Last reviewed: 14 October 2026

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How to check if an insurance agent is licensed

Before you buy a policy, it's worth taking two minutes to confirm that the person selling it holds a licence. In the U.S., insurance agents (also called "producers") and adjusters are licensed by each state. The good news: state insurance departments offer public lookups.

Important: theinsurancerecord.org does not license anyone, and we never tell you that a particular person is licensed. We point you to the official sources so you can check for yourself. The official record is always the final word.

Before you start: what to have ready

• The agent's full name (as it appears on their card, email, or paperwork)
• Their licence number or National Producer Number (NPN), if they gave you one. It's fine to ask; licensed agents can share it.
• The state where you live or where you're buying the policy. Your state's lookup is the place to check.

Step 1: Go to your state's official lookup

Use the official tool for your state:

Some states use a vendor called Sircon for their public lookups: https://www.sircon.com/ComplianceExpress/Inquiry/consumerInquiry.do?nonSscrb=Y. Coverage varies by state.

Not sure which tool your state uses? Go to your state's Department of Insurance website. The NAIC keeps a directory: https://content.naic.org/state-insurance-departments

Step 2: Read the result carefully

Here's what to look at:

• Name match: Is it really the same person? Check the city or business address too, because names can be shared.
• Status: Look for "Active." Other statuses can include Inactive, Expired, or Terminated. In New York, for example, the DFS help page explains that "Inactive" can mean no company appointment is on file. Definitions vary by state, so read your state's own explanation (NY's is here: https://myportal.dfs.ny.gov/nylinxext/psSearchHelp.alice?helpCode=PROSEARCHHELP).
• Lines of authority: This tells you which kinds of insurance the person may sell (for example life, health, or property and casualty). An agent licensed for auto insurance isn't necessarily licensed to sell you life insurance.
• Expiry date and resident or non-resident status.
• Enforcement or disciplinary actions, if your state's lookup shows them.

Step 3: If you can't find them

Don't panic, but don't sign anything yet either.

• Try other spellings, a middle name, or a search by licence number or NPN.
• Ask the agent for their NPN and the state(s) where they're licensed. NIPR explains what an NPN is: https://nipr.com/help/help-articles/find-a-national-producer-number-npn-
• Call your state's Department of Insurance and ask them to confirm.
• If someone is selling insurance and you can't confirm a licence, you can report it to your state. See our guide: How to file an insurance complaint with your state.

A note on NIPR

The National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) runs national tools for producers, such as looking up an NPN (https://nipr.com/licensing-center/look-up-a-national-producer-number) and licence verification (https://nipr.com/licensing/verify-existing-licenses). Some of these are aimed at licensees and businesses, not consumers, so your state's lookup is usually the simplest place to start.

Quick checklist

• I searched my state's official lookup
• The name and location match
• Status is Active
• The lines of authority cover the insurance I'm buying
• I checked for enforcement actions, where shown

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Lookup tools and statuses are run by state regulators and can change. Always rely on the official record.

Sources

All sources were checked 14 Oct 2026 PT.

• NIPR NPN lookup: https://nipr.com/licensing-center/look-up-a-national-producer-number
• NIPR NPN help: https://nipr.com/help/help-articles/find-a-national-producer-number-npn-
• NIPR verify licenses: https://nipr.com/licensing/verify-existing-licenses
• NAIC SBS Licensee Lookup: https://sbs.naic.org/solar-external-lookup/
• SBS help: https://www.statebasedsystems.com/solar/support.html
• Florida DFS Licensee Search: https://licenseesearch.fldfs.com/
• California CDI licence status: https://www.insurance.ca.gov/license-status/
• Texas TDI agent lookup: https://www.tdi.texas.gov/agent/agent-lookup.html
• NY DFS producer search: https://myportal.dfs.ny.gov/nylinxext/elsearch.alis
• NY DFS search help: https://myportal.dfs.ny.gov/nylinxext/psSearchHelp.alice?helpCode=PROSEARCHHELP
• Sircon consumer inquiry: https://www.sircon.com/ComplianceExpress/Inquiry/consumerInquiry.do?nonSscrb=Y
• NAIC state insurance departments directory: https://content.naic.org/state-insurance-departments