Agents & Brokers Overview / Resident License Renewal / Requirements / Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker

Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker

Licensing Information

Surplus Lines FAQ's

Applicable Forms:

Individual Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker

Apply for an insurance license online - Go to Sircon's Apply for a License for both resident and nonresident applicants to apply for an insurance license online.
Bond of Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker, form LIC 447-32, if applicable (see "Bond" note below).

Business Entity Special Lines Surplus Line Broker License

Apply for an insurance license online - Go to Sircon's Apply for a License for both resident and nonresident applicants to apply for an insurance license online.
Bond of Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker, form LIC 447-32.
Surplus Line and/or Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker Certification, form LIC-050.

Authorizing Act:

California Insurance Code (Cal. Ins. Code) Section 1760.5 reads, in part:

A Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker is a person who places the following types of insurance with non-admitted insurers:

Insurance against perils of navigation, transit or transportation upon hulls, freights or disbursements, or other shipowner interests; upon goods, wares, merchandise and all other personal property and interests therein, in course of exportation from or importation into any country or transportation coastwise, including transportation by land or water from point or origin to final destination and including war risks; and marine builder's risks, dry docks and marine railways, including insurance of ship repairer's liability, and protection and indemnity insurance, but excluding insurance covering bridges or tunnels.

Aircraft insurance.

Insurance on property or operations of railroads engaged in interstate commerce.

Qualifications:

Minimum Age: 18 years
Residency: California residency is not required.
Experience: Must hold a Property Broker-Agent, Casualty Broker-Agent license (resident and nonresidents) and a Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker license in resident state (nonresidents).
Entity Types: Individual and Business Entity

Filing Requirements: Individual - Residents

Application: Apply for an insurance license online - Go to Sircon's Apply for a License for both resident and nonresident applicants to apply for an insurance license online.
Bond: A Bond of Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker, form LIC 447-32, in the penal sum of $10,000 by a California admitted surety and accompanied by a jurat and a power of attorney for attorney in-fact executing bond; completed in the name of the applicant and signed by the applicant.

Special lines' surplus line brokers who are only transacting on behalf of a licensed special lines' surplus line broker business entity are not required to file a $10,000 special lines' surplus line bond. All other special lines' surplus line brokers must comply with the $10,000 bond requirement.

Individual Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker licensees who only transact on behalf of a special lines' surplus line broker business entity must have the business entity file a Business Entity Endorsement, form LIC 411-8A, to endorse the individual special lines' surplus line broker.
Additional Documents: The Insurance Commissioner may require such other documents as will aid in determining whether the applicant meets the qualifications for a license.
Fees: Individual - Residents:
- License filing - two year term: $646, the fee for an individual special lines' surplus line broker who only transacts on behalf of a special lines' surplus line business entity.
- License filing - two year term: $1,296, the fee for an individual special lines' surplus line broker who has a special lines' surplus line $10,000 bond on file.
- Renewal Fee - two year term: $646, the fee for an individual special lines' surplus line broker who only transacts on behalf of a special lines' surplus line broker business entity.
- Renewal Fee - two year term: $1,296, the fee for an individual special lines' surplus line broker who has a special lines' surplus line $10,000 bond on file.

Note: Applicants applying for both Surplus Line Broker and Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker need only submit one filing fee.

Filing Requirements: Business Entity - Residents

Application: Any legal entity, other than an individual, may qualify for a business entity license. Applicants must file online at Sircon's Apply for a License.
Bond: A Bond of Special Lines' Surplus Broker, form LIC 447-32, in the penal sum of $10,000, by a California admitted surety and accompanied by a jurat and a power of attorney for attorney in-fact executing the bond; completed in the name of the business entity and signed by an officer or partner.
Natural Person Named On Business Entity: Apply for an insurance license online - Go to Sircon's Apply for a License for both resident and nonresident applicants to apply for an insurance license online.

Note: Pursuant to Cal. Ins. Code Section 1656 the business entity must have at least one California resident endorsee for each license class to establish, maintain and renew the business entity license.

Fees: Business Entity - Residents:
- License filing - two year term: $1,296, the fee for a special line's surplus line broker business entity license.
- Renewal Fee - two year term: $1,296, the fee for a special line's surplus line broker business entity renewal.

Note: Applicants applying for both Surplus Line Broker and Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker need only submit one filing fee.

Filing Requirements: Individual - Non-Residents

Application: Apply for an insurance license online - Go to Sircon's Apply for a License for both resident and nonresident applicants to apply for an insurance license online.
Bond: Special lines' surplus line brokers who are only transacting on behalf of a licensed surplus line broker business entity are not be required to file a $10,000 special lines' surplus line broker bond. All other special lines' surplus line brokers must comply with the $10,000 bond requirement. A bond of Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker, form LIC 447-31, in the penal sum of $10,000, by a California admitted surety and accompanied by a jurat and a power of attorney for attorney in-fact executing bond; completed in the name of the applicant and signed by the applicant.

