How can I find the NAICS code for an insurance company?

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You can find the specific NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) code for an insurance company by using the US Company Lookup Tool by NAICS or by browsing the NAICS Search Tool with keywords.

Steps to Find the Code

  • Company Lookup: Enter the insurance company's name, address, or phone number into the US Company Lookup Tool to see its registered business classification.
  • Keyword Search: Type terms like "insurance carrier," "life insurance," or "insurance agency" into the NAICS Search Tool to match your exact business activity.

Common Insurance NAICS Codes (Sector 524)

Insurance activities fall under sector 524. Depending on the exact function, look for these common 6-digit codes:

  • 524113: Direct Life Insurance Carriers
  • 524114: Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers
  • 524126: Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Carriers
  • 524127: Direct Title Insurance Carriers
  • 524130: Reinsurance Carriers
  • 524210: Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (for agents/brokers rather than underwriters)

(Note: Ensure you do not confuse the NAICS code with the 5-digit NAIC code, which is issued by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to uniquely identify individual insurance carriers for regulatory purposes).

How to find NAIC code for insurance company?

You can find an insurance company's 5-digit NAIC code online using the Consumer Insurance Search tool.

Check Your Documents

  • Insurance Card: Look at the front or back of your proof of insurance card. The 5-digit NAIC number is often printed next to or labeled as the company number.
  • Policy Documents: Check the declarations page or billing statements of your insurance policy.

Search Online

  • NAIC Database: Go to the official Consumer Insurance Search directory and type in the company's name.
  • State Insurance Website: Visit your state’s Department of Insurance website, which usually features a searchable list of licensed insurers and their company codes.

Can you lookup a company's NAICS code?

You can look up a company's NAICS code by name using the NAICS US Company Lookup Tool.

How to Find a NAICS Code

  • Company Name Search: Use business directories or the NAICS Association Search to find a specific company's registered code.
  • Federal Registration: Check SAM.gov if the business is registered for federal contracting.
  • Keyword Search: Go to the official U.S. Census Bureau NAICS Search and enter basic words that describe the main business activity.
  • Industry Classification: Choose the 2-to-6-digit code that best matches the primary products or services.

What is the NAICS code for insurance companies?

The NAICS code for actual insurance companies that underwrite policies is 5241 (Insurance Carriers), while insurance agencies and brokerages fall under code 524210.

Insurance Carriers (Underwriters)

If the business actively issues policies, assumes risk, and invests premiums, it falls under NAICS Industry Group 5241. Common specific 6-digit codes include:

  • 524113: Direct Life Insurance Carriers
  • 524114: Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers
  • 524126: Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Carriers (auto, homeowners, liability)
  • 524127: Direct Title Insurance Carriers
  • 524130: Reinsurance Carriers

Agencies and Brokerages (Sales and Service)

If the business only sells or negotiates policies on behalf of carriers rather than underwriting them, the correct code is:

Are NAICS codes public information?

Yes, NAICS codes themselves are completely public standards, but whether a specific company's NAICS code is public depends on how it is registered and shared.

The Classification System is Public

  • Standard codes: The full list of North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes, descriptions, and structures is public information.
  • Official source: You can freely look up any industry category using the U.S. Census Bureau NAICS tool.

Individual Company Codes

  • Government confidentiality: Federal law (Title 13, U.S. Code) prohibits agencies like the U.S. Census Bureau from disclosing individual company activities, including their specific assigned NAICS codes.
  • Public filings: Publicly traded companies are not legally required to publicize their NAICS codes in standard financial disclosures, though they often appear in government contracting databases like SAM.gov if the business bids on public projects.
  • Self-assignment: Businesses often choose and list their own NAICS codes on tax forms, state business registries, or commercial credit profiles.

How To Find Your NAICS Code (How Do I Figure Out Or Determine My NAICS Code?)

9 related questions found

Where do you find your NAIC?

Because "NAIC" can refer to an insurance company identification number or a business industry classification code (NAICS), the location depends on which term is meant.

