Public adjuster fees by state: caps, math and what to ask

How much do public adjusters charge?

Most public adjusters work on contingency. They take a percentage of what your insurer pays on the claim, and nothing if there is no payment. There is no official national average, so the published figures below come from consumer groups and local government, each with its date.

Fees are negotiable. New York’s Department of Financial Services describes the fee as negotiable, and in 2017 United Policyholders’ executive director said the group encourages people to get adjusters to work for 7%. Some states also allow hourly or flat fees. Texas lists hourly fees, flat rates and percentages as allowed methods.

Our main guide to public adjusters covers what they do and how to decide if one is worth it. This page covers the fee math.

Public adjuster fee caps by state

Some states cap what a public adjuster can charge. Others leave it to the contract. We list only the states whose rules we checked against the statute or regulation itself on October 19, 2026. For any other state, ask your state insurance department.

California lawmakers considered a cap in AB 597. As of October 19, 2026, the bill was not law. Its last action, on August 29, 2025, was “held under submission” in committee.

How is a public adjuster’s fee calculated?

The fee is the rate times the base. The base is the part people miss.

The rate is the percentage in your contract. It cannot be higher than your state’s cap, where one exists.

The base is the set of insurer payments the rate applies to. State rules shape it:

• Money paid before you signed. Florida sets the fee at 0% on it. New York counts only payments made after you hired the adjuster. Virginia bars fees on pre-contract payments. California says the fee may not leave you with less than you were already paid.
• Your deductible. Florida says the fee may not be based on the deductible.
• Additional living expenses. Florida bars fees on living expenses unless you sign a separate agreement.
• Attorney fees and costs. Florida’s caps are measured exclusive of attorney fees and costs, and the rate may not go up just because the claim is litigated.
• Expenses. Virginia’s 10% disaster cap includes the adjuster’s expenses. Ask whether your contract bills expenses on top of the fee.

The timing matters too. Virginia bars taking the whole fee from the first check, and California has a similar rule. The fee comes as a share of each payment.

Worked example: a Florida hurricane claim

Say a hurricane damages your Florida home, and the governor has declared a state of emergency. Your insurer pays $20,000 before you hire anyone. You sign with a public adjuster within the year after the declaration, and the insurer later pays another $60,000.

Now change one fact. If the same loss were not tied to a declared emergency, the cap would be 20%. The maximum fee would be 20% of $60,000, or $12,000, and you would keep $68,000.

Two more Florida rules can change the picture. If the insurer pays or commits in writing to the full policy limit for a part of the policy within 14 days of the loss, or 10 days of the contract, whichever is later, the fee on that part is capped at 1%. And a fee based on the full $80,000 would break the 0% rule on the $20,000 paid before signing.

For comparison, New York’s 12.5% cap on the same $60,000 would allow up to $7,500.

Why published fee figures disagree

The published ranges cover different things. United Policyholders’ 5% to 15% describes typical rates in a 2017 article about fire claims. San Mateo County’s 2% to 25% or more is a wide range from a county page created in 2023, consistent with California having no percentage cap. United Policyholders’ 2025 article uses 10% as an example and reports that adjusters say real rates might reach 20%.

The bigger reason is the base. A 10% fee on new money only and a 10% fee on the whole claim can be very different dollar amounts. United Policyholders’ 2017 article noted that the fee was calculated on the full settlement, not just the increase. States like Florida, New York and Virginia now restrict that. No source we found publishes an average based on actual contracts.

What should be in a public adjuster contract?

Before you sign, check that the contract spells out each of these items in writing.

You can look up a Florida license through the Department of Financial Services Licensee Search. In Texas, the Department of Insurance says public adjusters must hold a TDI license and you can check it by calling 800-252-3439.

Florida: fee rules to know after a storm

Florida’s rules are among the most detailed in the country, and they change with the emergency calendar.

• The 10% cap lasts one year. It applies to emergency-related claims made during the year after the governor’s declaration. After that, the 20% cap applies.
• You have more time to cancel after a declared emergency. You can cancel within 30 days after the date of loss or 10 days after signing, whichever is longer.
• Status updates are now required. Under a 2026 addition to s. 626.854, a public adjuster must answer your written request for claim status within 14 days.
• Contractors cannot act as adjusters. A roofer or restorer without a public adjuster license may not offer to handle your claim. See our guide to storm chaser scams.

If the insurer has denied the claim, our guide to a denied claim lays out other routes, including appraisal and attorneys. For storm-specific steps, see storm damage claims. More cost pages are on the costs hub.

We explain how fees generally work. We are not a public adjuster or law firm, and this is not advice about your claim. Read your contract and policy, and ask your state insurance department, a licensed public adjuster or an attorney before acting.