---
title: "What Is an Insurance Broker?"
description: "How a broker shops coverage for the customer, and why that title does not identify the issuing insurer."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/insurance-glossary/insurance-broker"
page-type: "insurance-definition"
updated-at: "2026-09-21"
verified-at: "2026-09-21"
entities: ["Spot"]
---

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[Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/insurance-glossary/insurance-broker)

# What Is an Insurance Broker?

How a broker shops coverage for the customer, and why that title does not identify the issuing insurer.

A broker looks for insurance on the customer's behalf rather than selling as one company's appointed agent. The broker is still a licensed producer; the title on a website does not name the company that will issue the policy. [Glossary of Insurance Terms](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/20-Glossary/), [Insurance License Types and Fees](https://oci.wi.gov/Pages/Agents/TypesOfLicenses.aspx)

## What a Broker Does

A broker shops coverage for the customer instead of selling as one insurer's appointed agent. A broker is paid to look for insurance; an agent is authorized to sell by or on behalf of an insurance company. The insurer is still the insurance company on the policy. [Glossary of Insurance Terms](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/20-Glossary/)

Licensing terminology depends on the state. In Wisconsin, brokers, agents, producers and managing general agents are all classified as intermediaries. [Insurance License Types and Fees](https://oci.wi.gov/Pages/Agents/TypesOfLicenses.aspx)

## What It Does Not Prove

Calling a firm a broker does not name the issuing insurer or move claims-paying duty onto the broker. Access to many markets is not evidence of which company will appear on a given policy. [Glossary of Insurance Terms](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/20-Glossary/)

## What to Confirm

Separate three facts: the broker's own producer authority, the markets it may approach, and the insurer named on the quote. [Glossary of Insurance Terms](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/20-Glossary/), [Insurance License Types and Fees](https://oci.wi.gov/Pages/Agents/TypesOfLicenses.aspx)

## Related terms

- [What Is an Insurance Producer License?](/insurance-glossary/insurance-producer-license)
- [What Is an Insurance Carrier?](/insurance-glossary/insurance-carrier)
- [What Is a Managing General Agent?](/insurance-glossary/managing-general-agent)
- [What Is a National Producer Number?](/insurance-glossary/national-producer-number)

## Sources

- [Glossary of Insurance Terms](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/20-Glossary/) — California Department of Insurance; Broker: a licensed person or organization paid by you to look for insurance on your behalf; Agent: authorized to sell insurance by or on behalf of an insurance company; Insurer: the insurance company; accessed 2026-09-21.
- [Insurance License Types and Fees](https://oci.wi.gov/Pages/Agents/TypesOfLicenses.aspx) — Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance; An insurance broker, insurance agent, producer, and a managing general agent are considered an intermediary individual; last updated June 1, 2026; accessed 2026-09-21.

## Agent and Developer Resources

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