NY Adjuster Licensing Explained | Insurance Law 2108 | Long Island Public Adjusters?

Insurance Law § 2108 licenses public, independent, and company adjusters in New York. Who represents you, who represents the carrier, and how to verify a license.

What is the difference between a public adjuster and an independent adjuster?

A public adjuster is licensed to represent you, the policyholder, and is paid by you under a written agreement. An independent adjuster is retained and paid by the insurance company to handle claims on its behalf. Both are licensed under Insurance Law § 2108, but they work for opposite sides.

Can my contractor negotiate my claim with the insurance company?

Negotiating or settling your claim for compensation is public adjusting, which requires a New York public adjuster license. A contractor can price and perform repairs and can provide documentation, but claim representation is a licensed activity.

How do I check if someone is licensed in New York?

Search the Department of Financial Services public license inquiry portal by name or license number. Long Island Public Adjusters holds New York License # PA-1156995.

Can an independent adjuster work as a public adjuster in New York?

Only with a separate New York public adjuster license. An independent adjuster license authorizes work on behalf of insurers; representing a policyholder for a fee requires the public adjuster license, and an adjuster cannot represent both the insurer and the policyholder on the same claim.

How long does a New York adjuster license last?

New York adjuster licenses are issued for a fixed term and must be renewed through the Department of Financial Services, with continuing education completed before renewal. A license that lapses must be renewed before the adjuster can keep working claims, so check that a license is active, not just that it exists.

All New York insurance regulations

New York Insurance Law § 2108

Who Is Allowed to Adjust an Insurance Claim in New York?

Only licensed adjusters, and the license type tells you who they work for. New York Insurance Law § 2108 is the licensing statute for adjusters. A public adjuster is licensed to act on behalf of the insured — you — for a fee. An independent adjuster is licensed to act on behalf of insurers. A staff or company adjuster is an employee of the carrier. All three may inspect your property and write an estimate, but only the public adjuster represents your interest. Licenses are issued and renewed by the Department of Financial Services, require continuing education, and can be verified publicly by name or license number.

Last reviewed September 15, 2026

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Key Points

Public adjuster: licensed to represent the insured, compensated by the insured under a written agreement.
Independent adjuster: licensed to represent insurers; paid by the carrier.
Staff/company adjuster: a carrier employee.
Licensing, renewal, and continuing education are administered by NYS DFS.
Anyone soliciting or negotiating your claim for a fee must hold a New York public adjuster license.
Contractors are not adjusters: a contractor negotiating your claim scope for you raises licensing issues.
Verify any adjuster's license through the DFS public inquiry portal before signing.

The 'free' adjuster who shows up after a storm

After every major Long Island storm, unlicensed people knock on doors offering to handle claims — sometimes contractors, sometimes out-of-state operators following the weather. The tell is simple: a licensed New York public adjuster gives you a license number and a written compensation agreement in the prescribed form. An unlicensed one offers a handshake, a contingent repair contract, or an assignment of benefits buried in a work authorization.

Signing a repair contract is not the same as retaining a representative for your claim. Know which document you are signing.

Independent adjuster is not neutral

The word 'independent' misleads a lot of homeowners. An independent adjuster is independent of the carrier as an employer, not in loyalty — the carrier retains and pays them, and their file goes back to the carrier. When an independent adjuster inspects your loss, you are being adjusted, not represented.

That is the difference our licensing page and our fees page spell out, with the credentials behind it: New York License # PA-1156995 and 22+ years in the industry.

Official text and citation

This page is a plain-English summary written for policyholders. The controlling language is the official text of New York Insurance Law § 2108, and your own policy governs your claim. Nothing here is legal advice.

Read Insurance Law § 2108 (official text)

Adjuster Licensing: Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions New York policyholders ask about this rule.