Guides
How to check that an insurance agent is licensed
Step-by-step: verify an agent's license with the NAIC lookup, your state insurance department, NIPR and, for securities, FINRA BrokerCheck.
You can check an agent's license in a few minutes, for free, with the NAIC's insurance agent search or your state insurance department's licensee lookup. Search by name, confirm the license is active in the state where you live, check that it covers life insurance, and ask for the agent's National Producer Number (NPN) so you can match the right person. If the person cannot be found, do not pay or sign anything.
What "licensed" means
Anyone who sells, solicits or negotiates life insurance or annuities in a state must hold a license from that state, issued by its insurance department. The industry calls the licensee a producer. A producer license is separate from the agent's relationship with an insurer: a captive agent sells one company's products, an independent agent can place business with several, and both need the same state license. A company must also appoint the producer to sell its products, and appointments appear in licensing records.
The NAIC describes its free Insurance Agent Search as a way to find out whether a person is licensed to sell insurance, showing whether the person is licensed in your state and the products they are authorized to sell. It asks for the person's first name, last name, city and state. Some states also run their own lookup, and the NAIC says its State Based Systems (SBS) licensee lookup covers many of them.
Step by step
- Get identifying details. Ask for the agent's full legal name, license number and NPN. The NPN is a unique national identifier assigned to individuals and agencies, separate from any state license number, according to NIPR. A legitimate agent should provide it without hesitation, and it usually appears on a business card or the application.
- Search the NAIC lookup. Use the NAIC Insurance Agent/Broker Search, which links onward to the participating states' systems. Enter the name and location. If the name is common, narrow by city or license number.
- Search your own state's lookup (often more detailed). Each state insurance department keeps the authoritative record. Examples: - California Department of Insurance license status (see California) - Texas Department of Insurance agent and adjuster lookup (see Texas) - Florida Department of Financial Services licensee search (see Florida) - New York Department of Financial Services agents and brokers (see New York) - For any other state, find your department through NIPR's state information page or the NAIC's state insurance department directory. See state insurance departments: what they do for you.
- Read the record, not just the name. Check each of these items: - Status is active, not expired, suspended, revoked or inactive. - The license type covers life insurance (often "life" or "life and health"); variable products need a securities registration as well. - The license state matches the state where you live; a seller must be licensed (or hold a non-resident license) in your state. - Any listed regulatory actions or disciplinary history. Many state records show them. - Appointments: whether the company the agent says they represent has appointed them. Not every state displays appointments.
- Confirm the insurer. The company should itself be authorized in your state. Search your state department's company lookup, and check financial strength; see AM Best, S&P, Moody's and Fitch ratings explained.
- Verify through the insurer if still unsure. Call the insurer using the number on its official website and ask whether the person is appointed.
- Save a screenshot of the result with the date.
Agents who sell securities-based products
Variable annuities, variable life and registered index-linked annuities are securities. The seller needs insurance and securities credentials. FINRA recommends checking a broker's licensing and complaint history in BrokerCheck, and the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site covers registered investment advisers. If someone presents as a financial planner who advises for a fee, check there too. Under variable life insurance and the securities rules that govern it, these sales have extra rules. See also annuity sales abuses targeting seniors.
Reading the results: what each outcome means
| What you see | What it suggests | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Active license, right state, life line | Normal | Continue, and still ask about compensation |
| Active but different state only | May lack authority where you live | Ask for a non-resident license in your state |
| Expired or inactive | Not authorized now | Do not buy; ask why |
| Suspended or revoked | Disciplined or barred | Walk away; report if they solicited you |
| Not found | Wrong spelling, a new license, or unlicensed | Retry with the license number; contact the department |
| Name matches but details differ | Possible identity borrowing | Call the department with the person's number |
Name matches are not proof. Scammers can quote a real agent's license number. Confirm that the phone number, email and address you have match the licensee's record, and call the department if unsure.
Common questions
Is a lookup enough? No. A license shows legal authority, not competence or a duty to put you first. Use questions to ask a life insurance agent for the conversation, and learn how how life insurance agents are paid work.
What about online comparison sites and call centers? They are usually licensed agencies or brokers; look up the agency or the individual who takes your application. Compare channels in where to buy life insurance: agents, brokers, online and work.
Can I check agencies? Yes. Most lookups include a business entity search, and the agency has its own NPN.
What if the agent is licensed but did something wrong? File a complaint with the state insurance department; see how to file a complaint against a life insurer. Complaints can lead to fines, license action or restitution, and the department can tell you what it can and cannot do.
Key takeaways
- Check the NAIC Insurance Agent Search and your state department's lookup before you pay or sign; both are free.
- Confirm status is active, the license type includes life insurance, and it is valid in your state.
- Variable and index-linked products also need securities registration; check BrokerCheck.
- Ask for the NPN, match phone and address to the record, and save a dated screenshot.
- Licensing does not guarantee good advice; if a licensed seller misleads you, file a state complaint.