An insurer allowed through surplus lines rules but not licensed in the admitted market for that state.
Why it matters
Non-admitted markets can help with harder-to-place risks, but rules differ.
Example
A high-risk home may be placed with a surplus lines carrier.
Common mistake
Assuming non-admitted automatically means bad.
Related terms
admitted-carrier;surplus-lines
Definitions are educational summaries. The policy's definitions and applicable law control a specific claim or coverage question.