How Do I Switch Insurance Agents Without Losing Coverage?

16 April 2026

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A Guide to Broker of Record (BOR)

A broker of record (BOR), or agency of record (AOR), is a letter authorizing an insurance agency or brokerage to represent you with insurance carriers for commercial lines, personal lines, or employee benefits.

A BOR names a new broker (gaining agency) and removes your previous broker (losing agency). The losing agency then loses access to your policy and can no longer negotiate with carriers on your behalf or advise you.

In this blog post and video, we explain what a BOR letter does, what changes and what stays the same, when you should use a BOR, and more.

Why do you need a BOR?
First, let’s define all the key players:

Insurance carriers take on your risk, set terms and pricing, issue policies, and pay claims.
Brokers (agencies) help you manage risk and find the best coverage from carriers.

You work with a broker, who works with carriers, usually through a wholesaler. The carrier provides the product (policy options), and your broker guides you to select the best one.

Carriers only recognize one broker per policy. A BOR gives the new broker full policy access and authority to negotiate for you.

And, a BOR lets your new broker review your current coverage and step in without starting over, as long as your policies are in order.

Why would you switch brokers?
Here are the most common reasons we are getting BOR requests:

Insurance agencies are consolidating as national or international firms acquire smaller firms. Many people reaching out to us say that shifts in ownership/brands have led to weaker, less personalized customer service, so they are looking for a change.
Agents are losing carrier appointments. When this happens, your broker can’t service your policies. You need an agency with those appointments to continue coverage.
Many say their employee benefits renewals are late and offer limited options.
Many personal lines carriers have exited the market. Premiums are rising, and options are limited. We can’t solve every issue here, but if we can offer something better, we’ll let you know.

Does a BOR cancel your insurance policy?

No, it shifts your broker of record, AKA the broker representing you, at the time of renewal.

Switching employee benefits brokers may result in the cancellation of insurance-adjacent programs, such as payroll or HR support, during the BOR process. To avoid disruption, list all programs your losing agency set up and share them with your new agency.

When does a BOR take effect?

The gaining brokerage becomes your broker of record once the BOR letter is processed, which occurs at your policy renewal. However, in some cases, the carrier may allow the new broker to begin servicing your policy before they are officially recognized as your broker of record.

While a carrier might permit a new broker to begin servicing your policy earlier, full BOR representation usually starts at renewal unless otherwise specified by the carrier.

The gaining agency typically does not receive commissions or full access until the renewal date, when its formal BOR status begins.

A few considerations:

If your policy is agency-billed, your current agency controls billing, which can complicate transfers. Contact us if this applies to you.
For employee benefits, the timing is different: once the new agency is officially assigned as your broker of record, they begin earning commissions on the first of the following month. For example, if you sign a BOR letter in mid-April, commissions would begin on May 1.
If your current agency set up programs like Employee Navigator or payroll systems, those may end with a BOR. Tell your new agency about any programs you have in place.
If your current broker uses a wholesaler for carrier access, inform your new broker which wholesaler your current broker uses. Ask your current broker for this info.

Is a BOR right for you or your business?

That’s a great question and one worth a discussion.

To deliver the best risk management, we need to understand your insurance history and program.

We will likely take on a BOR if we know we can provide additional value and ensure that your existing policies are properly written and executed.

Additionally, our hope is to always work toward a partnership, not a transaction. For this reason, we recommend that clients come to us for full risk management portfolios, with all coverage lines negotiated through our agency.

If you think we might be a great fit for your insurance or employee benefits needs, please reach out HERE.

AI Disclosure:

Portions of this content were generated with the assistance of ChatGPT (OpenAI) on April 6, 2026, and reviewed by our insurance team for accuracy.

Disclaimer:

This information is intended for reference only and should not be considered as financial or legal advice. Consult with a qualified professional for personalized guidance.

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