In short
A public adjuster is a licensed professional who works for you, the policyholder, on an insurance claim, not for the insurance company. This guide explains what they do, how they are paid, and how to check a license in Virginia, Maryland, and DC.
What a public adjuster does
Placeholder. Final text to come. This section will explain that a public adjuster represents the policyholder, and what that work usually includes.
Public adjuster, insurance company adjuster, or contractor?
Placeholder. This section will explain who each person works for.
How public adjusters are paid
Placeholder. This section will explain that fees are set by contract and that state rules apply. It will not state a fee limit unless it is in the table below with a source.
Licensing in Virginia, Maryland, and DC
Placeholder. This section will explain that public adjusters must be licensed in the state where the property is, and point to the table below.
How to check a license yourself
Placeholder. This section will walk through each state’s official license lookup.
Questions to ask before you sign
Placeholder. This section will list practical questions about fees, contract terms, cancellation, and who does the work.
How the directory on this site works
Placeholder. This section will explain that Scopit checks each license by hand before a listing goes live, shows the date it was checked, and never takes payment from adjusters.
Virginia, Maryland, and DC at a glance
Needs attorney review before launch. Rows marked “Pending review” have not been checked yet. Follow the source link for the official text.
| State | Topic | What the rule says | Source | Last reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | Public adjuster licensing law | Pending review. | Code of Virginia, Title 38.2, Chapter 18, Article 4.1 | |
| Virginia | Check a license | Pending review. | Virginia SCC: Producer, Navigator and Company Search | |
| Maryland | Public adjuster licensing law | Pending review. | Md. Code, Insurance §§ 10-401 to 10-416 | |
| Maryland | Cancelling a public adjuster contract | Pending review. | MIA Bulletin 26-11 (April 27, 2026) | |
| Maryland | Check a license | Pending review. | MIA: Company and Producer Information search | |
| District of Columbia | Public adjuster licensing law | Pending review. | D.C. Code, Title 31, Chapter 16A | |
| District of Columbia | Check a license | Pending review. | DC DISB: Verify that a representative is licensed |
Sources
Links checked and page last reviewed on .
- Post-Disaster Claims Guide (PDF)National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) · content.naic.org
- Public AdjustersVirginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance · scc.virginia.gov
- Public Adjusters Must Be Licensed with the Maryland Insurance AdministrationMaryland Insurance Administration · insurance.maryland.gov
- Tips for How to Select a Public Insurance Adjuster (PDF, 2017)DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking · disb.dc.gov
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