Business Insurance in California

Insurance Regulator

California Department of Insurance

The California Department of Insurance regulates insurers and insurance producers, provides company and license-status searches, and accepts complaints through its Consumer Complaint Center. Its commercial-insurance guidance explains the Department’s limited jurisdiction over surplus-line insurers. ^3,4,5,6,16

• Regulator website
• License lookup
• File a complaint
• Phone: (800) 927-4357

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office

Reported tax rate: 3% of taxable premium when California is the insured's home state When California is your home state, the surplus-line broker tax is generally 3% of gross premiums less returned premiums. Ask the broker to show the home-state determination, taxable premium and any applicable exception; ordinary multistate reporting does not itself reduce the tax base. A broker generally must search the admitted market unless a California exemption or the qualified federal commercial-purchaser exception applies. CIGA does not protect claims under a surplus-line policy. ^{7,9,14,6,8,10,11,12,15}

Surplus Line Association of California

State Notes

• California usually requires an admitted-market search: Before most nonadmitted placements, a broker must search among admitted insurers. After a public hearing and the required statutory findings, California’s Commissioner may exempt qualifying coverage or risks through an Export List order. The confidential written report remains required under §1763.1. Separately, §1763(h) waives the search for a commercial insured meeting California’s §1760.1(b) definition: the broker must first give written disclosure about possible admitted-market availability and its potential greater protection and oversight, then receive the insured’s written request for nonadmitted placement. The broker must ensure eligibility, with a safe harbor for reasonable reliance on information supplied in good faith. The federal exempt-commercial-purchaser route under §8205 has its own §8206 definition and requires disclosure about possible admitted-market availability and its potential greater protection and oversight, followed by the purchaser’s written request. Ask which route and eligibility criteria the broker relies on. ^{8,11,12,1,2,17}
• Separate tax calculation from allocation reporting: Section 1775.5 generally counts the entire premium for nonadmitted insurance placed in one transaction with one underwriter or group for a California-home-state insured. It has a separate interstate-motor-transit formula and exclusions for premiums on insurance placed by or through a special-lines surplus line broker under §1760.5 and the defined risk-financing portion of specified Superfund remediation products. CDI’s calendar-year 2025 instructions include policy-related fees in gross premium, say it does not collect the tax on risks outside the United States, and treat multistate allocation percentages as informational. Have the broker explain how those rules apply to your placement. ^9,13,14

Coverage Guides

• General Liability Insurance in California

  California apportions noneconomic damages to each defendant’s fault share in comparative-fault actions, while personal-injury suits generally have a two-year period.

• Directors and Officers (D&O) Insurance in California

  Review California’s limited charter exculpation, officer carve-out, and indemnification rules before selecting D&O limits.

• Technology E&O in California

  California’s Supreme Court has recently addressed damage caps for intentional commercial wrongdoing, while leaving ordinary service failures outside that narrow holding.

• Cyber Liability Insurance in California

  California requires a 30-day notice for qualifying resident-data breaches, plus a 15-day AG sample filing above 500 notices.

• Media Liability Coverage in California

  California's correction-damages rule applies to libel in qualifying daily or weekly news publications and slander by radio; a separate anti-SLAPP procedure may apply to certain public-issue claims.

• Employment practices liability in California

  FEHA harassment can reach California employers below five employees and some contract-service providers, subject to a religious-entity exception; separate duties use a five-employee threshold.

• Fiduciary Liability Insurance in California

  Check Cal-COBRA scope, continuation periods, and the plan and administrator details to give a fiduciary-liability broker.

• California Hired and Non-Owned Auto Coverage

  How California’s proof-of-responsibility and permissive-owner liability rules affect work travel in borrowed or rented vehicles.

• Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance in California

  Learn how California’s certificate-of-merit and construction-defect rules affect architect, engineer, surveyor, and design-business E&O decisions.

• Workers’ Compensation Insurance in California

  See California’s first-employee requirement, the special rule for roofers without employees, and out-of-state work triggers.

• California BOP insurance: compare wildfire placement and property values

  Compare California BOP property, liability and income terms with wildfire-market options, valuation and common property exclusions.

• California umbrella and excess liability: price the Caltrans project tier

  For contractors bidding Caltrans construction or emergency work in California.

• Medical malpractice insurance in California

  California malpractice buying considerations around MICRA damages limits and insurer settlement reporting.

