Many policyholders assume they are stuck with the insurance agent who originally wrote their policy until it expires. In some cases, however, you may be able to move your existing policy to another insurance agency without canceling the coverage or changing insurance companies.
This process is commonly called an Agent of Record change, or AOR change.
What Is an Agent of Record?
The agent of record is the insurance agent or agency officially authorized to service your policy with the insurance company.
Depending on the type of policy and the insurance carrier, the agent of record may be able to:
- Answer questions about your coverage
- Request policy changes and endorsements
- Help update mortgage or lienholder information
- Assist with billing and policy documents
- Review your coverage before renewal
- Communicate with the insurance company on your behalf
An Agent of Record change replaces the agency currently assigned to your policy with another agency that represents the same insurance company.
Does an AOR Change Mean Changing Insurance Companies?
No. An AOR change generally allows you to keep your current insurance company and existing policy while changing the agency responsible for servicing it.
It is different from canceling your policy and purchasing a replacement policy. Unless another change is requested or required, the policy’s coverage, deductible, premium and expiration date generally remain the same.
For example, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s Agent of Record Transfer Form explains that its premiums are the same regardless of which appointed Citizens agent services the policy.
Why Would Someone Change Insurance Agents?
There are several reasons a policyholder might prefer to work with a different insurance agency.
You may be having trouble reaching your current agent, receiving clear answers to your questions or getting requested policy changes completed. Your agent may also have retired, closed the agency or stopped representing the insurance company that issued your policy.
Another increasingly common situation occurs when an independent insurance agency is sold to or acquired by a larger agency. Although the agency’s name, employees or office may initially remain the same, customers may eventually experience changes in staffing, communication, service procedures or the personal relationships they previously had with their agent.
Insurance-agency consolidation has remained active in recent years. According to industry data reported by Business Insurance, there were 854 announced U.S. insurance brokerage mergers and acquisitions during 2025, following 847 transactions in 2024. OPTIS Partners separately reported 750 publicly announced insurance agency and brokerage transactions in the United States and Canada during 2024, including 477 transactions involving property and casualty agencies.
An acquisition does not automatically mean that customers will receive poor service or need to leave. Many agency sales result in additional resources, technology and insurance options. However, if the new ownership structure no longer provides the service or personal attention you previously received, or if the agency's local office was closed, you may want to determine whether an Agent of Record change is available so you can remain insured with a local agent you know and trust.
You might also prefer to work with a local independent agency that can assist with multiple personal insurance policies, review your coverage before renewal and help you compare other insurance companies when appropriate.
Changing agents may provide you with a new point of contact and a better service experience without necessarily disrupting your existing coverage.
How Does an Agent of Record Change Work?
The process varies by insurance company, but it commonly begins with a written request signed by the policyholder.
The new agency may ask for information such as:
- The named insured
- The policy number
- The property or mailing address
- The current insurance company
- The policy’s renewal date
- The policyholder’s signature
The receiving agency must normally be licensed and authorized or appointed to represent that particular insurance company. For example, Citizens requires the receiving agent to be appointed with Citizens before requesting a transfer. Its form also states that only policies in certain eligible statuses can be transferred.
After the completed request is submitted, the insurance company reviews and processes the transfer. The exact processing time and effective date depend on the carrier.
Can Every Policy Be Transferred?
No. AOR rules are determined largely by the insurance company, and not every carrier permits midterm Agent of Record changes.
A transfer may be restricted when:
- The new agency does not represent the insurance company
- The policy is pending cancellation or has already expired
- The policy has not yet been issued
- The policy is involved in a special transfer, assumption or renewal process
- The carrier only permits changes during a particular period
- A nonrenewal notice has already been issued
- Required signatures or policy information are missing
Some carriers allow an AOR change at almost any point during the policy term, while others only allow it at renewal. That is why the new agency must review the carrier’s specific rules before confirming that the transfer can be completed.
Will an AOR Change Affect Your Premium?
An AOR change by itself generally does not recalculate the policy’s rate. You are changing the agency servicing the policy, not necessarily changing the insurance contract.
However, any separate coverage change requested after the transfer could affect the premium and may be subject to underwriting approval. Citizens, for example, advises policyholders that future coverage changes may require underwriting review, an inspection or additional documentation.
An AOR transfer also does not prevent the insurance company from making a normal renewal-rate adjustment, requesting updated information, performing an inspection or deciding whether the policy remains eligible for renewal.
What an AOR Change Does Not Do
An Agent of Record change does not:
- Guarantee that the policy will renew
- Reverse a cancellation or nonrenewal
- Remove underwriting requirements
- Change the terms of the insurance contract automatically
- Transfer the policy to a different insurance company
- Guarantee that every future coverage request will be approved
It simply changes the agent or agency authorized to service the policy going forward.
Should You Change Agents Before Renewal?
It is usually better to begin the conversation well before the policy’s renewal date.
Starting early gives the receiving agency time to determine whether the insurance company permits an AOR change, obtain the proper forms and review the policy. It may also provide enough time to explore other insurance options if the existing policy cannot be transferred or is no longer competitive.
Waiting until a cancellation or nonrenewal notice has already been issued can limit the available options.
Which Insurance Companies Allow Agent of Record Transfers?
