Skip to content
blnd

Auto damage appraiser license requirements by state

Which states issue a license just for appraising auto physical damage, which handle it through the independent adjuster license, and where to confirm the details with each state's regulator.

Last updated October 18, 202612 min read

On this page
  1. The short answer
  2. Map of the states
  3. Appraiser vs adjuster license
  4. All 50 states and DC
  5. States with an appraiser license
  6. Connecticut
  7. Delaware
  8. Massachusetts
  9. Nevada
  10. North Carolina
  11. Pennsylvania
  12. Rhode Island
  13. South Carolina
  14. Vermont
  15. New York and Florida
  16. Working across several states
  17. How we checked this
  18. Sources
  19. Questions

The short answer

A handful of states issue a license specifically for appraising damage to motor vehicles. As of October 18, 2026 we confirmed 9 from official sources: Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Vermont.

In 25 more, there is no separate appraiser license but the state licenses independent adjusters, and appraising damage for an insurer can fall under that license. Some of those states spell it out: New York's adjuster rules have a class for automobile damage appraisals, and Oklahoma's adjuster license has a motor vehicle physical damage class. For 16 jurisdictions we could not confirm the rules from an official source, and we mark them “Check with the state”.

Map of the states

Each square is a state, placed roughly where it sits on the map. Select one to jump to its entry.

  • Issues a motor vehicle damage appraiser license (9)
  • No separate appraiser license; the state licenses independent adjusters (25)
  • Regulator states independent adjusters are not licensed (1)
  • Not confirmed from an official source: check with the state (16)

Appraiser license vs adjuster license

The two licenses cover different work, and the line between them is drawn differently in each state. In general:

  • An auto damage appraiser license covers appraising physical damage to motor vehicles, usually for an insurer or an appraisal or adjusting firm. Pennsylvania, for example, licenses “motor vehicle physical damage appraisers” under a statute of that name.
  • An independent adjuster license covers investigating and settling claims on behalf of insurers, usually across a whole line of insurance such as property and casualty.

Where they overlap, states settle it in different ways. North Carolina and Nevada say a licensed adjuster does not need the separate appraiser license. Several adjuster-only states exempt people who just provide technical help, such as estimates, to a licensed adjuster. Alaska draws the line at negotiating: a 1993 Division bulletin says an appraiser who neither investigates nor adjusts needs no license, but negotiating with insureds, claimants or repair shops requires an independent adjuster license. Wyoming's statute similarly says an appraiser who does not negotiate settlements is not an adjuster.

All 50 states and DC

Search by state or filter by category. The regulator link goes to the official page we used, or to the regulator's home page where no specific page covers appraisers.

Showing 51 of 51 jurisdictions

States with an appraiser license

Each entry below lists only what the state's own sources say. “See regulator” means we could not confirm that detail from an official source, not that there is no requirement.

CTConnecticut

Appraiser license

A Connecticut MVPD appraiser license is required. Written exam; no pre-licensing education or CE; renews every two years.

License
Motor Vehicle Physical Damage (MVPD) Appraiser
Regulator
Connecticut Insurance Department (opens in a new tab)
Law
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-790
Exam
Yes, a written exam. The Commissioner may waive it for nonresidents who hold an equivalent license.
Pre-licensing
None. The Department states Connecticut does not require pre-licensing education for this license.
Continuing ed.
None. The Department states Connecticut does not require CE for appraisers.
Renewal
Every two years. Individuals renew in their birth month; business entities on June 30 of odd years.
License lookup
NAIC license lookup (opens in a new tab)
  • Business entities need their own MVPD appraiser license.

Official sources: CT Insurance Department: MVPD Appraiser · Conn. Gen. Stat. chapter 702 (§ 38a-790)

DEDelaware

Appraiser license

Delaware licenses appraisers of damage to motor vehicles under its adjuster and appraiser statute. Residents take an exam.

License
Motor vehicle (property damage) appraiser
Regulator
Delaware Department of Insurance (opens in a new tab)
Law
18 Del. C. ch. 17 (§§ 1702(3), 1705, 1707(c))
Exam
Yes, for residents (Pearson VUE).
Pre-licensing
See regulator
Continuing ed.
See regulator
Renewal
See regulator
License lookup
See regulator
  • The statute calls it a property damage appraiser's license with authority for the appraisal of damage to motor vehicles; the Department's licensing checklist calls it Motor Vehicle Appraiser.
  • Residents need state and FBI background checks, per the Department's licensing procedures.

