How to check an insurance license
You can look up any agent’s or agency’s license on your state insurance department’s website. Here’s how.
Search by name or license number, then check the status and license types the state shows.
License status belongs to state insurance departments — not to this directory.
Step 1: Which state is the agency or policy located in?
Insurance is regulated at the state level. Select from all 50 states + District of Columbia.
In the United States, insurance licensing is regulated jurisdiction by jurisdiction by state insurance commissioners:
- NAIC State Based Systems (SBS): Handles 30+ jurisdictions (including Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, and more than 25 others). When using the NAIC lookup, select the target state from the Jurisdiction dropdown first before entering the firm or agent name.
- State Department Portals: Remaining states maintain their own independent department search portals (e.g., California CDI, New York DFS, Texas TDI, Pennsylvania Insurance Department).
- Look up BOTH Agency & Individual Agent: When checking a firm, always look up BOTH the agency business entity license AND the individual producer/agent writing your policy. Check that the license types the state shows include the specific coverage you are buying (e.g. Property & Casualty for auto/home/commercial vs Life & Health).
Look up the agency license on the state portal
Search the firm’s legal entity name or state license ID on the official state registry. Check the status the state shows (for example Active or Valid), and look for any suspension or revocation orders.
Look up the individual agent writing the policy
Check that the specific producer handling your application holds an active individual license in your state for that line of authority (e.g., Property & Casualty for Auto/Home/Business, or Life & Health for Life policies).
Ensure premiums are payable to the insurer or designated trust account
Legitimate premium payments should always be payable directly to the underwriting insurance company or a licensed agency fiduciary trust account — never to an individual agent's personal account, Venmo, Zelle, or cash transfer app.
Request a formal policy binder or certificate before canceling existing coverage
Never cancel existing insurance policies until you have received a written binder, or an official certificate of insurance showing effective dates and policy numbers from the issuing carrier.
If an individual or company solicits insurance without an active license, demands payment to personal accounts, or provides fraudulent policy documents, report them immediately to regulatory authorities:
Be cautious of websites promising “instant quotes without your phone number” that collect and sell your personal contact info to hundreds of third parties. Legitimate agencies give their direct phone number and state license number up front.
Browse firms by place and coverage.
Open a firm's profile for published contact details.
Questions about this page
- Where do I check an insurance license?
- Use the official lookup run by the state insurance department. This guide links to the lookup for all 50 states and DC.
- What should I look up?
- Look up both the agency and the individual agent. Search by name or license number, then check the status and license types the state shows.
- Does InsuranceFinder vouch for licenses?
- No. A listing may show a license number taken from state records and a link to the state lookup. InsuranceFinder doesn’t verify, endorse or certify any firm. State records are the official source.
InsuranceFinder doesn’t verify, endorse or certify any firm. State records are the official source.