Whether an Agent of Record transfer is permitted depends on the insurance company. There is no single rule that applies to every Florida insurer, and a company may change its procedures over time.
Some insurers allow an eligible policyholder to transfer an active policy to another appointed agency. Others do not permit AOR transfers at all, permit them only at renewal or restrict them when the policy is pending cancellation, nonrenewal or another type of transaction.
Companies Known to Allow AOR Transfers
Whether an AOR transfer is allowed depends on the insurance company, the type and status of the policy, and whether the receiving agency is authorized to service that product. Each request remains subject to the carrier’s eligibility requirements, processing procedures and approval. Based on Evolve Insurance Agency’s recent experience processing AOR change requests, the following companies currently accept certain Agent of Record transfers. This is not an exhaustive list, and acceptance may vary by policy type, policy status, timing and carrier requirements.
- Property insurance companies that allow AOR change requests:
- American Traditions Insurance Company
- Citizens Property Insurance Corporation
- CORE / Condo Owners Reciprocal Exchange
- Cypress Property and Casualty Insurance Company
- Edison Insurance Company
- Florida Peninsula Insurance Company
- Heritage Property and Casualty Insurance Company
- Homeowners Choice Insurance Company
- Manatee Insurance Exchange (formerly SafePoint Insurance Company)
- Mangrove Insurance Company
- Monarch National Insurance Company
- Olympus Insurance Company
- Ovation Insurance Exchange
- Patriot Select Insurance Company
- PRAXIS Insurance Company
- Security First Insurance Company
- Slide Insurance Company
- Southern Oak Insurance Company
- Tailrow Insurance Exchange
- Trident Reciprocal Exchange
- TypTap Insurance Company
- Universal Property and Casualty Insurance Company
- Auto insurance companies that allow AOR change requests:
- Bristol West Insurance Company (underwritten by Security National Insurance Company)
- Grundy Insurance Company
- Hagerty Insurance Company
- Mercury Insurance Company
- National General Insurance Company (underwritten by Direct General Insurance Company)
- Progressive Insurance Company
- Travelers Insurance Company (underwritten by The Standard Fire Insurance Company)
- Flood insurance companies that allow AOR change requests:
- Most policies issued in conjunction with FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program are able to request an agent of record change. These policies, provided they are not repetitive loss properties, are also typically permitted to "rollover" coverage to another FEMA / NFIP Write Your Own authorized carrier.
- Neptune Insurance Company
NOTE: Carrier information provided above was last reviewed in July of 2026.
Other insurance companies may also allow transfers, but our agency has successfully processed Agent of Record Change requests with all of the companies listed above, so we are confident in this list being correct and current as of now. Be aware that while allowed now, this could change at any time, so it's important to call Evolve Insurance Agency to discuss your current insurer and whether or not they will accept a request to change agents.
Which Companies Do Not Allow AOR Transfers?
Some insurance companies do not allow an existing policy to be transferred from one agency to another. Instead, the customer may need to remain with the current servicing agency until the policy expires or purchase a replacement policy through the preferred agency. As of now, we are aware of the following companies who limit and/or refuse to accept agent change requests:
- American Integrity Insurance Company
- Orange Exchange Insurance Company
- Safe Harbor Insurance Company
- Tower Hill Exchange Insurance Company
- US Coastal Property and Casualty Insurance Company
Other carriers may allow a change only:
- At the policy’s renewal
- During a specific period before renewal
- When the original agency closes or loses its carrier appointment
- With approval from the carrier’s marketing or agency department
- When the receiving agency is already appointed and authorized to service that product
- Before a cancellation or nonrenewal notice has been issued
Because many carriers keep these rules inside agent-only systems, consumers should be cautious about relying on a permanent online list of companies that supposedly do or do not allow transfers.
A Carrier’s Rules May Also Depend on the Policy
Even when an insurance company normally accepts AOR changes, a particular policy may not qualify. Restrictions may apply when the policy:
- Is pending cancellation for nonpayment or another reason
- Has already received a nonrenewal notice
- Is in the middle of an underwriting review
- Is being transferred through a Citizens depopulation or assumption program
- Has expired or is no longer active
- Is written through a program the receiving agency is not authorized to service
The receiving agency must review both the insurance company’s current rules and the status of the individual policy before confirming that an AOR transfer is available.
Thinking About Changing Insurance Agents?
Are you satisfied with your insurance company but not the agency currently servicing your policy? Contact Evolve Insurance Agency. We can determine whether your carrier permits an Agent of Record transfer, explain the required paperwork and help you evaluate your options.
Evolve Insurance Agency may be able to become the Agent of Record on an eligible existing policy when we represent the insurance company and the carrier permits the transfer. If an AOR change is not available, our team can review your current coverage and determine whether other options may be worth considering.
Contact Evolve Insurance Agency to discuss your current Florida homeowners, condominium, flood or personal auto insurance policy. We can review the situation, explain the carrier’s requirements and help you decide on the most appropriate next step.
Carrier rules and procedures can change without notice. The companies listed above reflect Evolve Insurance Agency’s understanding and recent experience as of July 2026 and do not guarantee that a particular transfer will be accepted. Eligibility depends on the insurance company, policy type, policy status, timing and the receiving agency’s authorization. All requests remain subject to carrier review and approval.
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