Portable Electronics Insurance
August 24, 2015
In just the past few years the use of smart phones, tablets, and other portable electronics has exploded. In response, various forms of insurance for such equipment have been developed by specialty carriers. States look at this line of business as a limited line, and some states require a limited lines license in order to sell such coverage; other states do not. The following chart indicates which states require a limited lines license, whether applicants are exempt from the standard licensing exam, and if the vendor having a license authorizes employees of the vendor to sell such coverage.
| State | Limited License Required | Exempt from Exam | Vendor License Authorizes Employees to Sell |
| Alabama | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Alaska | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Arizona | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Arkansas | Yes | No | Yes |
| California | Licensed as insurance agent or insurance broker | No | Have to receive training |
| Colorado | Yes | No | Yes |
| Connecticut | No | No | Yes |
| Delaware | Yes | No | Yes |
| Florida | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Georgia | Yes | No | Yes |
| Hawaii | Yes | No | Yes |
| State | Limited License Required | Exempt from Exam | Vendor License Authorizes Employees to Sell |
| Idaho | Yes | No | Yes |
| Illinois | Yes | No | Yes |
| Indiana | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Iowa | Licensed as insurance producer effective January 1 2016 | Yes | Yes effective January 1, 2016 |
| Kansas | Yes | No | Yes |
| Kentucky | Needs business entity license | No | Yes |
| Louisiana | Yes | No | Yes |
| Maine | No | No | No |
| Maryland | Yes | No | Yes |
| Massachusetts | Yes | No | Yes |
| Michigan | No | No | No |
| Minnesota | Yes | No | Yes |
| Mississippi | Producer License | No | Yes |
| Missouri | No | No | No |
| Montana | Yes | No | Yes |
| State | Limited License Required | Exempt from Exam | Vendor License Authorizes Employees to Sell |
| Nebraska | Yes | No | Yes |
| Nevada | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| New Hampshire | Yes | No | Yes |
| New Jersey | Yes | No | Yes if supervised |
| New Mexico | Yes | Yes limited license exemption | Yes |
| New York | Not Regulated | Not Regulated | Not regulated |
| North Carolina | Yes | No | Yes |
| North Dakota | Not regulated | Not regulated | Not regulated |
| Ohio | Yes | No | Yes |
| Oklahoma | Yes | Yes limited license exemption | Yes |
| Oregon | Yes | Yes limited license exemption | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | No | Yes |
| Rhode Island | Yes portable electronic insurance vendor license | Yes Effective January 1, 2015 | Yes |
| South Carolina | Yes portable electronic insurance vendor license | No | Yes |
| South Dakota | Yes portable electronic insurance license | No | Yes |
| State | Limited License Required | Exempt from Exam | Vendor License Authorizes Employees to Sell |
| Tennessee | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Texas | No – training program needed | No | Needs training |
| Utah | Yes | No | Yes |
| Vermont | Yes business entity limited lines producer | No | Yes |
| Virginia | Yes limited lines property and casualty insurance agent license | No | Yes |
| Washington | Yes- specialty producer license | No | Yes |
| West Virginia | No only needs to comply with provision W. Va. Code Ann. § 33-12-32a
| No | Yes if vendor is in compliance with provision |
| Wisconsin | No only needs to comply with provision Wis. Stat. Ann. § 632.975
| No | Yes if vendor is in compliance with provision and has a supervising entity or directly supervises |
| Wyoming | Yes- Specialty limited lines producer | Yes | Yes |