Which insurance carriers give direct appointments?

The most commonly cited direct appointment for newer independent agents is Progressive — and agents also report National General, Foremost, Openly, and Kemper as realistically attainable early on. The premium nationals — Travelers, The Hartford, Nationwide, Safeco — typically want an established book or production history before they’ll issue a code.

Realistic tiers for a newer agency

• Commonly attainable early: Progressive, National General, Foremost, Openly, Kemper — broad appetites, used to onboarding smaller agencies.
• Attainable with some production: Safeco, Grange, West Bend, regional mutuals — often want proof you can feed the appointment.
• Usually book-first: Travelers, Hartford, Nationwide, Erie (famously selective) — direct codes typically follow an established agency, not start one.

Appetites genuinely vary by state and change often — treat this as agent-reported pattern, not gospel, and confirm with each carrier’s appointment page.

If you can’t get the appointment yet

That’s the actual reason aggregators exist: access to the book-first carriers years before you’d qualify alone. The tradeoff math is here: direct appointment vs. aggregator, and if that’s your route, start with the best aggregators for new agents. The mechanics of applying — what carriers ask, how long it takes — are in how carrier appointments work.

FAQ

Which insurance carriers give direct appointments to new agents?

Progressive is the most commonly cited accessible direct appointment; agents also report National General, Foremost, Openly, and Kemper as attainable early. Premium nationals like Travelers, The Hartford, and Nationwide usually want an established book first.

How do I get a direct appointment with an insurance carrier?

Apply through the carrier’s agency-appointment page with your license, E&O coverage, business entity, and — for selective carriers — a production story or existing book. Expect anywhere from days (Progressive) to months (selective regionals).

How many carrier appointments does a new agency need?

Most new independent agencies function well with 3–5 personal-lines appointments plus surplus access, then add carriers as production justifies. Chasing twenty appointments early usually spreads volume too thin to keep any of them.