Glossary

NAIC

The standard-setting organization of the chief insurance regulators of the 50 states, D.C. and five U.S. territories, founded in 1871.

Also called: National Association of Insurance Commissioners

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is the organization of U.S. state insurance regulators. Founded in 1871, it is governed by the chief insurance regulators of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. Insurance in the U.S. is regulated by the states, and the NAIC is how those regulators coordinate.

The NAIC is not itself a regulator. It cannot license an insurer, approve a rate or resolve your complaint; your state department of insurance does those things. What the NAIC does is write model laws and regulations that states can adopt, such as its model rules on unfair claims settlement practices; set accreditation standards for how states oversee insurers' finances; and collect financial and market data from insurers. Its annual market share reports rank auto insurers by direct written premium, and its Consumer Insurance Search tool lets you look up a company's license status and complaint record.

For drivers, the most useful NAIC product is usually the NAIC complaint index, which compares an insurer's complaints with its size. Keep in mind that a model law takes effect only when a state enacts it, so the rules in your state may differ from the NAIC version. See The NAIC explained.

Last reviewed October 4, 2026

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Related terms

State department of insurance The state agency that licenses insurers and agents, reviews rates and policy forms, monitors solvency and handles consumer complaints. Insurance commissioner The official who runs a state's insurance department and enforces its insurance laws; elected in some states, appointed in most. NAIC complaint index A score comparing an insurer's share of consumer complaints with its share of premiums; 1.00 is the national baseline and lower is better. Direct written premium The total premium an insurer charges on policies it writes in a period, before reinsurance, used to measure market share and company size. Rate filing The package of proposed rates, rating rules and supporting data an insurer submits to a state regulator when it wants to change prices.

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