Independent Adjuster vs. Public Adjuster: What Is the Difference?
Key takeaways
- •Staff and independent adjusters are both paid by your insurer.
- •Only a licensed public adjuster represents the policyholder.
- •New York caps public adjuster fees, and reputable adjusters charge a sliding scale.
Who is who
| Type | Who pays them | Whose interest |
|---|---|---|
| Staff adjuster | Your insurance company | The insurer |
| Independent adjuster | Your insurance company | The insurer |
| Public adjuster | You, from the settlement | You |
What that means in practice
The carrier adjuster measures, photographs, and writes an estimate using the company pricing software and the company interpretation of your policy. Anything not written into that estimate is not in your settlement.
A public adjuster writes a competing scope, prices it independently, identifies coverages the carrier estimate skipped - debris removal, code upgrades, contents, loss of use - and negotiates the difference.
When you probably do not need one
Small, clean losses with no coverage question and a fair first offer. If the estimate matches your contractor within a few percent, take it.
When you probably do
Fire and smoke, large water losses, disputed cause, denials, partial payments, or any claim where the first offer is a fraction of what repairs actually cost.
For official guidance on property insurance and claim rights, visit the New York State Department of Financial Services.
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