Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Panta Insurance Services is a licensed California Surplus Lines Broker (License #4512382). We are authorized to place coverage with non-admitted insurers for California businesses when admitted market options are unavailable or inadequate.

California Insurance Code Section 1765 requires that policyholders receive written disclosure that: (1) the insurer is not admitted in California, (2) the policy is not covered by the California Insurance Guarantee Association (CIGA), and (3) the policyholder may file complaints with the California Department of Insurance. Panta provides these disclosures on every surplus lines policy.

Yes. California imposes a 3% Surplus Lines Tax on premiums for policies covering California risks, plus a 0.18% stamping fee collected by the Surplus Line Association of California (SLA). These taxes are itemized on your policy and remitted to the state by Panta.

Yes. As admitted carriers have exited high-risk wildfire zones, the E&S market has become a critical source of property coverage for California businesses in these areas. Panta works with multiple surplus lines carriers who actively write wildfire-exposed commercial property. Coverage availability depends on your specific location, construction type, and risk mitigation measures.

The California FAIR Plan is a state-mandated insurer of last resort for property coverage. It provides basic fire coverage when no other option exists. Many businesses use E&S surplus lines policies as their primary coverage because E&S can offer broader terms than FAIR Plan's limited coverage. Panta can help you evaluate whether E&S or FAIR Plan (or both) is appropriate for your situation.

Panta specializes in hard-to-place commercial risks including: cannabis operations (dispensaries, cultivators, manufacturers), hospitality (bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels), fitness facilities (gyms, martial arts studios, climbing gyms), medical spas and aesthetics practices, childcare and daycare centers, contractors in high-risk trades, auto services (garages, body shops, tow trucks), food trucks and mobile vendors, pet services, tattoo and body art studios, and more.

We place all major commercial lines through the E&S market: General Liability, Professional Liability (E&O), Commercial Property, Commercial Auto, Workers Compensation, Umbrella/Excess Liability, Product Liability, Liquor Liability, Cyber Liability, Directors & Officers (D&O), Employment Practices Liability (EPLI), Pollution Liability, Garagekeepers Liability, and more.

For standard submissions with complete information, we typically provide initial indications within 24-48 hours. Complex risks or those requiring multiple carrier submissions may take 3-5 business days. Panta's technology platform accelerates the submission and underwriting process compared to traditional brokers.

At minimum: business name, location(s), description of operations, revenue or payroll figures, and current coverage (if any). For specific coverage types, we may need: loss runs (claims history), vehicle schedules, employee counts, professional credentials, or property details. The more complete your submission, the faster and more accurate your quote.

Yes. The E&S market exists specifically for risks that standard carriers reject, including those with adverse claims history. While claims impact pricing and terms, they do not automatically disqualify you from coverage. Panta works with carriers who understand that claims happen and evaluate the whole picture of your risk.

Panta is a technology-enabled surplus lines brokerage built for speed and specialization. We focus exclusively on hard-to-place risks where we have deep market relationships and underwriting expertise. Our platform automates submission processing, carrier matching, and document handling—reducing the friction that makes traditional E&S placement slow and opaque.

There is no fee to submit a risk or receive quotes. Panta earns a commission from the insurance carrier when we place coverage—this is standard brokerage practice and does not increase your premium. E&S policies typically have higher premiums than admitted coverage due to the higher-risk nature of the business being insured, not because of broker fees.

Within one business day, a Panta broker will review your submission for completeness and reach out with any clarifying questions. We then submit your risk to appropriate E&S carriers in our network. As quotes come in, we present options with our recommendations. Once you select coverage, we bind the policy and deliver your documents electronically.

Yes. Panta provides full-service brokerage including renewals, policy changes (endorsements), certificates of insurance, and claims advocacy. We proactively review your coverage before renewal to ensure it still matches your operations and market your account to multiple carriers for competitive options.

Panta is licensed in all 50 states. Our primary expertise is in California, Texas, Florida, and New York—states with large E&S markets and complex regulatory environments. We can place coverage for businesses operating in any U.S. state or with multi-state operations.