Start at CDI, with the name or license number
California’s consumer guidance directs readers to check an agent or broker’s licensing history by name or license number. Ask for the state license number shown on the person’s materials and match the individual or business entity in the result.
If the tool requires a browser verification step, complete it on the official site. An automated service failing to access the tool is not evidence about the agent’s license.
Read the license details and available history
CDI’s Check a License resources include license status and available disciplinary history. Review the record’s license type, dates and linked details rather than treating the first search result as a complete answer.
When an enforcement item appears, read the underlying information and confirm it belongs to the same person. Do not infer a current restriction or its resolution from a short search snippet. CDI is the source for interpreting its record.
Clarify whether the person acts as an agent or broker
California’s consumer guide distinguishes an agent representing an insurer from a broker acting in the client’s interest. It also explains different evidence, including agent appointments and broker bonds. Do not apply an agent-appointment assumption to every role.
For a particular quote, ask what role the person is acting in and which legal insurer will issue the policy. If you cannot reconcile that explanation with the public record, ask CDI or the insurer before proceeding.
Why California may not appear in an AgentVerified search
California is currently an official-lookup-only jurisdiction in our automated coverage. A national record may show the same person’s licenses in other states without resolving their California status. Check California separately.
A manually reviewed AgentVerified profile can still list a California license with a dated verification record. That is separate from automated statewide coverage. Always open the source again when current status matters.
If you are the agent and information on CDI is incorrect, start with CDI’s update process. If our copy or reviewed profile differs from the official record, use our correction form with the state, identifier and source link.
Sources and review
- California CDI: Check a License and licensing information
- California CDI: Finding an Agent or Broker
- California CDI: Company and agent information
Sources reviewed September 28, 2026. Official pages can change. This guide explains how to check records; the state regulator determines license status and requirements. How we maintain these guides.