How to check an insurance broker's AFS licence or authorised representative status
A common assumption is that checking whether an insurance broker is properly licensed is as simple as searching moneysmart.gov.au's Financial Advisers Register — the same register commonly used to check a financial planner. It isn't, and knowing why matters. That register specifically covers individuals giving personal advice to retail clients on "relevant financial products," and general insurance, along with consumer credit insurance and basic banking products, falls outside that definition. A properly licensed general insurance broker will generally not appear on the Financial Advisers Register at all, even though they are correctly licensed elsewhere.
The registers that actually apply are different. ASIC's professional registers search lets you check whether a business holds a current Australian Financial Services Licence directly — covering the type of financial service authorised, when it was issued, and any conditions attached. If the broker you're dealing with is an authorised representative rather than a direct AFSL holder — meaning they operate under a larger licensee's licence rather than their own — the separate Authorised Representatives Register is the one to check, since it lists individuals and businesses currently authorised to provide specific financial services on behalf of a named licensee.
The process itself is straightforward: go to ASIC's professional registers search at asic.gov.au, search by the business or individual's name, or by an AFSL or ASIC number if you have one, and review what comes back — the entity type, the current licensee if they're an authorised representative, and the specific authorisations held. It takes a few minutes and doesn't require any special knowledge to interpret.
This isn't just a nice-to-have check. Part 7 of the Corporations Act 2001 requires anyone carrying on a financial services business — including arranging general insurance for clients — to hold an AFSL, operate as an authorised representative of one, or otherwise fall within a specific exemption. Separately, membership of NIBA is a voluntary industry signal that a broker has committed to the Insurance Brokers Code of Practice's standards of professionalism and conduct — a genuinely useful quality indicator, but not a substitute for confirming the actual licence on ASIC's registers.
This article is general information only. It does not take into account your personal circumstances and is not a recommendation to buy, hold, cancel or switch any insurance product. Before engaging an insurance broker or agency, you can check whether the business holds a current Australian Financial Services Licence, or whether an individual is an authorised representative of one, on ASIC's professional registers at asic.gov.au — general insurance is generally not covered by moneysmart.gov.au's Financial Advisers Register, which applies to personal financial advice. If you have an unresolved dispute with an insurer or broker, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) provides a free external dispute resolution service at afca.org.au. Our directory lists insurance brokers, insurance agencies and life insurance specialists across Australia by area if you are ready to start comparing your options.
Frequently asked questions
Not necessarily. That register only covers individuals giving personal advice on relevant financial products, and general insurance is specifically excluded, so a properly licensed general insurance broker often won't appear there at all.
Search ASIC's professional registers — the AFS licensee search, or the Authorised Representatives Register if the individual operates under another business's licence — at asic.gov.au, using the business or individual's name.
An AFSL holder holds a licence in their own right. An authorised representative provides specified financial services under another business's AFSL. Checking the Authorised Representatives Register confirms who currently stands behind an authorised representative and what they're authorised to do.
No. NIBA membership signals that a broker has committed to the industry's Insurance Brokers Code of Practice, a separate and voluntary quality standard. Licensing itself is a legal requirement, checked directly on ASIC's professional registers.