Official sources: Delaware Code, Title 18, Chapter 17 · Delaware Department of Insurance: licensing procedures (PDF)

MAMassachusetts

Appraiser license

A Massachusetts MVDA license is required. Two-part exam (written, then practical); renews every year.

License
Motor Vehicle Damage Appraiser (MVDA)
Regulator
Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board / Division of Insurance (opens in a new tab)
Law
M.G.L. c. 26, § 8G; 212 CMR 2.00
Exam
Yes. A written exam (Part I), then a practical exam (Part II).
Pre-licensing
A certificate from a Board-approved appraiser course, or two years of qualifying appraisal experience, plus at least three months working under a licensed Massachusetts appraiser (per the Division's MVDA page).
Continuing ed.
See regulator
Renewal
Every year. Licenses expire June 30 (212 CMR 2.02).
License lookup
See regulator
  • 212 CMR 2.02 also requires applicants to be at least 18 with a high school education or equivalent work experience.
  • The Division asks for a seal/stamp form on file before renewal.

Official sources: Mass.gov: Motor Vehicle Damage Appraisers (MVDA) · 212 CMR 2.00: The appraisal and repair of damaged motor vehicles

NVNevada

Appraiser license

Nevada requires a license to appraise motor vehicle physical damage for an insurer or adjusting firm. Licensed adjusters are exempt.

License
Motor vehicle physical damage appraiser
Regulator
Nevada Division of Insurance (opens in a new tab)
Law
NRS chapter 684B
Exam
See regulator
Pre-licensing
See regulator
Continuing ed.
See regulator
Renewal
See regulator
License lookup
See regulator
  • NRS 684B.020 exempts licensed insurance adjusters, and employees of insurers, motor clubs, dealers and body shops.

Official sources: Nevada Division of Insurance: Motor Vehicle Damage Appraiser · NRS chapter 684B: Appraisers of physical damage to motor vehicles

NCNorth Carolina

Appraiser license

North Carolina issues a Motor Vehicle Damage Appraiser license, with no exam. A licensed adjuster does not need it.

License
Motor Vehicle Damage Appraiser
Regulator
North Carolina Department of Insurance (opens in a new tab)
Law
N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 58-33-26, 58-33-30
Exam
No, per the Department's resident licensing chart.
Pre-licensing
See regulator
Continuing ed.
See regulator
Renewal
See regulator
License lookup
NCDOI license lookup (opens in a new tab)
  • The Department's FAQ says a licensed adjuster does not need the appraiser license to appraise motor vehicle damage.
  • Minimum age 18; fingerprints not required (resident licensing chart).

Official sources: NCDOI: Adjusters, Motor Vehicle Damage Appraisers and Public Adjusters (FAQ) · NCDOI: Resident licensing requirements chart

PAPennsylvania

Appraiser license

A Pennsylvania MVPDA license is required. State exam plus experience or training; expires every June 30.

License
Motor Vehicle Physical Damage Appraiser (MVPDA)
Regulator
Pennsylvania Insurance Department (opens in a new tab)
Law
Motor Vehicle Physical Damage Appraiser Act, 63 P.S. §§ 851–863; 31 Pa. Code ch. 62
Exam
Yes. All applicants must pass the PA MVPDA exam.
Pre-licensing
Six months or more of continuous estimating experience, or an auto appraisal training program completed within the last three years (31 Pa. Code § 62.2).
Continuing ed.
See regulator
Renewal
Every year. Licenses expire June 30.
License lookup
PA Insurance Department licensee search (opens in a new tab)
  • The Department also offers an emergency MVPDA registration.

Official sources: PA Insurance Department: apply for or renew a license · 31 Pa. Code § 62.2: Qualifications

RIRhode Island

Appraiser license

A Rhode Island motor vehicle damage appraiser license is required. Written exam; issued for two years.

