Explorer (ICW)
Carrier website links, underwriting access points, mapped product lines, and appetite notes in one place.
This appetite summary is only a guide. Confirm eligibility, submission requirements, restrictions, and binding authority directly with the carrier or underwriter before relying on it.
Carrier appetite summary
Explorer Insurance Company is part of ICW Group. Explorer’s prior personal auto line has been fully withdrawn; all personal auto policies were non‑renewed and expired by September 30, 2021, and the company no longer writes new personal auto business. The current underwriting relevance for Explorer is as a member company on ICW Group workers compensation and certain other ICW platforms, so operational guidance follows ICW Group’s workers compensation producer rules and appetite. Preferred / target workers compensation business (ICW Group, written on group companies including Explorer where filed): - Broad class appetite with emphasis on standard to moderately complex middle‑market accounts across many industries. Marketing materials highlight 1,000+ class codes and a “broad underwriting appetite,” with encouragement to ask about specific classes rather than assume exclusion. - Target premiums commonly start around $1,500, with various tools and programs for small and mid‑sized accounts; there are separate "Instant Quote (IQ)" and regional appetite tools by state. - ICW Group positions underwriters as collaborative sales partners, and stresses flexible, account‑by‑account underwriting rather than rigid program rules. Agents are encouraged to contact their local underwriter for borderline or unusual risks for possible consideration. Restricted / declined workers compensation classes: - The formal workers compensation Submission Guidelines document (group‑level, listing Explorer among member companies) states that ICW Group has a broad appetite but maintains specific excluded operations. These typically include high‑hazard or severely loss‑prone classes (e.g., certain heavy industrial, high‑hazard construction, some transportation, and other very high‑severity exposures). The PDF lists excluded operations by class/industry; all such listed operations are not eligible for quote under any group company, including Explorer. - In addition, certain class codes or operations may be ineligible or only written in limited circumstances via state‑specific Instant Quote (IQ) or regional appetite tools. Agents are expected to consult the current appetite/target‑class lists and contact underwriting for any class not clearly shown as target. Geographic notes: - ICW Group is a national, A‑rated, multi‑line insurer. Workers compensation availability and Explorer’s role as the issuing company are state‑specific and dependent on filings. Some marketing pages reference particular regional initiatives (e.g., Southeast workers comp growth) with downloadable regional Agency Onboarding Toolkits that include state‑ and region‑specific appetite, target class codes, and exclusions. - Agents must confirm state availability, company paper, and any territorial restrictions (e.g., certain higher‑hazard classes only in select states) with their ICW Group underwriter or via the latest appetite and toolkit downloads. Submission and underwriting process (workers compensation): - Producers pre‑qualify and clear accounts through ICW Group’s online platform (e.g., Snap / Instant Quote tools). The producer guide emphasizes: • Use the pre‑qualification function to confirm the risk is within ICW Group appetite and to estimate manual premium. • Run clearance checks before submission to avoid conflicts. • Complete required data on General Information, Locations/Class Codes, and ACORD questions pages, and review any supplemental questionnaires. - For uploaded submissions, producers must verify and complete all required data fields in the system before submitting for underwriting review. - Submissions are subject to full underwriting review and approval. No underwriting authority is extended to agents or brokers; all terms, conditions, and pricing are determined by ICW Group underwriters. Broker / producer instructions and expectations: - There are no volume or premium commitment requirements for agents, and commissions are described as competitive and negotiable by account, but all placements remain subject to underwriting acceptability. - New and existing agents are directed to Agency Onboarding and Digital Sales Toolkits that include: • Submission guidelines and appetite/target class codes with explicit exclusions. • Selling tools and policyholder benefit materials to support marketing. - Agents are encouraged to work "directly with skilled underwriters" to structure the best policy; the underwriter is positioned as the primary sales contact for evaluating and negotiating terms. Explorer‑specific note: - Explorer Auto Insurance Company (Explorer) is no longer writing personal auto; all such policies expired as of September 30, 2021. Explorer continues to exist within ICW Group primarily as a member company on group products such as workers compensation. For practical underwriting purposes, follow ICW Group workers compensation appetite and submission guidelines, confirm state filings and which ICW company paper (e.g., Explorer vs. other ICW entities) will be used, and treat any Explorer issuance as governed by ICW Group’s central underwriting rules and risk appetite.