Last reviewed: 27 October 2026

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New York adjuster license lookup: how to check an independent or public adjuster

The short answer: use the New York Department of Financial Services' (DFS's) Producer/Licensee Search. On its adjuster licensing page, DFS says this is the tool to "determine if a license has been issued and to view the license number." (Source: DFS, Insurance Adjuster Licensing; DFS, Producer/Licensee Search.) This page covers New York only. Our guide to adjuster types covers the general idea, and our New York agent guide covers agents and brokers.

Two kinds of adjuster, two licenses

DFS licenses two kinds of adjuster, and they work for different people. (Source: DFS, Insurance Adjuster Licensing.)

• Independent adjuster (license code IA). DFS defines this as anyone who "acts in this state on behalf of an insurer when investigating and adjusting claims arising under insurance contracts issued by the insurer." (Source: DFS, Insurance Adjuster Licensing; DFS, Adjuster Applicant Instructions.)
• Public adjuster (license code PA). DFS defines this as anyone who "acts on behalf of an insured in negotiating the settlement of a claim or claims for loss or damage to property of the insured." (Source: DFS, Insurance Adjuster Licensing; DFS, Adjuster Applicant Instructions.)

Both licenses are issued under section 2108 of the New York Insurance Law, according to DFS's application instructions. (Source: DFS, Adjuster Applicant Instructions.) DFS's consumer page puts the difference plainly: when you hire a public adjuster, "they represent you, not the insurance company." (Source: DFS, Adjusters, Appraisers & Umpires.)

Sources and dates

The references below list the DFS pages used here, each read on 27 October 2026. DFS does not date its adjuster licensing page, its application instructions or its consumer page on adjusters, so check them again if you are reading this much later. (Source: DFS, Insurance Adjuster Licensing; DFS, Adjuster Applicant Instructions; DFS, Adjusters, Appraisers & Umpires.)

Step 1: get the full name and license number

Ask the adjuster for their full name as licensed and their New York license number. If they work through a firm, ask for the firm's name too, since DFS licenses firms and corporations as adjusters as well as individuals. (Source: DFS, Insurance Adjuster Licensing.)

Step 2: open the Producer/Licensee Search

The search is at myportal.dfs.ny.gov. (Source: DFS, Producer/Licensee Search.) DFS's consumer page also points to its "Who We Supervise" app on the DFS Portal as a way to find a public adjuster. (Source: DFS, Adjusters, Appraisers & Umpires.)

Step 3: read the result for what it is

DFS describes the search as showing whether a license has been issued and its number. (Source: DFS, Insurance Adjuster Licensing; DFS, Producer/Licensee Search.) The DFS pages we read do not say the search shows discipline or complaints. If you get no result, re-check the spelling and ask the adjuster for the exact name and number on their license. Do not assume either that the person is licensed or that they are not.

DFS does not mail paper licenses. Licensees print their own once it is issued. (Source: DFS, Insurance Adjuster Licensing.) If an adjuster shows you a license document, compare it with the search result.

All New York adjuster licenses expire on 31 December of even-numbered years, according to DFS. (Source: DFS, Insurance Adjuster Licensing.) Compare that date with what your result shows.

Step 4: check DFS's disciplinary summaries

DFS publishes "Insurance Disciplinary Action Summaries" for insurance licensees and registrants as monthly PDFs, 2021 to present. (Source: DFS, Insurance Disciplinary Action Summaries.) The page lists them by month, so open the months you care about. For the general grounds, see our guide to suspending or revoking a license.

If you are thinking of hiring a public adjuster

DFS has a consumer page on public adjusters that covers how they are paid, the written agreement you sign and when you can cancel it. Read it before you sign anything. (Source: DFS, Adjusters, Appraisers & Umpires.)

How DFS licenses adjusters

DFS lists these requirements for each license. (Source: DFS, Insurance Adjuster Licensing; DFS, Adjuster Applicant Instructions.)

DFS also offers a Temporary Adjuster Permit after a catastrophe or emergency. It lets someone not licensed as an independent adjuster in New York, but otherwise qualified, adjust claims if a New York authorized insurer sponsors them. (Source: DFS, Insurance Adjuster Licensing.)

If something looks wrong

DFS's online Consumer Complaint application takes complaints about "an insurance company, bank, student loan, mortgage or foreclosure, bail agent, or other financial service or product," and lets you check a complaint's status or add information later. DFS warns that "we may share a copy of your complaint with the company or individual you are complaining about." (Source: DFS, File a Complaint.) Our complaint guide covers what to include.

When we will update this page

If something here no longer matches what DFS publishes, tell us.

References

1. New York State Department of Financial Services, "Insurance Adjuster Licensing", read 27 October 2026. https://www.dfs.ny.gov/apps_and_licensing/agents_and_brokers/lic_app_ia_pa
2. New York State Department of Financial Services, "Instructions for Adjuster (IA or PA) Applicant", read 27 October 2026. https://www.dfs.ny.gov/apps_and_licensing/agents_and_brokers/lic_app_ia_pa_inst
3. New York State Department of Financial Services, "Producer/Licensee Search", read 27 October 2026. https://myportal.dfs.ny.gov/nylinxext/elsearch.alice
4. New York State Department of Financial Services, "Adjusters, Appraisers & Umpires", read 27 October 2026. https://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumers/disaster_flood/adjusters_appraisers_umpires
5. New York State Department of Financial Services, "Insurance Disciplinary Action Summaries", read 27 October 2026. https://www.dfs.ny.gov/Industry_guidance/disciplinary_actions
6. New York State Department of Financial Services, "File a Complaint", read 27 October 2026. https://www.dfs.ny.gov/complaint