What is the difference between a claims adjuster and a public adjuster?
Short answer. A claims adjuster works for the insurance company, either as an employee or as an independent adjuster it hires, and determines what the policy pays. A public adjuster is licensed to represent you, the policyholder, under a written contract, and is paid a fee out of your settlement, usually a percentage.
Side by side
- Who hires them: the insurer hires the claims adjuster; you hire the public adjuster.
- Who pays: the insurer pays its adjuster at no direct cost to you; a public adjuster's fee comes out of your claim money.
- What they do: the claims adjuster inspects, writes the estimate and applies the policy; the public adjuster documents your loss, prepares the claim and negotiates with the insurer for you.
- Licensing: both must be licensed by the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, and its online license lookup lets you check.
When a public adjuster makes sense
Large or complicated losses, such as a fire, major water damage, or a claim stuck in a coverage dispute. On a straightforward hail or wind roof claim, the fee can cost more than the public adjuster adds, especially when your roofer documents the damage and supplements the scope.
Where roofers fit
A roofing contractor cannot act as your public adjuster in Georgia. A roofer can inspect and document the damage, meet the insurer's adjuster on the roof, point out what was missed, and submit supplements for the work the roof needs. See public adjuster vs roofer and how to prepare for the adjuster.