Individual Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker licensees who only transact on behalf of a special lines' surplus line broker business entity must have the business entity file a Business Entity Endorsement, form LIC 411-8A, to endorse the individual special lines' surplus line broker.
Additional Documents: The Insurance Commissioner may require such other documents as will aid in determining whether the applicant meets the qualifications for a license.
Fees: Individual - Non-Residents:
- License filing - two year term: $646, the fee for an individual special lines' surplus line broker who only transacts on behalf of a special lines' surplus line business entity.
- License filing - two year term: $1,296, the fee for an individual special lines' surplus line broker who has a special lines' surplus line $10,000 bond on file.
- Renewal Fee - two year term: $646, the fee for an individual special lines' surplus line broker who only transacts on behalf of a special lines' surplus line broker business entity.
- Renewal Fee - two year term: $1,296, the fee for an individual special lines' surplus line broker who has a special lines' surplus line $10,000 bond on file.

Filing Requirements: Business entity - Non-Residents

Business Entity Application: Any legal entity, other than an individual, may qualify for a business entity license. Applicants must file online at Sircon's Apply for a License .
Bond: A Bond of Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker form LIC 447-31, in the penal sum of $10,000, by a California admitted surety and accompanied by a jurat and power of attorney for attorney in-fact executing bond; completed in the name of the applicant and signed by the applicant.
Natural Person Named On Business Entity: Apply for an insurance license online - Go to Sircon's Apply for a License for both resident and nonresident applicants to apply for an insurance license online.
Additional Documents: The Insurance Commissioner may require such other documents as will aid in determining whether the applicant meets the qualifications for a license.
Fees: Business Entity - Non-Residents:
- Renewal Fee - two year term: $1,296, the fee for a non-resident special line's surplus line broker business entity renewal.
- License Filing - two year term:$1,296, the fee for a non-resident special line's surplus line broker business entity license.

License Term:

Pursuant to Cal. Ins. Code Section 1630, licenses are issued for two year terms. Specifically, the term of the first license begins the date the license is issued and expires the last day of that same calendar month two years later. Any additional licenses issued at a later date will expire at the same time as the initial license.

Renewal of License:

CDI emails licensees a renewal notification to their email address on record. The email notification includes the license number, license term, license type, and information regarding any continuing education requirements. You can update your e-mail address using Sircon.com - Change Address Online service.

Individuals and business entities who do not receive the email notification must still renew their license online at Sircon's Renewal or Reinstate a License.

Sircon's Renewal or Reinstate a License is available to insurance agents, brokers, and adjusters who want to reinstate their licenses after the license expiration date has passed. Additionally, Sircon's Renewal or Reinstate a License is available to insurance agents, brokers, and adjusters who previously used it as an on-time renewal but were not able to renew their license because not all of the requirements to renew were met prior to the license expiration date. Sircon's Renewal or Reinstate a License allows these licensees, once their requirements have been met, to complete the reinstatement of their license by paying the 50 percent late penalty fee.

Reinstating a license is not available to bail agents, who by law must reapply as a new applicant if their license is not renewed prior to the expiration date.

Any licensees that reinstate their licenses will be required to pay a 50 percent penalty fee and file new company appointments and/or business entity endorsements or solicitor appointment (if applicable). "Reinstate" is defined as any renewal for which the requirements to renew (for CA residents this includes completing the ethics and continuing education hours) are not met until after the expiration date of the previous license term. Use Sircon's Renewal or Reinstate a License to find out how to late renew your license.

Note: Pursuant to Cal. Ins. Code Section 1656 a non-resident business entity must have at least one active endorsee from a state other than California to renew the business entity license.

Additional Information:

Federal law (Title 18 United States Code Section 1033) prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a felony involving dishonesty or a breach of trust from conducting the business of insurance unless they have obtained the written consent of the Insurance Commissioner. It is a violation of this statute to conduct business of insurance without the Commissioners written consent. If you have been convicted of a felony involving dishonesty or a breach of trust then you must attach a copy of this consent. If you have not obtained this written consent you must do so by filing a 1033 Short Form Application for Written Consent prior to filing your application.

Limited liability companies (LLC's) are required to provide proof of satisfying the security requirements of Cal. Ins. Code Section 1647.5 when applying for an insurance license and once licensed, must also file with the Commissioner an annual confirmation of coverage demonstrating continued compliance with the financial security requirements.

For additional LLC application filing information, annual certification of coverage information, and links to forms that can be used as proof of fulfilling the security requirements please go to the following link: Business Entity Limited Liability Company Requirements.

To obtain insurance licensing forms by mail, e-mail your request to Producer Licensing Bureau.

To obtain insurance licensing information, you may phone the Licensing Hotline at (800) 967-9331.

All Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker fees and documents must be mailed to: Department of Insurance, Attention: SP Licensing, P.O. Box 1139, Sacramento, CA 95812-1139.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ'S)

Pursuant to Cal. Ins. Code Section 1751.5 all fees are non refundable, whether or not the application is acted upon or the examination taken.

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