- 1). Choose an agent. A good insurance agent will not pressure you to sign anything until you are ready, or hesitate to answer questions you have. Once you have someone you feel confident is professional and competent, continue your research.
- 2). Ask your agent to see proof of licensure. The law requires insurance agents and brokers to carry their licenses in the state of New York, and a legitimate agent should not hesitate to provide this document to you.
- 3). Copy your insurer's name and company name from their insurance licensure. Make sure you spell everything correctly, as a misspelled name might lead the New York State Insurance Board to falsely identify a legitimate agent as a scammer.
- 4). Search the New York State Insurance Department's online database to verify that your insurance agent's company is licensed and recognized by New York State (see Resources).
- 5). Call the New York State Insurance Department's Licensing division at 518-474-6630 and verify the licensure of both the company and your insurance agent. The online database is a comprehensive tool for making sure that your insurance agent's company is licensed, but you need to speak to someone on the telephone to verify the licensure of your agent.
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