Self-Service Storage - Producer Requirements

Definition

Insurance sold through a licensed insurer in connection with a self-service storage facility.

Self-Service storage facility- Any real property designed and used for the purpose of renting or leasing individual storage space to occupants who are to have access to the facility for the purposes of storing and removing personal property and not for residential purposes. The term does not include a safe-deposit box or vault maintained by banks, trust, companies or other financial entities or a public warehouse within the meaning of Article 1 of Chapter 15 of Title 8, beginning with Section 8-15-1, Code of Alabama 1975.

Qualifications

Qualifications are necessary in order to become an insurance producer, including, but not limited to:

  • Must be at least 18 years of age.
  • Must not have committed any act that is a ground for denial, suspension, or revocation of license, as follows:
    • Providing incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or materially untrue information in any application or in any communication to the commissioner.
    • Obtaining or attempting to obtain a license through misrepresentation or fraud.
    • Intentionally misrepresenting the terms of any actual or proposed insurance contract or application for insurance.
    • Having admitted or been found to have committed any insurance unfair trade practice or fraud.
    • For inducing, persuading, or advising any policyholder to surrender or cause to be cancelled any policy of insurance issued to the policyholder by any authorized insurer in exchange for a policy offered by the licensee where the surrender or cancellation shall proximately result to the financial detriment of such policyholder, unless the policyholder shall have been fully advised of that fact by the licensee.
    • Using fraudulent, coercive, or dishonest practices, or demonstrating incompetence, untrustworthiness, or financial irresponsibility in the conduct of business under a license in this state or elsewhere.
    • Improperly withholding, misappropriating, or converting any monies or properties belonging to the insurers, insureds, or others received by the licensee in the exercise of his or her license.
    • Violating insurance laws or violating any valid order, subpoena, rule, or regulation, issued by the commissioner or issued by another state's insurance commissioner.
    • Having been convicted of a felony.
    • Having an insurance producer license, or its equivalent, denied, suspended, or revoked in any other state, province, district, or territory.
    • Forging another's name to an application for insurance or to any document related to an insurance transaction.
    • Improperly using notes or any other reference material to complete an examination for an insurance license.
    • Knowingly accepting insurance business from an individual who is not licensed.
    • Failing to comply with an administrative or court order imposing a child support obligation.
    • Failing to pay state income tax or failing to comply with any administrative or court order directing payment of state income tax.

They are exempt from the prelicensing course, written examination and fingerprinting requirements and the continuing education requirements.

Initial Licensing Process

Alabama Residents & Non Residents:

Please complete a paper application and return to the department with licensing fees and Proof of Citizenship. You may obtain an application from the link below. (This application should ONLY be used for Self-Service Licensing.) All other licensing processes are to be completed online unless otherwise instructed by Department of Insurance.

Self-Service License Application

Self-Service License Application - Business Entity

Renewal Process

All individual producers must renew their license online.**   Click HERE to renew your license.

NOTE: Remember you cannot change your address during the renewal process.

**Exception for Non-Residents: If you only hold rental vehicle, legal services, dental services, credit, personal lines, and motor club lines of authority and do not hold any type of license in your home state, you will need to complete the SBS Online Renewal Process.

Individual producers renew their license based on their month and year of birth. A notice will be sent by the DOI to all producers approximately 45 days prior to their month of birth. Producers born in odd-numbered years will renew for two years in the odd years. Producers born in even-numbered years will renew for two years in the even years. Beginning January 1, 2013, excess credit hours earned in the previous biennial renewal period cannot be carried over to the next reporting period. Any excess is lost.

NOTE: Individual Producers now have the ability to update their e-mail addresses online for Alabama through SBS Online tools. You can access this by going to our website at www.aldoi.gov and under Producers/Agents either click on Print Your License or View Your CE Info and that takes you straight to SBS and it will be under Email Maintenance.

Fees

Initial Fee - $80.00
Renewal Fee - $70.00
Late Fee - $50.00
Notice of Appointment Fee - $40.00
Appointment Renewal Fee - $25.00

How to Have Your Producer License Reissued after Expiration

A producer’s license expires when the license is not renewed in the producer’s birth month. There is a 30 day grace period following expiration, during which time the producer can renew with a $50.00 late fee plus the renewal fee. If the license is not renewed at this time, the license expires and all company appointments are cancelled.

A producer may have their license reissued within 12 months of expiration without having to be re-examined by going online at www.nipr.com . If the producer comes in during 2008 to get their license reissued for the 2008 renewal year and they are an even-year birth year, the reissue fee is $40. If the producer comes in during 2008 to get their license reissued for the 2007 renewal year and they are an odd-year birth year, the reissue fee is $80 . Once the license is reissued, the producer must also be reappointed.

When former producers have been without a license over 12 months, they must take the prelicensing course and retest before again applying for license online at www.nipr.com.

Reinstatement Procedures

Prior to January 1, 2002, when an insurance agent failed to timely renew the license was suspended. Please follow these instructions to reinstate a license previously suspended due to nonrenewal:

Write a letter asking for the suspension to be lifted. Be sure to include the producer’s name, address and social security number. A Settlement Agreement and Order will be mailed with a cover letter indicating the amount due and further instructions. The Producer will need to sign and date the Settlement Agreement and mail it back in with any monies due and continuing education or letter of certification, if applicable.

The letter should be sent to:

Alabama Department of Insurance
Attn: Legal Division
P. O. Box 303351
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-3351