• Representations and Warranties Insurance in California

  Review California asset-sale votes, related-party approval thresholds, merger succession, and the difference between fraud deadlines and policy reporting terms.

• Kidnap and Ransom Insurance in California

  Check California’s K&R export-list timing, home-state scope, surplus-lines disclosures, and insurer eligibility before binding.

• California Crime Insurance Guide

  California’s escrow rules divide fidelity protection by transaction type: some licensed escrow agents use the Escrow Agents’ Fidelity Corporation, while other transactions require employee fidelity bonding.

• Commercial Auto Insurance in California

  California lists 30/60/15 liability for commercial and fleet vehicles and electronically verifies coverage with DMV.

• Cargo and Transit Insurance in California

  Compare California household-mover valuation with the $20,000 cargo filing and its formal lower-amount approval exception.

• Liquor Liability in California

  California generally bars civil liability to any injured person for specified intoxication injuries, with a narrow exception for furnishing alcohol to an obviously intoxicated minor.

• Key Person Insurance in California

  See California’s restriction on employer-beneficiary policies for nonexempt employees and the state rules that still apply to permitted coverage.

• Product Liability in California

  California's general injury deadline and comparative-fault allocation can help product sellers frame what to ask their broker.

• Commercial Property Insurance in California

  Compare California FAIR Plan access, temporary commercial limits, eligibility, and the terms to confirm for your business property.

• California garage liability for repair and service operations

  A guide for California dealers and repair businesses that diagnose, service, or repair vehicles, including mobile and subcontracted operations.

• Inland Marine Insurance in California

  California's insurance code describes property risks during transit and shipment preparation while drawing a boundary around motor vehicles in operation; ask how the policy handles each phase.

• California Contractor License Bonds

  California contractor bonding depends on the license entity and who qualifies it.

• California Builders Risk Insurance

  Check California fire hazard zones and project-specific wildfire requirements before comparing builders risk quotes.

• Equipment Breakdown Insurance in California

  California requires operating permits for specified boilers and pressure vessels, with exemptions that depend on equipment capacity and pressure; qualified insurer-employed inspectors may perform permit inspections.

• California management-liability coverage for small employers and benefit plans

  California’s small-employer harassment rule and its separate treatment of plan fiduciaries create two concrete quote checks: EPL scope for very small workforces, and a distinct fiduciary arrangement for plan roles.

• Product Recall Insurance in California

  California’s food-recall guidance sets out customer notice and traceability tasks; compare those costs with your trigger and response terms.

• California Fidelity Bonds for Independent Escrow Agents

  California independent escrow agents should classify transactions first: some require EAFC membership, while others require a filed fidelity bond.

• Intellectual Property Insurance in California

  Review California’s current publicity and digital-replica rules alongside copyright boundaries when buying defense for creative, advertising, or likeness disputes.

• Contract Frustration Insurance in California

  How California's insurance-class rules shape questions to ask about a contract-frustration policy.

• Last-mile delivery insurance in California

  California's permit rules can reach paid property transport regardless of vehicle size, so identify who is paid to carry parcels before selecting limits and vehicles.

• Venture Capital Asset Protection Insurance in California

  Check how California adviser rules and fund entity structure affect a venture capital manager’s insurance review.

• Digital asset business insurance in California

  Coverage questions for California digital-asset businesses, custodians, stablecoin issuers, and kiosk operators.

• Telehealth Insurance in California

  California requires documented patient consent before telehealth and keeps each clinician’s practice act and professional standards in force.

• Generative AI liability insurance in California

  California’s current rules separate public training-data documentation from provenance duties for large public GenAI providers; verify which developer and product thresholds fit you.

• Employee Health Benefits in California

  State-specific enrollment and continuation rules help employers in California compare group plans and employee transitions.

• Trucking Insurance in California

  Check California's Motor Carrier Permit scope, its household-goods exception, and the separate BHGS license and cargo filing for movers.

