Testimonials

Testimonials and endorsements used in insurance company advertisements must be genuine and applicable to the policy that's being advertised. The insurer, in using a testimonial or endorsement, makes as its own all of the statements contained therein, and the advertisement, including such statement is subject to all provisions of the advertising rules.

Disparaging comparisons and statements

Insurance companies may not use disparaging comments when comparing policies, services or business methods with another insurance company in their advertising.

Identity of insurer

The name of the insurance company must be stated in all of the insurer's advertisements, and the insurance company may not use a trade name, the parent company name, division name, or anything else that would be misleading regarding the identity of the actual insurer. The form number or numbers of the policy advertised must be stated in any paperwork used in solicitation.

No advertisement may use logos, names, etc. that would lead a reasonable person to conclude that the advertisement or the insurance company is linked to any agencies of the federal government or of the state of Florida. Advertisements must not mislead the public into believing that the advertiser is the same as or is connected with governmental entities.

Statements about an insurer

An advertisement may not include statements that are untrue or misleading about the corporate structure, financial standing, age, or relative position of the insurer in the insurance business.

Advertising file

All insurance companies must maintain a complete file at the home office or the principal office that is available for inspection by the OIR and that contains:

• all printed, published, or prepared advertisement of its individual policies;
• typical advertisements of its blanket and group policies in Florida; and
• a record for each advertisement indicating the manner and extent of distribution and the form number of any policy advertised.

All advertisements must be available within the file for a period of four years or until the next examination of the insurer, whichever is longer.