By Eli Goins · FL DFS #P159790 · Reviewed: · 1 min read
Short answer: A public adjuster is licensed to evaluate, value, and negotiate your insurance claim, while a restoration contractor is licensed to perform the physical repair work. These are separate roles, and combining them without the proper license is illegal in Florida: even a licensed contractor cannot negotiate the claim. Best practice keeps the adjuster and contractor distinct while collaborating on scope.
The licensing rule
Under Fla. Stat. 626.854, negotiating a claim on behalf of an insured without a public adjuster license is unauthorized practice: even by a licensed contractor.
Why the distinction matters
- Conflicts of interest (contractor wants maximum scope, insured's best interest may be different)
- Separation of estimate and work enables independent valuation
- Insurer scrutiny
Best practice
- PA handles the claim
- Contractor performs the work
- Both collaborate on scope