Glossary
Broker (COA)
The ORIAS category "Insurance or reinsurance broker": an intermediary who acts in their client's interest, with no dependence on any given insurance company, and who bears their own professional liability.
The French Insurance Code distinguishes several categories of intermediaries registered with ORIAS. The COA (broker) category refers to an intermediary who works on behalf of their client rather than for any particular insurance company: they can compare offers from several insurers and carry their own professional liability, covered by professional indemnity insurance and, where applicable, a financial guarantee.
This category is distinct from that of the insurance agent (MA), who is mandated directly by one or more insurers and can only present their products. The public ORIAS register shows the exact category under which a professional is registered.
Example
A broker registered under the COA category can compare offers from several insurance companies for the same client, whereas an insurance agent (MA) can only present the products of the company or companies that appointed them.
Also searched as: insurance broker · COA
To go further: Complaints: regulator and intermediary categories