Does Florida Require Errors and Omissions Insurance for Real Estate Agents?

This question comes up constantly from candidates who are close to passing the exam and starting to think about what happens after licensure: do I need to buy errors and omissions insurance before I can start working?

The state's answer is no

Florida state law does not require individual real estate agents to carry errors and omissions (E&O) insurance as a condition of licensure. There's no line item for it on your DBPR application, and it's not part of the exam eligibility process.

The practical answer is almost always yes

While the state doesn't mandate it, most Florida brokerages require their agents to carry an E&O policy as a condition of joining, and many franchise brands require proof of coverage as well. Some brokerages carry a master policy that covers all their agents; others require each agent to obtain and maintain their own. Either way, the requirement usually comes from your brokerage's risk management policy, not from a state statute.

Why brokerages require it even though the state doesn't

E&O insurance covers claims related to professional mistakes, missed disclosures, paperwork errors, and similar issues that can arise even when an agent acts in good faith. Because brokers carry legal and supervisory responsibility for the agents under them, requiring E&O coverage is a standard way for a brokerage to manage that exposure across every agent on the team, regardless of what the state technically requires.

What to ask before you pick a brokerage

If you're choosing between brokerages after passing your exam, it's worth asking directly whether E&O coverage is provided under a firm-wide policy or whether you'll need to purchase your own. The answer affects your real first-year costs beyond the licensing fees you've already budgeted for, and it varies enough between brokerages that it's not a safe thing to assume either way.