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Insurance 2026Updated

List of Licensed Surplus Lines Insurance Brokers

Comprehensive database of licensed surplus lines insurance brokers across the United States, including contact details, lines of authority, and specialty coverages. Ideal for risk managers seeking brokers who can place hard-to-find coverage for non-standard or complex exposures.

Available Data Fields

Broker Name
License Number
State Licensed
Lines of Authority
Specialty Coverages
Headquarters
Phone
Email
Website
License Status
E&S Carriers Represented
Year Established

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Broker NameHeadquartersSpecialty CoveragesYear Established
Amwins Group, Inc.Charlotte, NCProperty, Casualty, Professional Lines1998
RT Specialty, LLCChicago, ILProperty, Casualty, Transportation, Workers Comp2010
CRC Group, LLCBirmingham, ALProperty, Casualty, Professional Liability1982
Burns & WilcoxFarmington Hills, MICommercial, Personal, Professional, Brokerage1969
Risk Placement Services, Inc.Rolling Meadows, ILProperty, Casualty, Specialty Programs1997

8,000+ records available for download.

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Understanding Licensed Surplus Lines Insurance Brokers in the U.S.

Surplus lines insurance also called excess and surplus lines covers risks that admitted carriers are unwilling or unable to write. These include unusual exposures, high-hazard operations, and emerging industries where loss data is thin. In 2024, the U.S. surplus lines market surpassed $129 billion in direct written premium, accounting for roughly 12% of the total property and casualty market.

Why Surplus Lines Brokers Require Separate Licensing

Every U.S. state mandates that surplus lines placements be handled by a broker holding a specific surplus lines license, separate from a standard property-casualty producer license. The surplus lines broker is the sole regulated entity in the transaction and bears responsibility for:

Diligent Search
Documenting that coverage was declined or unavailable in the admitted market before placing with a non-admitted carrier.
Eligible Insurer Verification
Confirming that the surplus lines carrier meets the state financial requirements and appears on the state approved or eligible insurer list.
Tax Remittance
Collecting and remitting surplus lines premium taxes to the home state, as required under the Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act (NRRA).

Market Structure and Key Players

The wholesale distribution channel is dominated by a handful of large firms. Amwins Group, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is the largest wholesale broker in the nation. RT Specialty (a Ryan Specialty company) operates from Chicago with over 40 offices nationwide. CRC Group, with more than 100 offices, handles property, casualty, and professional liability placements at virtually any scale. Burns and Wilcox, founded in 1969 in Michigan, is the largest independent wholesale broker in North America.

Beyond the majors, thousands of smaller specialty brokers operate at the regional and state level, often focusing on niche classes such as cannabis, cyber liability, wildfire-exposed property, or entertainment risks.

How Licensing Varies by State

While the NAIC and the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) provide a standardized framework, each state sets its own surplus lines licensing requirements. Common requirements include:

RequirementTypical Standard
Prerequisite LicenseActive P and C producer license in the home state
Experience1-3 years as a licensed P and C agent or broker
ExaminationSurplus lines specific exam (varies by state)
Continuing EducationState-mandated CE credits, often including surplus lines topics
Bond RequirementSome states require a surety bond (e.g., $50,000 in Florida)

Regulatory Oversight

The Wholesale and Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA), with approximately 735 member firms, serves as the primary industry trade group. State-level surplus lines stamping offices such as the Surplus Line Association of California and the Florida Surplus Lines Service Office process filings, collect taxes, and maintain public records of placements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.How current is the surplus lines broker licensing data?

When you submit a request, our AI crawls state insurance department databases and public licensing registries in real time to compile the most current broker information available. This is not a static database. Data is gathered fresh for each request.

Q.Does this list cover all 50 states?

Yes. Our system pulls from public licensing records across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Since each state maintains its own surplus lines broker registry, this dataset aggregates what would otherwise require checking dozens of separate state databases.

Q.Can I filter by specific coverage types like cannabis or wildfire?

Absolutely. You can specify any coverage class or risk type in your request, and the results will include only brokers who actively write that specialty. Common filters include cyber, environmental, cannabis, transportation, and high-value property.

Q.How do you verify that brokers are currently licensed?

Licensing status is sourced from publicly available state insurance department records and the NIPR (National Insurance Producer Registry). We report the status as published by these official sources but recommend confirming directly with the relevant state department before placing coverage.

Q.What is the difference between a surplus lines broker and a standard insurance agent?

A standard insurance agent places coverage with admitted carriers regulated by state guaranty funds. A surplus lines broker holds a separate, additional license that authorizes them to place coverage with non-admitted (surplus lines) carriers for risks the admitted market cannot accommodate. Surplus lines placements are not protected by state guaranty funds.