License
Motor vehicle damage appraiser
Regulator
Department of Business Regulation, Insurance Division (opens in a new tab)
Law
R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-10.1-1 et seq.; 230-RICR-20-50-3
Exam
Yes. A written exam on appraiser duties and Rhode Island insurance law (230-RICR-20-50-3, § 3.5).
Pre-licensing
See regulator
Continuing ed.
See regulator
Renewal
Licenses are issued on a biennial basis (§ 3.4). An expired license can be reinstated within 12 months without retesting (§ 3.6).
License lookup
See regulator
  • Applicants may be asked for an affidavit that they operate separately from any body shop or dealership (§ 3.4).

Official sources: 230-RICR-20-50-3: Motor vehicle damage appraisers

SCSouth Carolina

Appraiser license

South Carolina requires an appraiser license for motor vehicle physical damage claims. Residents pass a state exam; renews every two years.

License
Appraiser (motor vehicle physical damage)
Regulator
South Carolina Department of Insurance (opens in a new tab)
Law
S.C. Code tit. 38, ch. 49
Exam
Yes. Residents must pass the state exam before applying; exam results are valid for 12 months.
Pre-licensing
See regulator
Continuing ed.
See regulator
Renewal
Every two years, in October of odd-numbered years.
License lookup
NAIC license lookup (opens in a new tab)

Official sources: SC Department of Insurance: Appraiser · S.C. Code Title 38, Chapter 49: Motor vehicle physical damage appraisers

VTVermont

Appraiser license

A Vermont Auto Damage Appraiser license is required. Written exam plus experience or training; no CE; renews every 24 months.

License
Auto Damage Appraiser
Regulator
Department of Financial Regulation, Insurance Division (opens in a new tab)
Law
8 V.S.A. §§ 4791, 4793, 4798, 4800, 4803
Exam
Yes, a written exam (8 V.S.A. § 4800).
Pre-licensing
Two years of loss-appraising experience, approved special training, or work under a licensed appraiser (8 V.S.A. § 4803).
Continuing ed.
None. The Department's FAQ says appraisers do not need continuing education.
Renewal
Every 24 months (8 V.S.A. § 4798).
License lookup
State Based Systems license lookup (opens in a new tab)
  • Employees of Vermont-domiciled insurers, and repair shops appraising at the request of the insured or insurer, are exempt.

Official sources: Vermont DFR: Auto Damage Appraiser · 8 V.S.A. chapter 131

New York and Florida: the adjuster license

Two of the most searched states do not issue a standalone appraiser license. Appraisers there work under an adjuster license.

FLFlorida

Adjuster license

No new auto-only licenses since 2012; appraising auto damage for an insurer falls under the all-lines adjuster license.

License
All-lines adjuster
Regulator
Department of Financial Services (opens in a new tab)
Law
Fla. Stat. §§ 626.8548, 626.866, 626.869
Exam
Yes (§ 626.866).
Pre-licensing
See regulator
Continuing ed.
Required for all-lines adjusters (§ 626.869(4), which points to § 626.2815).
Renewal
See regulator
License lookup
Florida DFS licensee search (opens in a new tab)
  • Under § 626.869(3), the limited motor vehicle physical damage and mechanical breakdown adjuster license is no longer issued to new applicants (since October 1, 2012); existing holders may renew.

Official sources: Florida DFS: Adjusters · Fla. Stat. § 626.869: License, adjusters

NYNew York

Adjuster license

No separate appraiser license. DFS has said auto appraisers acting for an insurer are licensed as independent adjusters; there is an auto damage appraisal class.

License
Independent Adjuster (automobile damage or theft appraisals)
Regulator
Department of Financial Services (opens in a new tab)
Law
N.Y. Ins. Law § 2108; 11 NYCRR 26 (Regulation 25)
Exam
Yes, a New York exam.
Pre-licensing
See regulator
Continuing ed.
See regulator
Renewal
Every two years.
License lookup
See regulator
  • DFS's Office of General Counsel has written that the Insurance Law does not make "body damage appraiser" a category of license, and that the test is whether the person exercises discretion on behalf of an insurer in settling a claim.
  • A separate DMV registration exists for people who write estimates for repair shops; that is not an insurer appraiser license.

