Surplus Lines Broker License Compliance

BUSINESS-RELATED REQUIREMENTS

A surplus lines broker must observe the following business-related requirements (not an exhaustive list):

  • A broker must not procure surplus lines insurance coverage unless the Department of Insurance ("Export List") or the broker (after diligent effort) determined the coverage is not procurable from an Arizona-authorized insurer.  "Diligent effort" means "...having sought insurance for the same risk from at least three insurers authorized in [Arizona] to write the particular insurance coverage or type, class or kind of insurance."  ARS §§ 20-401(4), 20-409.
  • The broker may only procure surplus lines coverage from a qualified unauthorized insurer ("White List" or "NAIC List of Qualified Unauthorized Insurers").  ARS § 20-413.
  • Arizona law specifically bars a broker from placing coverage with an unauthorized insurer for the purpose of securing more advantageous rates or policy terms.  ARS § 20-407.
  • A broker must retain records of each surplus lines transaction until at least 3 years after the expiration or cancellation of the insurance policy.  ARS § 20-414.
  • A broker must transmit data concerning surplus lines transactions to The Surplus Line Association of Arizona (www.sla-az.org) by or before legal due dates.  ARS §§ 20-408, 20-415.
  • A broker must pay taxes on transactions by or before legal due dates.  ARS §20-416.
LICENSING-RELATED REQUIREMENTS

Among other requirements, a surplus lines broker must remain in compliance with the following licensing-related requirements:

REPORT CHANGES TO YOUR NAME, ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER

NIPR Change Information
Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) § 20-286(C) requires an insurance professional (insurance producers and others) to report each of the following within 30 days:

  • A change to the licensee's residential, mailing or business address, e-mail address or telephone number.
  • A licensee must use the NIPR Contact Change Request, which is offered by the National Insurance Producer Registry at no charge.
  • The addition, change or removal of a business-entity licensee's members, directors, officers or designated producer.
  • Complete Form L-177 to report a new member, officer or director (regardless of whether the business entity is licensed as an Arizona resident or non-resident).
  • Complete Form L-CHG to report a new designated responsible licensed producer/adjuster.
  • ​​For an Arizona-resident business entity, each new member, officer or director must submit fingerprints to the Department of Insurance in accordance with the procedures outlined in Form L-FPV.
  • A change to the licensee's name.
  • An Arizona resident must submit Form L-CHG with a copy of both sides of the newly issued Arizona Driver License or Arizona Non-operating Identification showing the new name.
  • A nonresident must first execute the name change with the insurance department in the licensee's home state, and then submit Form L-CHG to the Arizona Department of Insurance.
ASSUMED NAME / DBA

If you intend to do business under a name other than your legal name (called an "assumed name" or "DBA name"), complete and submit Form L-193 (Certificate of Assumed Business Name). Send completed forms by mail or by fax. Protect your assumed name by also registering it as a trade name with the Arizona Secretary of State. If you do not register a trade name, another person may register the name, which will force you to stop using the name.

LICENSE EXPIRATION VS. LICENSE SURRENDER

If you no longer wish to be licensed as an insurance professional in Arizona, or if you are no longer involved in a particular line of insurance business, you can either allow your license or the line of authority expire and decide to not renew it; or, you can surrender your license or a line of authority on your license.

IMPORTANT! If you surrender license authority, you will not be able to apply for the surrendered license authority for at least one year. Surrendering a license is irrevocable - you cannot decide that it was a mistake. Arizona law does not provide an exception that will allow a person who surrendered license authority to reapply for the surrendered authority within one year. 

REPORT ADMINISTRATIVE OR CRIMINAL PROSECUTION

Arizona Revised Statutes ("ARS") § 20-301 directly, or by reference from other statutes, requires insurance license holders (producers and most other insurance professionals) to report each

  • administrative action taken against the licensee, whether outside Arizona or by any governmental agency within Arizona, within 30 days of the final disposition of the matter, and must include copy of the order, consent to order or other relevant dispositive document;   
  • criminal prosecution of the licensee in any jurisdiction within 30 days after the initial pretrial hearing date, and must include a copy of the initial complaint filed, the order resulting from the hearing and all other relevant legal documents.

Submit your documents online using the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) Attachments Warehouse or mail them to the Department of Insurance Licensing Section.

IF YOU WISH TO TERMINATE A LICENSE...

If you no longer wish to be licensed as an insurance professional in Arizona, or if you are no longer involved in a particular line of insurance business, you can either 

  • allow your license or the line of authority to expire and decide to not renew it; or, 
  • surrender your license or a line of authority on your license. 

IMPORTANT! If you surrender your license or license authority, you will not be able to apply for the surrendered license or license authority for at least one year. Surrendering a license or license authority is irrevocable - you cannot decide that it was a mistake. Arizona law does not provide an exception that will allow a person who surrendered a license or license authority to reapply for the surrendered license or authority within one year.

Surplus Lines Broker License Compliance