How to Become an Insurance Agent or Broker in California?

Car insurance rates for a   Chrysler Ford Gmc Toyota in   California Los Angeles

Estimated cost for car insurance $99 dollars.

Being a California certified insurance agent or broker means you are here to make affordable auto insurance, health and homeowner insurance for all Californians. But what are the step-by-step instructions on how to become an insurance broker in California? The real independent insurance agents in CA are able to research policies offered by several insurers, ensuring that their clients would be able to get the cheapest policy! Every potential customer knows, the only way to ensure you're getting the best home, car or health insurance deal is to shop around. Especially when it comes to insurance, customers care about a lot more than simply finding the lowest rates.

Getting your insurance license takes time, hard work, and money, so you will want to make sure that your efforts will pay off.

What kind of agent are you going to be?

What type of insurance policies are you going to sell? The most common types of authority are Property & Casualty (P&C) and Life, Accident, & Health (L&H) insurance. IMPORTANT: California state requires that all insurance license applicants provide fingerprints prior to licensing in such state.  The Producer Licensing Bureau has prepared licensing information on those license classes issued by this office to provide the necessary qualifications, requirements, and form numbers to file for the license types listed below. You can check license status: License status inquiry.

• Accident and Health Agent
• Adjuster
  • Adjuster (Independent)
  • Apprentice Public Insurance Adjuster
  • Crop Insurance Adjuster
  • Public Insurance Adjuster
• Administrator
• Automobile Insurance Agent (Limited Lines)
• Bail Agent
• Bail Permittee
• Bail Solicitor
• Cargo Shippers' Agent
• Casualty Broker-Agent
• Credit Insurance Agent
• Life Agent (Life-Only Agent, Accident and Health Agent)
• Life and Disability Insurance Analyst
• Life-Limited To The Payment of Funeral And Burial Expenses 
• Life-Only Agent
• Life Settlement Broker
• Life Settlement Provider
• Motor Club
• Part-Time Fraternal Agent
• Personal Lines Broker-Agent
• Portable Electronics Insurance Agent 
• Property and Casualty Broker-Agent - prelicense training
• Property Broker-Agent
• Reinsurance Intermediary-Broker/ Intermediary-Manager - Complete an application for the license and submit appropriate fees
• Rental Car Agent Licensing - Permits & Licenses
• Self-Service Storage Agent - Licensing Requirements For Self Service Storage Agent Limited Lines License
• Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker
• Surplus Line Broker
• Stock Agent
• Travel Insurance Agent (Limited Lines) - TRAVEL INSURANCE STANDARD 34. Limited Lines
• Title Marketing Representative
• Vehicle Service Contract Provider - more information

Contact Information: California Department Of Insurance

• Consumer Hotline: 1-800-927-4357 (HELP), 1-800-482-4833 (TTY)
• Licensing Hotline: 1-800-967-9331
• California Low Cost Automobile Program: 1-866-602-8861

Sacramento Office

• 300 Capitol Mall, Suite 1700
• Sacramento, CA  95814

San Francisco Office

• 45 Fremont Street, 23rd Floor
• San Francisco, CA 94105

Los Angeles Office

• 300 South Spring Street, South Tower
• Los Angeles, CA 90013

Service of Court Filings on the CDI

• Agent for Service of Process
• California Department of Insurance
• Government Law Bureau
• 300 Capitol Mall, Suite 1700
• Sacramento, CA 95814
• custodianofrecords@insurance.ca.gov