Official sources: NY DFS: Independent adjuster license application instructions · NY DFS OGC opinion 07-12-09 (body damage appraisers) · NY DFS OGC opinion (auto appraisers and § 2108)

Working across several states, or for several IA firms

Independent appraisers rarely work in one state, for one firm. A few habits keep that manageable:

  • Check the rules where the work is. A license is issued by one state. Check the state each assignment is in, not just your home state, and apply for a nonresident license where one is needed.
  • Track every renewal date. Cycles differ: Massachusetts and Pennsylvania renew every year, others every two years, some tied to your birth month.
  • Keep each firm's requirements on file. IA firms and carriers often ask for license numbers and proof per state before they send work.

Taking assignments from several firms usually also means several claims portals. That part is what blnd is for: it brings assignments from the portals you already use into one inbox and drafts the estimate file for each. See how it works for independent appraisers.

How we checked this

For every state we looked for the regulator's own licensing pages and the statutes or regulations behind them. We only marked a state as issuing an appraiser license when an official source said so, and we left out any detail (exam, education, renewal) we could not confirm from one. Where an official site could not be reached or was silent, we marked the state “Check with the state” rather than relying on third-party summaries.

Spotted something out of date? Write to hello@blnd.one with the official source and we will update the page.

Sources

Official state sources, checked October 18, 2026.

  1. 1CT Insurance Department: MVPD Appraiser
  2. 2Conn. Gen. Stat. chapter 702 (§ 38a-790)
  3. 3Delaware Code, Title 18, Chapter 17
  4. 4Delaware Department of Insurance: licensing procedures (PDF)
  5. 5Florida DFS: Adjusters
  6. 6Fla. Stat. § 626.869: License, adjusters
  7. 7Mass.gov: Motor Vehicle Damage Appraisers (MVDA)
  8. 8212 CMR 2.00: The appraisal and repair of damaged motor vehicles
  9. 9Nevada Division of Insurance: Motor Vehicle Damage Appraiser
  10. 10NRS chapter 684B: Appraisers of physical damage to motor vehicles
  11. 11NY DFS: Independent adjuster license application instructions
  12. 12NY DFS OGC opinion 07-12-09 (body damage appraisers)
  13. 13NY DFS OGC opinion (auto appraisers and § 2108)
  14. 14NCDOI: Adjusters, Motor Vehicle Damage Appraisers and Public Adjusters (FAQ)
  15. 15NCDOI: Resident licensing requirements chart
  16. 16PA Insurance Department: apply for or renew a license
  17. 1731 Pa. Code § 62.2: Qualifications
  18. 18230-RICR-20-50-3: Motor vehicle damage appraisers
  19. 19SC Department of Insurance: Appraiser
  20. 20S.C. Code Title 38, Chapter 49: Motor vehicle physical damage appraisers
  21. 21Vermont DFR: Auto Damage Appraiser
  22. 228 V.S.A. chapter 131
  23. 23Oklahoma Statutes, Title 36 (Senate compilation, §§ 6202, 6203, 6212)
  24. 24Louisiana R.S. 22:1661 (adjuster definition)
  25. 25Louisiana R.S. 22:1662 (exemptions)
  26. 26Louisiana Department of Insurance: Becoming a licensed claims adjuster (PDF)
  27. 27Alaska Division of Insurance Bulletin B93-08 (PDF)
  28. 28Wyoming Statutes, Title 26 (W.S. 26-9-202) (PDF)
  29. 29Alabama Administrative Code, chapter 482-1-151
  30. 30Arizona Revised Statutes § 20-321
  31. 31Indiana DOI: Persons exempt from an independent or public adjuster license
  32. 32Iowa Code § 522C.2 (PDF)
  33. 33Iowa Code chapter 522F: Appraisers and umpires (PDF)
  34. 34Minnesota Statutes chapter 72B
  35. 35Mississippi Code § 83-17-401 (2025 HB 1174 text)
  36. 36Montana Code § 33-17-102
  37. 37New Mexico 13.4.8 NMAC (adjusters)
  38. 38Texas Insurance Code chapter 4101
  39. 39Utah Code § 31A-26-201 (exemptions)
  40. 40West Virginia 114 CSR 25 (adjuster licensing rule) (PDF)
  41. 41Maryland Insurance Article § 10-501 et seq.
  42. 42Virginia Code § 38.2-1845.3
  43. 43D.C. Code § 31-1631.02
  44. 44Missouri RSMo § 325.010
  45. 45Kansas K.S.A. 40-5503
  46. 46Illinois DOI: fee schedule
  47. 47Tennessee DCI: licensing packets, instructions and forms
  48. 48Wisconsin OCI: Public adjuster FAQ (PDF)
  49. 49Alabama: Alabama Department of Insurance
  50. 50Alaska: Division of Insurance
  51. 51Arizona: Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions
  52. 52Arkansas: Arkansas Insurance Department
  53. 53California: California Department of Insurance
  54. 54Colorado: Colorado Division of Insurance
  55. 55District of Columbia: Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking
  56. 56Georgia: Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire
  57. 57Hawaii: Insurance Division (DCCA)
  58. 58Idaho: Idaho Department of Insurance
  59. 59Illinois: Illinois Department of Insurance
  60. 60Indiana: Indiana Department of Insurance
  61. 61Iowa: Iowa Insurance Division
  62. 62Kansas: Kansas Insurance Department
  63. 63Kentucky: Kentucky Department of Insurance
  64. 64Louisiana: Louisiana Department of Insurance
  65. 65Maine: Bureau of Insurance
  66. 66Maryland: Maryland Insurance Administration
  67. 67Michigan: Department of Insurance and Financial Services
  68. 68Minnesota: Minnesota Department of Commerce
  69. 69Mississippi: Mississippi Insurance Department
  70. 70Missouri: Department of Commerce and Insurance
  71. 71Montana: Commissioner of Securities and Insurance
  72. 72Nebraska: Nebraska Department of Insurance
  73. 73New Hampshire: New Hampshire Insurance Department
  74. 74New Jersey: Department of Banking and Insurance
  75. 75New Mexico: Office of Superintendent of Insurance
  76. 76North Dakota: North Dakota Insurance Department
  77. 77Ohio: Ohio Department of Insurance
  78. 78Oklahoma: Oklahoma Insurance Department
  79. 79Oregon: Division of Financial Regulation
  80. 80South Dakota: Division of Insurance
  81. 81Tennessee: Department of Commerce and Insurance
  82. 82Texas: Texas Department of Insurance
  83. 83Utah: Utah Insurance Department
  84. 84Virginia: State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance
  85. 85Washington: Office of the Insurance Commissioner
  86. 86West Virginia: Offices of the Insurance Commissioner
  87. 87Wisconsin: Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
  88. 88Wyoming: Wyoming Department of Insurance

