N.Y. Laws » CHAPTER Insurance / ARTICLE Licensing of Insurers
New York Consolidated Laws

N.Y. Insurance Law § 1111 (2026)

Compulsory insurance; bonds of surety companies; certificates of qualification

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 1111. Compulsory insurance; bonds of surety companies; certificates
of qualification. (a) Whenever by any law of this state any policy or
contract of insurance is required, or is acceptable in lieu of any other
requirement imposed by such law, the superintendent may, upon written
request containing such information as he deems necessary, issue to any
person a certificate of qualification, stating the qualification of any
insurer authorized to do such business in this state if he finds that,
as shown by the insurer's last filed annual statement or last filed
report on examination, whichever is later, the insurer is solvent,
responsible and otherwise qualified to make policies or contracts of the
kind required. No insurer authorized to do business in this state shall
issue or make any policy or contract of insurance or surety bond to
owners or operators of motor vehicles as required by the provisions of
the vehicle and traffic law of this state, unless the superintendent
shall have certified to the commissioner of motor vehicles that such
insurer is qualified to issue such policy or contract, in the manner
specified herein.
  (b) (1) Whenever by any law of this state a bond, undertaking,
recognizance, guaranty or like obligation is required, permitted,
authorized or allowed, or the performance of any act, duty or
obligation, or the refraining from any act, is required, permitted,
authorized or allowed to be secured or guaranteed, such bond or like
obligation, or such security or guaranty, may be executed by any
insurance company authorized to do in this state the business of
executing such instruments and empowered by its charter to execute them.
The insurer's execution of such instrument by its officer,
attorney-in-fact or other authorized representative shall be accepted
as, and in all respects shall be, a full compliance with every law or
other requirement, now or hereafter in force, that any such obligation
be given or accepted or that it be executed by one or more sureties, or
that such sureties be residents, householders or freeholders, or possess
any other qualifications.
  (2) The superintendent may on written application issue to any company
his certificate of qualification stating the company's capital and
surplus as shown by its last annual statement or its last filed report
on examination, whichever is later, and that such capital and surplus
complies with the requirements of this chapter. The certificate shall
further indicate the limitation upon the amount of a single risk which
such company is authorized to assume.
  (c) The superintendent may refuse to issue any certificate pursuant to
subsection (a) or (b) hereof if in his judgment refusal will best
promote the interests of the people of this state. Such certificate, or
a copy certified by the superintendent, shall be conclusive evidence, as
of its date and thereafter until revoked, of either the insurer's
qualification to issue the policy, contract of insurance or surety bond,
if issued pursuant to subsection (a) hereof, or the company's
qualification, and its sufficiency under any law of this state as surety
or guarantor, and of the propriety of accepting and approving it as
such, if issued pursuant to subsection (b) hereof, and this
certification shall be in lieu of any justification required of the
insurer by any law of this state or any requirement pursuant thereto.
  (d) If after notice to and hearing of any insurer the superintendent
finds the insurer is no longer entitled to obtain a certificate, he may
revoke it by filing an order of revocation in his office. He shall
thereupon serve a copy of such order on the insurer and shall give
notice of the revocation to any state official or board to whom the
certificate was issued. The superintendent may publish notice of such
revocation in such newspapers of general circulation in this state as he
may deem proper in the public interest. No insurer and no officer,
attorney-in-fact or other representative thereof shall, after receiving
notice of revocation, make or execute, or hold itself out as authorized
to make or execute, in this state, any policy, contract of insurance,
bond or like obligation, or security or guaranty specified in subsection
(a) or (b) hereof, as long as such revocation continues in effect.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases, 1985–2001 · leading case: Aetna Cas.. v. Cnty. of Nassau, 221 A.D.2d 107 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996).
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Aetna Cas.. v. Cnty. of Nassau, 221 A.D.2d 107 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996). · cites it 15× “In response, Aetna commenced this proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 arguing that Nassau County’s actions violated the Insurance Law (specifically, Insurance Law § 1111) and that Nassau County was exercising powers granted exclusively to the Superintendent of Insurance.”
Johanson Resources, Inc. v. La Vallee, 285 A.D.2d 761 (N.Y. App. Div. 2001). · cites it 2× “The Amwest undertaking was signed by Amwest’s attorney-in-fact, as authorized by Insurance Law § 1111 (b) (1), and the court properly accepted the certificate of authority issued by the Superintendent of Insurance to Amwest in lieu of justification (see, CPLR 2507 [a]; Insurance…”
City of New York v. Britestarr Homes, Inc., 150 Misc. 2d 820 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1991). · cites it 2× “If a certificate of qualification pursuant to Insurance Law § 1111 is not filed with the undertaking, 2 a party challenging the validity of the bond may, within 10 days of receipt of a copy of the bond, simply serve a notice of exception to the undertaking (CPLR 2506 [a]).”
Timal v. Kiamzon, 164 Misc. 2d 159 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1995). · cites it 4× “Further, where the surety presents a certificate of qualification issued by the Superintendent of Insurance, pursuant to Insurance Law § 1111 (b)-(d), the certificate "shall” be accepted in lieu of justification (CPLR 2507 [a]).”
Recon Car Corp. v. Chrysler Corp., 129 Misc. 2d 1087 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1985). “(Insurance Law § 1111.) Even though the surety may be controlled by the defendant, the underlying purpose of the requirement of an undertaking, the provision of security for the defendant, has been abundantly fulfilled.”
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