Dallas Fort Worth Insurance Lawyer Blog
The rules regulating and governing inusrance agents in the State of Texas are found in the Texas Insurance Code. A source for information on a particular agent is the Texas Department of Insurance.
What exactly is an agent? An “agent” is defined in Section 4001.003 of the Texas Insurance Code, in part, as a person who is an authorized agent of an insurance company and any other person who performs the acts of an agent, whether through an oral, written, electronic, or other form of communication, by soliciting, negotiating, procuring, or collecting a premium on an insurance contract. This would include the people you are dealing with on the internet or through the mail when trying to buy insurance.
To become an insurance agent in Texas, a person must be licensed by the State. In order to be licensed by the State of Texas, a person must submit a completed application to the State with fingerprints. They must also take and pass a test showing their knowledge of the basic principles of insurance contracts, the basic laws of Texas regulating the business of insurance, and the ethical obligations and duties of an agent. Further, there are continueing education requirements.