How to Verify an Insurance Agents License Online or Over the Phone
In order to verify an insurance agent’s license, we are going to direct you to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Scroll down to “State Department.” From there, simply select your state in the dropdown menu. This will connect you with your State’s Department of Insurance (DOI) where licensure can be investigated and verified by navigating the State’s website. Some State’s simply have better navigation than others so be patient with their technology. If you so choose, you may also call the number posted on their website to get verbal verification instead. If you are working with an agent or agency, request their state license number. All agents and agencies have a unique number that identifies them. This will be the easiest way to investigate who you are dealing with.
Use the license number you were given by the agent you spoke with. Be sure you have any agency name or the individuals first and last name spelling “on point” if you do not have a license number. Further, know what town his/her office is located in. This is important if you do not have a license number especially if they have a common last name.
All insurance companies, agents and brokers are regulated by each state. State licensure with your state is required to transact the sale of any health or life insurance to you. The agent or agency does not have to be located in the state, only appropriately licensed. Insurance companies will not accept an application from an agent not licensed in your state regardless of the type of insurance you wish to purchase.
An agent, a broker or an agency must maintain licensure in each separate state they wish to conduct business in.
Verify a Michigan Insurance Agent License
If you are a resident of Michigan and would like to verify an insurance agent’s license, you could do this quickly by visiting the Michigan DFIS (Department of Financial and Insurance Services). Put in the name of the agent you spoke with and ideally, their NPN (National Producer Number). If not, enter the city and state where they reside in order to verify you have the correct individual. Be sure to validate if the license status is “active.”
As a consumer, you may also verify a Michigan insurance agency license as well. Just use the DFIS “Agency Locator” if that is your goal. You may experiment by looking up “Maple Valley Insurance Group.” This will show our address in Kalamazoo, MI and whether the State of Michigan has this agency in good standing.
Michigan Life Insurance License Lookup
This is done with the same resources as above, the Michigan DFIS Insurance and Financial Services Search. Before you running your search, you should know whether the agent your checking out is a resident of Michigan or not. Yes, the tool will be searching among resident and non-resident life insurance agents. First and last name with their NPN number is ideal. If located, the search tool will also verify if they can sell you life insurance. Licensed agents must be licensed in “Life Insurance” specifically. Someone who can sell Auto and Homeowners insurance is not necessarily licensed to sell or advise you in life insurance.