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How to check an insurance agent’s license
Insurance agent licenses are public records kept by each state. Checking one takes a couple of minutes and tells you whether the person you’re talking to is allowed to sell you what they’re selling.
By Agent Locator Updated 4 min read
Why check
Every state requires anyone who sells, solicits or negotiates insurance to hold a license from that state’s insurance regulator. A license lookup confirms that an agent is who they say they are, that the license is active, and that it covers the kind of insurance you’re buying. It’s the simplest protection against impostors and against agents operating outside what they’re authorized to do.
What the record shows
Each state’s tool looks a little different, but most show some combination of:
- License status — active, inactive, expired, suspended or revoked.
- Lines of authority — the kinds of insurance the agent may sell, such as life, accident and health, property, casualty or personal lines.
- Resident or nonresident — agents based in another state need a nonresident license to sell to you.
- License number and NPN — the National Producer Number is a unique ID used across states.
- Effective and expiration dates.
- Appointments — in many states, the insurance companies the agent is authorized to represent.
- Regulatory actions — some states show disciplinary history in the same tool; others list it separately on the regulator’s site.
How to look up a license
- Ask the agent for their full name as licensed, their license number or their NPN. A legitimate agent will give it to you.
- Open the lookup for your state below — the state where you live or where the property is — not only the agent’s home state.
- Search by name, license number or NPN. Several states use a shared lookup run by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) or by Sircon; on those, choose your state first.
- Confirm the status is active and that the lines of authority match what you’re buying.
- Check the regulator’s site for any enforcement or disciplinary actions if the lookup doesn’t show them.
License lookups by state
Links go to official state insurance regulator sites, or to the shared lookup tools those regulators send consumers to. Links were checked in October 2026; states update their systems, so if a link has moved, start from the regulator’s home page.
The NAIC also keeps a directory of every state insurance department, including U.S. territories.
If something looks wrong
If you can’t find the agent, the license is inactive, or it doesn’t cover the insurance being offered, don’t pay or sign anything until it’s resolved. Ask the agent to explain — names are sometimes licensed differently, or a license may be under an agency — and then contact your state insurance regulator. Every regulator listed above accepts consumer questions and complaints about agents.
Ready for the next step? Our list of questions to ask an insurance agent covers what to ask once you know the license checks out.
This guide is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Licensing rules, disclosure requirements and agent compensation practices vary by state. For anything specific to your situation, check with your state insurance regulator or a licensed professional.