What Is an NAIC Number, and Where Do I Find It?

The NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) number is assigned to every insurer to identify them and credential their insurance company. Founded in 1871, the NAIC is governed by chief insurance regulators from all U.S. states and sets standards and regulations for the American insurance industry. Let’s discuss what an NAIC number is, how to find it, and what you can use it for.

What Is an NAIC Number? 

The NAIC number is a unique five-digit identification code associated with an insurer and carries data on their finances, complaints, and more. 

An NAIC number is issued to every authorized insurance company operating in America to streamline claims. Large companies may have multiple NAIC numbers with unique numbers assigned to each of their affiliate organizations. Numbers are further broken down by the different policy types (e.g. home, auto, or boat). Insurers provide clients with the corresponding number for their insurance policy. Note that NAIC numbers might differ from state to state for the same insurer. 

Insurance Number vs. NAIC Number

The NAIC number is issued at the company level whereas insurance numbers are issued at the individual level to identify the policyholder.

How to Find the NAIC Number

 Here are a few quick tips for finding the NAIC number:

• It is a five-digit numeral.
• The NAIC number should be on your insurance card. If you can’t find it, look for the Company Number. If it is a five-digit number, then it is the NAIC number. 
• The insurance policy documentation also carries the NAIC number. The insurance policy has the NAIC number or the Company Number, so it is readily available at the time of claim. It’s the same number that’s on the insurance card. 
• If you fail to locate the NAIC number on the insurance card or the insurance policy documentation or have misplaced the documents or the card, go to the NAIC website. You can use the consumer insurance search tool on the site to locate your insurer’s company number. 

What’s the Purpose of an NAIC Number?

Here are a few circumstances where you might need to provide the NAIC number:

• The NAIC number identifies your insurer and the policy you have. If you file an insurance claim, you must provide the NAIC number. Without it, the claim is incomplete. 
• The NAIC number is a common requirement at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to register a vehicle or to complete other paperwork. (The DMV uses the NAIC number to track the insurance company’s information, such as its address.)
• If you have concerns over the practices and conduct of your insurance company, you can look up their profile online and check for any cases of fraud or financial anomalies. You may also file a complaint.

What is the NAIC Complaint Index?

Through the NAIC’s complaint index, you can use the NAIC number to research an insurance company’s closed complaints, cases of fraud, and financial data.

Reading the NAIC Complaint Index

The complaint index leverages customer satisfaction responses to calculate a rating based on the frequency of complaints. For instance, 1.0 is used as an average rating for the number of customer complaints for the company; higher than 1.0 indicates an above-average number of complaints, while a score below 1.0 denotes a lower-than-average number of complaints. Customers can leverage this information to find auto insurance with the lowest average number of documented complaints. In addition to the satisfaction ratings, you can learn about the most frequent categories of complaints from a provider.

Filing a Complaint With NAIC

While you may consider using NAIC complaint data to select your insurance, you may also report an issue with your insurer. To file a complaint, navigate to the NAIC consumer page and scroll down to the “File a Complaint” section. Here, you can select your state, U.S. territory, or district, which then opens a landing page for your specific jurisdiction. From there, you can report a complaint to your state commissioner via an Online Consumer Complaint Form explaining the situation and desired resolution. 

Summary

The NAIC number is a unique five-digit identification number provided to every insurer for licensing purposes. You can use the NAIC number to verify a company’s financial data, check fraud cases, and open and close complaints against the company. The NAIC number also helps you determine if the insurer is valid to practice in your area. 

You might need the NAIC number for your claims, filing cases against the misconduct of your insurer, or at the DMV. Make sure to provide the correct NAIC number, as some insurers have multiple NAIC numbers corresponding to the different services they provide. You can find the NAIC number or the company number on your insurance card, insurance policy documents, or the NAIC website. 

Matt Yantakosol is a lifelong automotive enthusiast and former consultant focused on the consumer aspect of the industry. He has traveled to New York, Detroit, Chicago, L.A., Paris, Geneva, Frankfurt, and Tokyo Auto Shows to track and observe the newest industry innovations. In addition to JDPower.com, Matt's writing has appeared on Pcarmarket.com.

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