How to check if an insurance company or agent is IRDAI registered

You can verify an insurance company by matching its exact name with the official list of registered insurers on the IRDAI website. You can check an agent by asking for their PAN and entering it into the IRDA PAN Lookup tool. This confirms whether they are legally allowed to sell you a policy.

By Qrates research desk · 2026-11-01

Quick answer: How to check IRDAI registration

Find the company name: Check if the insurance company is genuine by finding its exact name on the official IRDAI registered companies list.
Verify the agent: Ask for the agent's licence, identity card and PAN. Use the IRDA PAN Lookup tool or the Agent Locator on the IRDAI agency portal to check their details.
Protect your money: Never pay a premium in cash directly to an agent. Never transfer premium money to a personal bank account.

Licence and registration rules for insurance

What is IRDAI?

IRDAI is the official regulator for all insurance businesses in India. Every life insurance, health insurance, and general insurance company must hold an active IRDAI registration (Section 3 of the Insurance Act, 1938). No entity can sell policies without this approval.

The 2025 law on one-time registration

The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act, 2025 received the President's assent on 20 December 2025. The government says it introduces one-time registration for insurance intermediaries. IRDAI has since issued transitional arrangements on the annual fee and the certificate of registration, in 2026. A date on a broker's certificate is not enough to judge it either way, so check the firm under the Intermediaries section on the IRDAI website.

Individual agents are appointed by an insurance company, which gives them an appointment letter and an identity card. IRDAI's policyholder site tells buyers to ask for the agent's licence and identity card.

Regulator warnings on insurance fraud

IRDAI has issued public notices about spurious phone calls and fake offers. Callers pose as IRDAI officials and promise benefits such as an unclaimed bonus in exchange for an upfront payment. IRDAI says it does not sell insurance, does not invest premiums and does not announce bonuses. Always check the official regulator list before buying. If you are also dealing with other financial apps, you might want to learn how to check if a loan app is RBI registered in 2026 or how to check if a stock broker is SEBI registered to ensure your overall financial safety.

IRDAI's notices also name calls offering gifts or interest-free loans for buying a policy. Before you pay anything based on a phone call, verify the caller at an authorised office or call centre of the insurance company.

What insurance apps can read on your phone

If you buy a policy through a digital broker app, check what data it collects before you install it. Insurers may offer video KYC, which needs camera access. IRDAI's rules for this process also require your live location to be captured, to confirm you are physically in India during the call (IRDAI Master Guidelines on Anti-Money Laundering, Video Based Identification Process).

Be careful with any insurance app that asks for your SMS messages, call logs, or contact lists without a clear reason. You can check phone permissions for insurance apps on the Qrates insurance apps directory. You can also compare retail policies on the Qrates health insurance directory.

What users complain about during policy sales

Mis-selling and hidden terms

Watch for an agent who stays quiet about waiting periods in a health policy, or who promises assured payouts on a life policy that is actually linked to market performance. Always read the policy document yourself instead of relying on a sales pitch.

The pre-issuance verification call

Many life insurers make a verification call before or after the policy bond is delivered. IRDAI's May 2020 circular encourages life insurers to make pre-issuance verification calls, but this is not a must for every policy.

If you get this call, use it to confirm the exact premium, tenure, and benefits directly with the company. Do not let the agent answer this verification call on your behalf.

How to check this yourself

Step 1: Check the IRDAI registered company list

Go to the official IRDAI website on your phone or computer.
Open the Insurers section and choose life, non-life or health insurers. IRDAI's policyholder site also has lists of registered insurers. Lists can lag behind name changes.
Match the exact spelling of the company name with the list.

Step 2: Verify the agent using PAN or URN

Ask the agent for their PAN, licence and identity card.
Open the IRDA PAN Lookup tool on the official agency portal. You can also use the Agent Locator, which searches by name, licence number or agent ID.
Enter the details and match them with the agent's identity card.

Step 3: Confirm the policy with the insurer

Wait for your official policy document to arrive.
Find the insurer's toll-free number on its official website, not on the document or a message.
Ask the insurer to confirm your policy number and cover. A motor policy may also carry a QR code that shows the policy details. Do not scan any QR code that claims it will deposit money into your account.

FAQs

How to check if an insurance company is registered?

Match the exact spelling of the company name with the official IRDAI list. If you cannot find the name, do not pay yet. Ask IRDAI on its toll-free number, 155255.

Insurance agent genuine hai ya nahi kaise check kare?

Ask for their licence, identity card and PAN. You can verify these using the PAN Lookup or Agent Locator tool on the official IRDAI agency portal.

Is my health insurance policy genuine?

Call the insurance company on the toll-free number given on its official website. Ask their support team to verify your policy number and coverage details.

What to do if an insurance policy is not genuine?

File a police complaint. For complaints against a registered insurer, use the official Bima Bharosa portal, email complaints@irdai.gov.in, or call 155255 or 1800 4254 732. If you encounter issues with other financial entities, you can also see how to complain to the RBI Ombudsman for banking or lending disputes.

The short version

Every insurance company in India must hold an active IRDAI registration.
A 2025 law brings in one-time registration for insurance intermediaries, with transitional arrangements issued by IRDAI.
Individual agents hold an appointment letter and ID card from the insurer.
Video KYC by insurers uses your camera and live location.
You can check an agent using the IRDA PAN Lookup tool or Agent Locator on the official agency portal.

You can visit the Qrates health insurance directory to check the latest figures and policy details for yourself.

Sources

Disclaimer

Qrates is an information directory. It takes no commission from any company listed and does not recommend products. Figures are taken from the sources named and dated, and they change; check the company's own page before you decide. This is not investment, credit, insurance or tax advice for your situation. A licence or a clean record today does not guarantee how a company behaves later. To complain, use the regulator's own portal (RBI CMS, SEBI SCORES or IRDAI Bima Bharosa).