Sources

1. California Insurance Code §1763. California Legislature; §1763(a): diligent search; (h)(1): defined commercial-insured written disclosure and subsequent request; (h)(2): broker eligibility responsibility and reasonable good-faith reliance. Accessed 2026-09-28.
2. California Insurance Code §1760.1. California Legislature; §1760.1(b): commercial-insured definition at placement, risk manager, prior premiums and size criteria with periodic monetary adjustments; (o): qualified risk manager. Accessed 2026-09-28.
3. California Department of Insurance. California Department of Insurance; Official agency homepage. Accessed 2026-09-28.
4. Company and Agent/Broker Information. California Department of Insurance; State page linking license-status checks, company information, and surplus-line insurer resources. Accessed 2026-09-28.
5. Consumer Complaint Center. California Department of Insurance; Consumer Complaint Center entry point to file an insurance complaint. Accessed 2026-09-28.
6. Commercial Insurance Guide (Form 700, revised June 14, 2024). California Department of Insurance; Form 700 revision beneath heading; What Should I Expect from a Broker-Agent: CDI licensing role (line 333); Surplus Line Insurance: broker disclosure, limited CDI jurisdiction and CIGA exclusion (lines 448–449); Talk to Us: consumer hotline (line 942). Page retrieved September 28, 2026; revision date is not an access date. Accessed 2026-09-28.
7. 2024 Annual Report of the Commissioner. California Department of Insurance; Page 169: surplus-line brokers pay 3.00% of surplus-line premiums under CIC § 1775.5. Accessed 2026-09-28.
8. Export List Hearings. California Department of Insurance; CIC §§ 1763 and 1763.1: diligent admitted-market search and commissioner exemption process. Accessed 2026-09-28.
9. California Insurance Code § 1775.5. California Legislature; §1775.5(a) 3% of gross premiums less returns and specified exclusions; (b) entire-premium rule and separate interstate-motor-transit deductions; (e) defined blended finite-risk and risk-financing terms. Accessed 2026-09-28.
10. 15 U.S.C. §8201: Reporting, payment, and allocation of premium taxes. U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Law Revision Counsel; §8201(a) exclusive home-State premium-tax authority; (b)(1) interstate allocation procedures; (c) allocation reporting. Accessed 2026-09-28.
11. 15 U.S.C. § 8205: Streamlined application for commercial purchasers. U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Law Revision Counsel; §8205(1)-(2): broker disclosure that admitted insurance may or may not be available with greater protection and oversight, then purchaser written request; ECP eligibility separately defined in §8206(5). Accessed 2026-09-28.
12. 15 U.S.C. § 8206, Definitions. U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Law Revision Counsel; §8206(5) ECP eligibility including qualified risk manager, prior premiums and adjusted size/other criteria; (6) home State and affiliated-insured rules; (13) qualified risk manager. Accessed 2026-09-28.
13. California Insurance Code § 1760.5. California Legislature, Legislative Counsel; §1760.5(g): premiums placed under the special-lines license are not subject to the §1775.5 broker tax. Accessed 2026-09-28.
14. CDI FS-006, Surplus Line Broker and Special Lines Surplus Line Broker Insurance (Premium) Tax Return Instructions, revised 2025-11, calendar-year 2025. California Department of Insurance; Calendar-year 2025 instructions revised November 2025; page 2, lines 1–4: fees, outside-US risks, returns and 3%; page 5: allocation percentages informational. Accessed 2026-09-28.
15. Association Constitution. Surplus Line Association of California; ArticleXV(1) Stamping Office filing function; XV(4) Commissioner-delegated duties subject to approved Plan of Operations. Accessed 2026-09-28.
16. About the Department. California Department of Insurance; Department overview: insurer solvency oversight, agent/broker licensing, company market-conduct reviews, complaints, and insurance-industry regulation. Accessed 2026-09-29.
17. California Insurance Code §1763.1. California Legislature; §1763.1(a): Commissioner order after public hearing and statutory findings; Export List exemptions retain confidential written report; restricted classes and continuing review. Accessed 2026-09-29.
18. Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
19. Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
20. Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
21. Legal Information. Gallagher Small Business; Producer identification immediately above Quick Links. Accessed 2026-09-16.
22. About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
23. Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
24. Licenses & Disclosures. RiskCube; Property & Casualty Producer/Broker Licenses; February 11, 2026 version. Accessed 2026-09-16.
25. Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
26. Hartford Fire Insurance Company. California Department of Insurance; NAIC 19682; California Company ID 0085-1; authorized 01/07/1870; license status UNLIMITED-NORMAL; property and casualty; Connecticut domicile. No expiry/renewal field. Accessed 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
27. Company Profile — Travelers Indemnity Company (The). California Department of Insurance; NAIC 25658; California Company ID 4772-0; authorized 06/17/2002; license status UNLIMITED-NORMAL; property and casualty; Connecticut domicile. No expiry/renewal field. Accessed 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
28. Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.