Questions about appraiser licenses

Something else? Write to hello@blnd.one.

Which states require an auto damage appraiser license?
As of October 18, 2026, we confirmed from official sources that 9 states issue a license specifically for appraising motor vehicle damage: Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont. Several other states cover the same work under an independent adjuster license. Requirements change, so confirm with the state's insurance regulator before you take work there.
Is an auto damage appraiser license the same as an independent adjuster license?
No. An appraiser license, where a state has one, covers appraising damage to motor vehicles. An independent adjuster license covers investigating and settling claims for insurers, usually across a whole line such as property and casualty. Some states issue both, some only the adjuster license, and in some a licensed adjuster can appraise vehicles without a separate appraiser license (North Carolina and Nevada say so).
Does New York have an auto damage appraiser license?
Not as a separate license. New York's Department of Financial Services has said the Insurance Law has no "body damage appraiser" license category, and that appraisers acting for an insurer are licensed as independent adjusters. New York's adjuster rules include a class for automobile damage or theft appraisals.
How do I look up an appraiser's license?
Use the license lookup the state's insurance regulator links to. Connecticut and South Carolina point to the NAIC license lookup, North Carolina and Vermont to State Based Systems lookups, Pennsylvania and Florida to their own licensee searches. If a state is not listed here, start from its insurance department's website.
Do appraiser licenses require continuing education?
It depends on the state. Connecticut and Vermont state that their appraiser licenses do not require continuing education. Where an adjuster license is used instead, continuing education is often required; Florida's all-lines adjuster license is one example. Check the regulator's page for the license you hold.
Can I appraise in another state with my home-state license?
Not automatically. A license applies in the state that issued it. Some states offer nonresident licenses or waive their exam for holders of an equivalent license (Connecticut, for example), but you still apply to that state. Check each state's regulator before accepting an assignment there.