For an Insurance NAIC Number

  • Insurance Card: Check the front or back of your auto or health insurance card for a five-digit number labeled as the company number or NAIC code.
  • Policy Documents: Look at the declarations page of your insurance policy papers.
  • Official Lookup: Search the National Association of Insurance Commissioners consumer search tool online.

For a Business NAICS Code

  • U.S. Census Bureau: Type keywords describing your business activity into the U.S. Census Bureau NAICS Search tool to find your six-digit code.
  • Tax and Formation Records: Check previous tax returns, employer identification documents, or state business filings where the code was previously reported.

Is the NAIC policy locator free?

Yes, the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator is completely free to use.

✅ How the Free Tool Works

  • No Cost: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners charges nothing to submit a search request.
  • Public Access: Anyone who is a beneficiary or legal representative can use it.
  • Secure System: Your submitted details go directly to participating insurance companies.

⚠️ Important Things to Know

  • Direct Contact Only: Insurers only reach out if they find a match and you are verified as a beneficiary.
  • No Instant Results: Searches can take 90 business days or longer to process.
  • No Notification for Misses: You will not hear back if no matching policy is found.

How to obtain NAICS code?

You can obtain your business's 6-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code by searching keywords related to your primary business activity on the U.S. Census Bureau NAICS Page.

Because NAICS is a self-assigned system, you choose the code that best fits your economic activity rather than registering for one.

Methods to Find Your NAICS Code

  • Keyword Search: Go to the U.S. Census Bureau NAICS Page or the NAICS Association Search Tool and type in basic keywords describing your products or services.
  • Industry Drill-Down: Browse the hierarchical structure by selecting your 2-digit sector and drilling down through subsectors to find your exact 6-digit category.
  • Check Past Tax Returns: Look at the upper right-hand side of previous federal tax returns (such as Schedule C on Form 1040), where your NAICS code is typically printed.
  • Contact the Census Bureau: If you need direct confirmation or help classifying a unique business, email [email protected] or call the U.S. Census Bureau at 1-888-756-2427.

Where can I find a list of NAICS codes?

You can find a complete list of North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes directly on the U.S. Census Bureau NAICS page or use the keyword lookup tools on the NAICS Association website.

Where to Find and Search Codes

  • U.S. Census Bureau: The official government source provides full lists, structure breakdowns, and downloadable reference files for the latest code sets.
  • NAICS Association: A comprehensive private resource offering keyword search functions, industry sector listings, and SIC-to-NAICS crosswalk tools.
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics: The BLS Industries at a Glance organizes sectors by supersector and code order.

Tips for Searching

  • Use keywords: Type specific business activities or products (like "shoe" or "contracting") into the search bars rather than reading every code.
  • Check digits: NAICS codes range from 2 digits (broad sectors) up to 6 digits (specific national industries). Choose the 6-digit code that best matches your primary activity.

What happens if I use the wrong NAICS code?

Using the wrong North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code can trigger tax audits, government contracting disqualifications, and higher commercial risk ratings.

Tax and Audit Risks

  • Higher Audit Risk: The IRS uses NAICS codes to compare your business income and expenses against industry averages. A mismatched code can flag your tax return if your numbers look unusual compared to your true peers.
  • Costly Investigations: Even if your return is correct, a mismatch can trigger an audit that wastes your time and forces you to pay for a CPA or tax lawyer.

Government Contracting and Funding

  • Contract Disqualification: Federal agencies use NAICS codes to set size standards and small business set-asides. The wrong code may make you look too large to qualify or exclude you from bidding entirely.
  • Missed Opportunities: If your registration on SAM.gov lists the wrong code, automated searches by contracting officers will hide your business from relevant solicitations.
  • Loan and Grant Denials: Economic development programs and lenders use these codes to verify your industry eligibility.

Business and Credit Operations

  • High-Risk Classifications: Financial institutions and credit card processors group industries into risk tiers. A wrong code can mistakenly label your business as "high-risk," leading to lower capital approvals or frozen merchant accounts.
  • Skewed Benchmarking: Market research and insurance providers rely on these codes, meaning a bad classification results in bad data for your coverage rates and business planning.