How do you look up a public adjuster's license in Georgia?
Short answer. Use the License Lookup tool on the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire website (oci.georgia.gov, under agents and agency licensing) and search by the person's name or license number. Confirm the license type is public adjuster, the status is active, and the name matches the person and firm on your contract.
What to check in the result
- License type. Company and independent adjusters work for insurers. Only a public adjuster license allows someone to represent you for a fee.
- Status and dates. Active, not expired, suspended, or revoked.
- Name match. The person who signs your contract and the firm on the letterhead should both check out.
- Resident or nonresident. After big storms, out-of-state public adjusters may hold Georgia nonresident licenses. That can be fine, but ask how they will attend a reinspection in person.
Two more checks the Commissioner recommends
In a 2023 consumer warning, the Commissioner said Georgia public adjusters must have their contract forms approved before using them, under O.C.G.A. 33-23-43.2, and that you can confirm a public adjuster has an approved contract on file through an open records request with the department. The same warning asked consumers to report anyone acting as a public adjuster without a license or a valid contract, or engaging in prohibited acts under O.C.G.A. 33-23-43.8, through the online consumer complaint form.
Red flags
- A roofer who offers to be your adjuster. Georgia law bars residential roofing contractors from negotiating your claim.
- A contract that puts the adjuster's name on checks without saying when your share is released.
- Pressure to sign the same day a storm hits.
Before hiring anyone, compare the roles in public adjuster vs roofer in Georgia and read about storm chaser scams.