The market that will look at almost anything, and prices like it.
National Indemnity — NICO — is a Berkshire Hathaway company that writes new ventures in all classes, public auto and accounts other markets have declined. It is frequently the answer when there is no other answer, and rarely the cheapest.
Tell us the situation.
One licensed human replies the same business day — not five agents, not an auto-responder. If the policy you have is already the right one, we will tell you.
We use this to quote and service your insurance, and we do not sell it or pass it to lead networks. Privacy policy.
What National Indemnity is.
New ventures, all classes
NICO takes new ventures across all classes, which is close to unique. Most markets that write new authority carve out hot shot, dump, auto hauling or public auto; NICO does not.
Without it — When four markets have declined on tenure alone, this is the one still reading the file.
Difficult risks by design
Public auto — buses, party buses, limos, school buses — towing, dumps and contractors are all target business, and accounts carrying safety alerts are considered rather than auto-declined.
Without it — The alternative for these classes is often no market at all.
Berkshire Hathaway paper
NICO is a Berkshire Hathaway company, admitted and non-admitted depending on the placement, with the balance sheet that implies. Auto liability binds in-house to substantial limits, with higher primary limits considered.
Without it — On a severity-driven line, who stands behind the promise is not a detail.
The trade-off is price
NICO is often the market of last resort on price. A new venture with a non-driving owner and a violation on the record can rate into the mid five figures.
Without it — Quoted alone it looks punitive; quoted beside four declinations it is the price of operating.
What people ask us about NICO.
Why is my NICO quote so much higher than the others?
Usually because the others are not quoting. NICO prices risks that other carriers decline outright, and a market that takes new ventures in every class, public auto and alert-carrying accounts cannot also be the cheapest — the book would not survive it. The honest way to read a NICO number is against the alternative of not operating, and then to re-market at renewal once you have twelve clean months, because that is when the cheaper markets become reachable.
Is NICO related to Berkshire Hathaway Homestate?
They are both Berkshire Hathaway companies and they are different underwriting operations with different appetites — which matters for one practical reason. A risk already in force with the National Indemnity group cannot simply be moved to Berkshire Hathaway Homestate, because BHHC excludes business sitting with its own affiliate. Two Berkshire names does not mean two independent quotes.
Will NICO write public auto?
Yes — buses, limousines, party buses, school buses and non-emergency medical transport are target classes rather than accommodations. What they do not write is intercity bus or app-based rideshare work.
Is this appetite current?
It reflects the carrier’s own market guidance as of the third quarter of 2026, and appetite moves — classes get added, states get pulled, and tenure requirements tighten after a bad quarter. Treat it as a strong indication of whether you are worth submitting rather than as a promise of a quote. We check the live guidance before submitting anything.
Why go through a broker instead of buying direct?
Because it does not cost you anything, which is the part that surprises people. Broker compensation is built into the carrier’s rate whether you use one or not — buying direct does not remove the cost, it removes the person being paid to be on your side of it.
Also in this family
Commercial insurance is 96% of what we do — it is not a department here, it is the whole business. Not ready to talk? The guides answer the questions this page raises in more depth. Already insured with us and need a certificate or a policy change? Ask the service team rather than starting a quote — it is faster and it goes to the people whose job it is. We also write home and auto, which is usually cheaper alongside the business policy than apart from it.