How to check a South Carolina insurance agent's license
Two minutes, free, and worth doing before you buy anything.
South Carolina requires anyone who sells insurance to hold a license from the state Department of Insurance, and the Department publishes a free search anyone can use. Here is how to use it, and what to do when the result doesn't line up.
Reviewed by Bryan DeVore, Founder, Quote My Policy ·
Step 1: Get the agent's full name
Ask for the agent's full legal name, and their National Producer Number (NPN) if they'll share it. The NPN is a national ID for licensed agents and gives an exact match. A business card that says "Bill" may belong to a William on the license record.
Step 2: Search the Department of Insurance database
Open the Department's Individual License Search. You need at least one of three things: the last name, the South Carolina individual number, or the NPN. Last and first names accept partial matches, so "Thomp" finds Thompson. The individual number and NPN must match exactly.
- Enter the last name, plus the first name if it's a common surname
- Choose more rows per page if the name is common
- Run the search
Step 3: Read the result
Each result shows the person's name as licensed, their South Carolina individual number, and the city and state on file. Match the city to where the agent works. Several people with the same name is normal; the city and middle initial usually settle it.
If the result opens a detail page, check that the license is active and that it covers what you're buying: property and casualty lines for car, home and business insurance, and life or accident and health lines for life and health coverage. If you can't tell, call the Department.
Agencies are licensed too
South Carolina also licenses insurance agencies. According to the Department, an agency has to pay a license fee and keep at least one licensed and appointed producer assigned to it, and agency licenses renew in January of even-numbered years. An agency run under one licensed agent's own name, with no one else involved, doesn't need a separate agency license.
If something doesn't match
No result, a different city, or a name that's close but not right isn't proof of anything on its own. Names get shortened and people move. Ask the agent for their NPN and search again. If it still doesn't check out, don't share personal or payment details, and contact the Department of Insurance.
- South Carolina Department of Insurance: 803-737-6160
- Complaints and consumer help are handled through the Department's consumer services
Common questions
Yes. The Department of Insurance's Individual License Search is free and public, and you don't need an account.
The agent's last name, their South Carolina individual number, or their National Producer Number. Last and first names accept partial matches; the numbers must match exactly.
Generally yes. The Department says an agency must pay a license fee and keep at least one licensed and appointed producer assigned to it. An agency run under one licensed agent's own name, with no one else involved, doesn't need a separate agency license.
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This page is general information, not advice about your specific circumstances. A licensed insurance professional can tell you what’s actually available to you.
Sources
- Individual License Search, South Carolina Department of Insurance. Checked 2026-10-29.
- Agency licensing, South Carolina Department of Insurance. Checked 2026-10-29.
- Consumers, South Carolina Department of Insurance. Checked 2026-10-29.
General information only, not insurance advice. Coverage, availability, and terms vary by insurer and by state, and are subject to underwriting. Quote My Policy LLC connects you with licensed insurance professionals. Nothing here binds coverage.