How Much Does a Public Adjuster Cost in New York?
Key takeaways
- •Public adjusters work on contingency - a percentage of what you recover, with no upfront cost
- •Long Island Public Adjusters charges 6% to 12% based on the size, severity, and type of loss
- •New York caps public adjuster compensation at 12.5% of the recovery under Insurance Regulation 10
- •The fee covers the whole claim: policy review, documentation, estimating, proof of loss, and negotiation
- •The fee is only worth it if the settlement rises by more than the fee - ask for an honest answer at the free review
How Public Adjuster Fees Work
Public adjusters are paid on contingency: a percentage of the insurance settlement they help you recover. There is no hourly billing and no upfront retainer. If there is no recovery, there is no fee.
At Long Island Public Adjusters, fees range from 6% to 12% depending on the size, severity, and type of loss. A large, well-documented fire loss sits at the lower end of that range; a small, complex, heavily disputed claim sits at the higher end.
New York Caps What a Public Adjuster Can Charge
New York regulates public adjuster compensation under Insurance Regulation 10 (11 NYCRR Part 25). A public adjuster may not charge more than 12.5% of the recovery on a claim.
That cap is the ceiling, not the going rate. Any Long Island adjuster quoting above 12.5% on a standard claim is quoting outside what New York allows.
What the Fee Covers
The percentage covers the entire claim, end to end:
- Full policy review, including endorsements, sublimits, and exclusions
- On-site inspection and photo, video, and moisture documentation
- A line-item estimate of repair and replacement costs
- A contents inventory
- Additional Living Expense (ALE) documentation
- Proof of loss preparation and submission
- All correspondence and negotiation with the carrier
- Supplemental claims when hidden damage surfaces during repairs
Is the Fee Worth It?
The question is not the percentage. It is whether the settlement ends up higher by more than the fee.
On a claim the carrier scoped at $40,000 that settles at $75,000, a 10% fee costs $7,500 and nets you $27,500 more than the original offer. On a claim already scoped correctly, a public adjuster may add little and should tell you so during the free review.
That is why the first conversation is free. If your claim does not need representation, you should hear that before you sign anything.
Get a Fee Quote for Your Claim
Call 516-410-0164 for a free claim review. We will look at your policy and your damage, tell you what we think the claim is worth, and quote the exact fee before you commit to anything.
For official guidance on property insurance and claim rights, visit the New York State Department of Financial Services.
Need Help With Your Claim?
Get a free consultation with our licensed public adjusters.