Alishahi InsuranceIndependent Insurance Broker
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Who insures it · 4 named markets · read 2026-10-28

Who insures Private investigators?

Private investigators is a risk most standard carriers decline on sight. The markets below say in their own published appetite or program pages that they write it; each line links to that page with the date it was read.

4 markets publicly write Private investigators: Brownyard Group, The Mechanic Group, Kinsale Insurance, XINSURANCE. 1 program administrator, 1 MGA, 1 E&S carrier, 1 wholesaler. 1 on admitted paper. 1 through surplus lines.

By Sam Alishahi, independent insurance broker

The markets

Who says they write it

From each market's own appetite, product or program page (or a trade article quoting it), read on the date shown. Appetites change: the linked page controls. A market listed here isn't necessarily one this agency is appointed with; a licensed broker reaches most of them directly or through a wholesaler.

MarketWhat they say they writeWherePaperSource
Brownyard Group
Program administrator		PI Protect liability program for private investigators, security consultants, fire/arson investigators, counter-terrorism experts, expert witnesses, cyber security experts and accident reconstruction professionals; admitted in all states except LA, TX and WA.
“PI Protect® private investigator insurance is available in all states except Nebraska.”		all states except NebraskaAdmittedbrownyard.com · read 2026-10-28
The Mechanic Group
MGA		Exclusive MGA programs for private investigation and security guard firms: commercial liability including E&O, umbrella/excess and workers' compensation.
“The Mechanic Group is the leading MGA writer of Security Guard, Private Investigation,”		not statednot statedmechanicgroup.com · read 2026-10-28
Kinsale Insurance
E&S carrier		General casualty and excess casualty for detective agencies and armed/unarmed security firms; professional liability for security consultants.
“Armed and unarmed security firms and detective agencies need coverage for their day-to-day operations.”		not statednot statedkinsaleins.com · read 2026-10-28
XINSURANCE
Wholesaler		Commercial general liability, professional liability and invasion-of-privacy coverage for all types of private investigators (criminal, corporate, financial, domestic and others); firearms liability and commercial auto available in most states.
“We can help all types of private investigators, including:”		not statedSurplus linesxinsurance.com · read 2026-10-28

Hiscox private investigator page returned HTTP 403; El Dorado site returned 403. Prime's security services page does not name private investigators.

How Private investigators gets placed

Standard markets first where any will look at it; when they won't, the placement goes through surplus lines, where a licensed surplus lines broker places it with an eligible non-admitted insurer and files the state's surplus lines tax and stamping forms. In California, risks on the Department of Insurance export list can go to surplus lines without the usual diligent search of admitted carriers. Surplus lines policies aren't backed by a state guaranty fund, so the insurer's financial rating matters more.

What an underwriter will want before quoting: a full description of the operation, years in business and the owners' experience, revenue or payroll, loss runs (five years where available, currently valued), the contracts or venue requirements that set the limits, and photos or safety plans where the hazard is physical.

I'm licensed in 49 states and Washington, DC and your request stays with my agency, not passed to another agent. In Florida, where my licenses are still being issued, a partner agency in your state helps in the meantime.

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A few minutes to request the quote; it reaches the markets that take Private investigators, and the answers come back by email.

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