Admitted companies have paid additional fees and filed additional documents with the Department of Insurance in California.  Admitted companies are part of the California Insurance Guarantee Act (CIGA). CIGA was set up to pay claims if the company fails.

Non-Admitted companies are approved by the Department of Insurance to sell in the state, but choose not to pay the fees and do the filings. You can find a list of approved and Non-Admitted companies on the Department of Insurance website. It's called the LESLI List (List of Eligible Surplus Lines Insurers.)

Our proposals include the "NOTICE" from the Department of Insurance. This notice was developed in 1990 when there was so much trouble with the "Off Shore" auto insurance companies. The trouble no longer exists but the form still does. We are required to have you sign the notice.

It is our opinion that there is not a significant difference between Admitted and Non-Admitted Carriers. While Admitted Carriers do have some claims protection from CIGA it doesn't stop the carrier from going out of business. CIGA only offers protection for a short period of time after the carrier declares bankruptcy and only up to 500K not the full limit of your policy.