Last reviewed: 7 October 2026
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How to file an insurance complaint in Texas and Florida: the steps each state regulator lists
The short answer: both regulators tell you to take the problem to the company first. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) lists the steps for auto and home complaints as: talk to the company, ask for an appraisal where one applies, then file a complaint with TDI through its online system, after which TDI asks the company to respond, and companies have 15 days to respond and can ask for a 10-day extension.[1][2][3] The Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Consumer Services asks you to contact the company first, then submit your concern through its Consumer Assistance Portal, and says insurance companies and agencies have 14 days to respond to the Department once a concern is filed, which the page says is set by statute.[5] This page reports each state's own steps. Other states differ.
The short version
- TDI says it can help with complaints about the insurance companies, agents and adjusters it regulates.[1][2] Its auto and home pages say it cannot make a company pay a claim unless not paying violates a law or the terms of your policy.[2][3]
- Florida's Division says it can help with insurance concerns about companies that issue policies in Florida and about agents and agencies, but cannot compel a company to pay a claim, refund a premium, or reinstate or issue a policy if the company has not violated a law, rule or policy provision.[5]
- Both say they cannot decide fault or settle a dispute over the facts: TDI says it cannot decide who was at fault in an accident (auto) or settle disputes where you and the company disagree about the facts (home), and Florida's Division says it cannot determine fault or a question of fact.[2][3][5]
- TDI's pages point to its resources for finding legal help if you are still unhappy and want to sue; Florida's Division says it cannot provide legal advice.[2][3][4][5]
Side by side
| Texas (TDI) | Florida (Division of Consumer Services) | |
|---|---|---|
| First step | Talk to the company or agent.[2][3][4] | Contact the company and allow it to resolve the issue; the page says most can be resolved within 30 days.[5] |
| Then | Where it applies, appraisal (auto and home) or a public adjuster (home); then file with TDI online.[2][3] | Gather the company's exact name, the agent or adjuster's name, policy and claim numbers, the date of loss, your declarations page and supporting documents; submit through the Consumer Assistance Portal.[5] |
| Company's time to respond to the regulator | 15 days, with a possible 10-day extension (auto and home pages).[2][3] | 14 days, which the page says is set by statute; the Division says it strives to resolve within 30 days.[5] |
| Not handled | Service providers such as body shops, mortgage companies, contractors and roofers; another person's insurance company (the auto page says TDI probably cannot help, for example when the other driver's insurer will not accept liability; the home page lists it as something TDI cannot do).[2][3] | Large employer health plans where the employer is headquartered outside Florida (the page points to the U.S. Department of Labor, which it says regulates employer self-funded health plans), Medicare Advantage plans, Medicaid, Florida KidCare, and policies bought in another state.[5] |
Texas: three product pages
- Overview. TDI's complaint page lists health (including mental health and substance use disorder treatment), auto, homeowners or renters, title, TWIA, flood, life and annuity, and other. It says you can upload a document to a complaint you already filed by logging into its Consumer Complaint Portal.[1]
- Auto. If you disagree with the adjuster's estimate, tell the company why and send supporting documents such as the body shop's estimate. The policy may include appraisal: you and the company each hire an appraiser, the two choose an umpire, and you pay for your appraiser and half the umpire. TDI says appraisal resolves only disputes about the amount of damage, and tells you to check your policy for deadlines to request it. TDI says it cannot decide who was at fault in an accident.[2]
- Homeowners or renters. The same company step; then appraisal or a public insurance adjuster. TDI says it cannot settle disputes where you and the company disagree about the facts, for example whether damage was caused by a storm or normal wear and tear.[3]
- Life and annuity. Talk to the company or agent, who can explain fees, charges and policy limitations, and ask for an annual statement. TDI points to the NAIC's Life Insurance Policy Locator Service for a missing policy or annuity contract, and says it cannot make a company return surrender charges or fees outlined in your policy or stop a company from increasing life insurance premiums.[4]
Florida: the Division's four sections
- The Division lists what it can help with as companies that issue policies in Florida for property and casualty, health, life, annuity, disability, long-term care, warranties, bail bonds and title insurance, and issues with agents and agencies, with examples such as coverage issues, claim disputes, premium issues, cancellations or non-renewals, refunds and sales misrepresentations.[5]
- It says it will have the company or agent explain its actions, review the response against Florida Statutes and the Administrative Code, help you understand your policy and recommend other places to go.[5]
- It says it cannot provide legal advice, make medical judgments, determine fault or questions of fact, or determine the value of a claim or the amount owed or act as your adjuster.[5]
- The page carries a notice that documents the Department receives in connection with official business are public records under section 119.011(12) of the Florida Statutes. The notice is on the Division's page.[5]
How to verify this yourself
The TDI and Florida pages are linked in the references and state the current steps and response times.
What this page does not cover
We do not cover other states' complaint processes, other Texas product pages (health, title, flood, TWIA), appeal rights under a policy, legal deadlines for suing, or whether any complaint would succeed. We do not name or rate any insurer or agent. This is general information, not insurance, tax or legal advice. For your own situation, ask your agent or insurer, or contact your state or provincial insurance regulator.
Your next step
Both regulators' pages start with the company. Each regulator's own page, linked below, has its current online complaint system and what it asks you to include.
Related checks
Our standard explains how we check an agent's license and disciplinary history. Check an agent reports our findings at category level, as a method and not a verdict. Neither reviews any insurer, plan or product. For which agent complaints go where, see how to file a complaint about an insurance agent. For the claim process itself, see how a claim works and the unfair claims settlement practices guide. For other states, use the state department of insurance directory. More plain-language guides are in the agent guides.
When we will update this page
We re-read the sources when they change. If something here is out of date, tell us. Corrections are dated on the page.
References
- [1] Texas Department of Insurance, "Get help with an insurance complaint" (last updated 7/8/2026), read 7 October 2026 — tdi.texas.gov/consumer/get-help-with-an-insurance-complaint.html
- [2] Texas Department of Insurance, "Get help with an auto insurance complaint" (last updated 4/24/2025), read 7 October 2026 — tdi.texas.gov/consumer/auto-insurance-complaint.html
- [3] Texas Department of Insurance, homeowners and renters insurance complaint page (last updated 9/23/2026), read 7 October 2026 — tdi.texas.gov/consumer/homeowners-renters-insurance-complaint.html
- [4] Texas Department of Insurance, annuity and life insurance complaint page (last updated 4/9/2025), read 7 October 2026 — tdi.texas.gov/consumer/annuity-life-insurance-complaint.html
- [5] Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Consumer Services, "Get Insurance Help", read 7 October 2026 — myfloridacfo.com/division/consumers/needourhelp
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