department directory links to each department's contact information and complaint process. The check takes a few minutes and is the best defense against fake agents and storm-chasing claim "helpers."
Know which license you are looking for
Insurance licensing is set state by state, and the titles vary. These are the roles a homeowner meets.
| Role | Works for | Typical license | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agent or producer | An insurer (captive) or several insurers (independent) | Producer license with a property and casualty line | See captive agents, independent agents and direct insurers; a license is needed to sell, solicit or negotiate coverage |
| Broker | You, placing coverage with insurers, often surplus lines | Producer or broker license; surplus lines often needs its own authority | See insurance broker |
| Staff adjuster | The insurer | Adjuster license in some states; some states exempt company employees | Varies widely |
| Independent adjuster | Hired by the insurer on a claim | Adjuster license; many states have temporary or emergency permits after catastrophes | Works for the insurer, not you |
| Public adjuster | You, for a fee | Separate public adjuster license in most states that allow the role | See public adjusters: when to hire one and what they cost |
| Contractor | You | Contractor license, issued by a licensing board, not the insurance department | See below |
staff, independent and public adjusters: who works for whom explains who each adjuster represents. The point for licensing is that the person in front of you may hold a license that is the wrong kind, or none, even though they sound knowledgeable.
The lookup, step by step
- Get the details in writing. Ask for the full name, the license number, the license type and the state of issue, and the company or agency they work for. A real licensee gives this without hesitation. Some states require disclosure of a license number on request or in writing; Florida, for example, requires an adjuster to provide name and license number when contacting a policyholder to inspect a loss.
- Go to the regulator, not the business card. Search for your state's department of insurance in the NAIC directory above, or type the department's address yourself. The National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR), which provides the licensing infrastructure used by many states, links to a licensee search from its home page; your state's own lookup is the primary record.
- Search by name and by license number. A name search can return several people; a number search should return one. If the number returns a different name, stop.
- Read the record. Check that the status is active (not expired, suspended or revoked), that the line of authority includes property and casualty, or property adjusting, as appropriate, and that the expiration date is in the future. Note the business address and compare it to what you were told.
- Check appointments for agents. Many states show the insurers an agent is appointed with. A captive agent should be appointed with the company they say they represent. An independent agent should be appointed with the company that issued your policy.
- Look for discipline. Many state lookups show administrative actions, fines or license revocations. A complaint record is not proof of fraud, but a history of license discipline is information you can use.
- Confirm with the insurer. For an agent, call the insurer using a number from its official website and ask whether this person is authorized to sell its homeowners policies. For an adjuster, call the claims department with your claim number and ask whether the person is assigned to your claim.
What to do when the lookup comes up empty
An empty result has several possible explanations, and only some are alarming.
- A different spelling or legal name. Search the license number, the agency name and variations of the name.
- A license in another state. A person who holds a license in one state is not necessarily licensed in yours. After a major catastrophe, states often allow out-of-state adjusters to work under temporary or emergency licenses, so ask the department how to verify these.
- An employee exempt from licensing. Some states exempt salaried staff adjusters or administrative staff, so the department can tell you whether the role you are dealing with needs a license.
- A licensing gap. A license may have lapsed for nonrenewal or been revoked. Either way you do not do business with them until it is resolved.
- A fake. If the person cannot be located, will not give a number, or the number belongs to someone else, treat it as fraud, stop sending money or documents, and report it to the department (see home insurance scams and how to avoid them).
Licensed does not mean right for you
A license shows that the person met the state's requirements and is accountable to the regulator. It does not show that the person is competent in your situation, that the coverage they recommend is adequate, or that a public adjuster's fee is reasonable. Fee caps and contract rules for public adjusters differ by state. Use the license as the minimum.
For contractors, the department of insurance is the wrong office. Contractor licensing sits with a separate state board or, in some states, a county. Look up the contractor's license there, confirm insurance coverage with a certificate sent by the insurer or agent, and see contractor fraud after storms: how it works and how to stop it and choosing a contractor after a home insurance claim. Not all states license all trades, so a roofer without a state license may be legal in one state and illegal in another.
If something is wrong
Report an unlicensed or suspect agent or adjuster to your state department of insurance; the department's page, which you can reach through the NAIC directory above, explains the complaint process, and how to file a complaint with your state insurance department explains what to include. You can also report suspected insurance fraud through the NAIC's Online Fraud Reporting System, which routes reports to the right state department, according to the NAIC's fraud page. If you gave money, tell your bank immediately.
Key takeaways
- Verify licenses at your state insurance department or through its license search, never from a business card, and check status, license type, state and expiration date.
- Agents, brokers, adjusters, public adjusters and contractors are licensed by different bodies; confirm you are checking the right one.
- Call the insurer to confirm an agent's authority to sell its policies or an adjuster's assignment to your claim.
- An empty lookup may be a spelling variation, an out-of-state or temporary license, or an exempt role, but if the person will not provide a number, treat it as a red flag.
- Licensing proves accountability, not quality; use it as the minimum standard and compare the work and fees separately.