September 30, 2025

How to Change Brokers with the California FAIR Plan

How to Change FAIR Insurance Agents
FAIR Agent Change vs Regular Insurance Agent Change
the California FAIR BOR Process in Detail
Reasons to Change Agents
Reasons not to Change Agents

Changing insurance brokers with the California FAIR plan is not all that hard, but it does require work on your part. There are specific beneifts to naming a new agent as your representative, but there are also reasons to not change agents.

How to Simply Change California FAIR Agents:

1. The first Step to Change to a New FAIR Agent is to locate an Insurance Agent that you wish to use. There are numerous methods you can do to achieve this, including looking agents up online or on Cal FAIR. You can also call various brokers/agents to see how you fit with them.

2. The next step is to fill out the California FAIR plan “Broker of Record (BOR) Change Request: form and sign it. Additionally the Broker needs to sign it as well.

3. Once the form is completed and signed you will then email in the form to California FAIR.

From there you wait, about a week, for the chang to go into force. FAIR Underwriting has the right to Accept or Reject the form. If accepted your new agent should be able to service the policy at this time. You can email Marindependent Insurance for a copy of this FAIR BOR Form.

Cal FAIR BOR vs Regular Insurance Company BOR Process:

There is no exact industry standard to change agents acrosss insurers. Most insurers either allow an open letter requesting the change or their own specific policy form to change agents. Some insurers only allow broker changes at renewal. Some insurers require a new underwriting approval. A few insurers might not allow it. The FAIR plan BOR process is somewhat similar to most insurers process and policies. FAIR is probably one of the easier insurers to work with to change agents, in our opinion.

Don’t Have the California FAIR Plan and Need it – Read this.

What is a BOR [Broker of Record] Change Request:

A broker of request change is the industry term to request a change insurance agents with a given insurance policy. The key term here is “request.” Not all insurers allow changes at all times. BORs are often done when other policies alongside them change.

Changing Agent with the California FAIR Plan in More Detail:

There was much left out in the opening discussion about changing agents with FAIR. The first thing is that this is the process for changing with Cal FAIR on the personal lines side. One to Four unit dwellings typically. For commercial policies -the process will likely be different. Our article here is really intended for the 1 to 4 unit buildings insured with FAIR of Tenant and Owner Occupied properties.

One item not discussed is Why you might want or need to change agents:

Why Would you Change Agents with California FAIR?

The most obvious reason to change agents is if you feel that your current agent or broker is not working out for you. But shopping FAIR plans, often means changing the Companion Policy that you might have with it.

Changing DIC Companion plans is frankly the number one reason to change agents with the California FAIR plan. In fact, this agency [Marindependent] won’t sell you a standalone DIC policy. We must be your agent of record with FAIR to provide a DIC Companion policy.

Another reason to change FAIR agents is if you need a DIC Companion policy. If you do not already have a Differences in Conditions Companion policy and want one, your agent may request or require you to name them as your FAIR agent of record.

Another potential reason is if your Agent or Broker retires.

A Cal FAIR plan agent could lose their access to the FAIR plan for numerous reasons.

Rarely seen, but its possible that you might not have an Agent with your California FAIR plan. Why this would be the case is hard to explain.

Are there other reasons to change California Agents with the FAIR plan? Probably.

Another consideration with FAIR BOR Process is the Terms and Conditions / Disclaimers:

Per the FAIR BOR Form: “BOR Change Requests can only be completed for an in-force policy. BOR Change Requests cannot be completed for existing quotes or cancelled policies.” This explanation is pretty clear.

And “The policy system used by the California FAIR Plan Association (“CFP”) allows for BOR changes via policy cancel/rewrite transactions. When a policy is transferred from its current BOR to a new BOR, the policy is cancelled for the former broker and rewritten for the new broker. The rewritten policy will reflect a prorated term from the date the BOR change was processed until the policy’s expiration date. After the expiration date, a subsequent renewal offer will reflect the typical 12-month term.”

Additionally there is a commission note, which is obviously more for the Agent than the Consumer: “Commission (previously earned and paid to former broker) is prorated based on the number of days serviced by the former broker. Unearned commission that was paid to the prior broker is clawed back and paid to the new broker for servicing the remaining term of the policy. CFP does not handle nor intervene in broker disputes. If a broker feels they are entitled to partial or all commissions, they are to contact the releasing and/or acquiring broker for a settlemen

What Information does California FAIR BOR Change Request Ask for:

The FAIR BOR requres form asks for:

Today’s Date
CFP Policy Number
Name of Insured(s)
Property Address
Signature of Named Insured
Printed Named Insured
Agency of California Department of Insurance (CDI) License Number:
Agency Name
Agency Code
Broker Name
Broker Email
Broker CDI License Number
Broker Signature
Broker Designation

What do you Do with the Cal FAIR BOR Request form once completed and Double Signed?

According the FAIR BOR Form “Complete the below information. Email the completed the form to cfpbrokers@cfpnet.com.”

Things to remember when filling out and submitting this form:

Both the Consumer and the Agent need to fill out the form. The Agent should absolutely fill out all of their information on this as it calls for two different license numbers. Take time to accuratly fill out the form, erros can cause delays or denials. Speaking of denials this is a BOR “request” form, the FAIR plan may be under no obligation to process the request. Additionally no broker that I am aware of has to accept the form and sign it. Therefore all three parties have to agree to do the FAIR Broker of Record change request process. The form is subject to change at any time. Just becuase you use the present form does not mean that its the latest form.

Reasons to Change or Not Change Agents with FAIR:

To some extent we have already reviewed why to change agents with FAIR: You do not have an agent, you are changing DIC vendors, your agent does not respond to you, you never had an agent. But we did not discuss really why one should NOT change agents.

In most cases unless you do not have an agent you really should not be considering changing FAIR agents unless you are changing DIC Companion insurers. Additionally this is a serious process and should not be taken lightly. Moving a policy from one agent to another without a good cause could harm your coverage or relationship with your old agent/insurer. An example could be if the current home insurance DIC policy is required for the Auto Policy. There are other reasons not listed not to change agents.

Summation of the California FAIR Plan Change Request Process:

The process to change brokers with California FAIR plan is simple but should not be done unless you do not have a broker or you are changing DIC Companion policies. A special form is required and both the insured and agent must sign it and Cal FAIR must approve it. This form is available upon request or you can contact the California FAIR plan directly.

Marindepdendent Insurance Services LLC -0K10734 – Always speak with a licensed agent in your jurisdiction if you are considering buying or changing any type of insurance.